no spark

[thmlrmg]

i have a ford 460 7.5ltr was running good but i had to change the oil so i used a pre-oiler by removing the distributor and turning the oil pump. i marked the distributor in several places now when it is back together i get spark from the coil but it doesn't attempt to fire. i aligned the timing marks up on the balancer to 0 tdc and my rotor is on #1 plug. what could be wrong with this picture, besides messing with a running boat.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: no spark

first question is why did ya mess with a distributer for an oil change?<br /> post me back and we shall see

 

[LubeDude]

Re: no spark

Here spark, here spark, whistle, whisle, whisle!<br /><br />Did that help?<br /><br />Ya, Im with Rodbolt?

 

[navigator336]

Re: no spark

Rotate the engine 360 degrees and put the distributor back on #1, unless you're sure you're on the right stroke. Fill the filter half or two thirds full before you screw it on (assuming that's why you rotated the oil pump; i.e. to fill it before cranking the engine).

 

[navigator336]

Re: no spark

Opps, disregard the rotation. Brain skip on the gearing of the distributor.

 

[thmlrmg]

Re: no spark

sorry should have told why. over the winter the engine froze and cracked a head and an intake, fixed both of those and the oil had alot of water in it making it very very difficult to hand pump the oil out of the dipstick(only had a hand pump, burnt the electric pump up trying to get the oil out) so we took the distributor out to turn the oil out easily. we have done this twice before with no trouble at all.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: no spark

hello<br /> I thougt it was more than a simple oil change.<br /> anyway take # 1 plug out. disable the ign or at least ground the coil wire. place your finger over #1 plug hole. rotate the engine with the starter and find compression stroke. that will be about the time it blows your finger off the hole. be patient it may take a try or two. now as its coming up on compression stroke continue turning it by hand in the direction of normal rotation to line up the TDC marks on the timing tab and the balancer. we have now acheived TDC compression stroke. now insert the distributor making sure the oil pump drive hex aligns with the drive rod and the rotor points at the #1 cyl tower. the manual will show where the cap lockdowns and the location of the #1 tower. not all #1 towers poit at #1 cyl.rotate the engine 720 degrees (2 times) and make sure the oil drives have seated and aligned. make sure the rotor is pointing at the #1 cap tower. now snug the lock down bolt so you can move the dist but barely. now hook up all wires except the #1 at the plug.turn the key on. place a plug in #1 wire and ground it against the block. now rotate the dist back and forth. the plug should arc.<br /> as you rock the dist back and forth pay attention to where it is when the spark occurs and while rotating it opposite of dist rotor rotation stop at the arc spot and put the plug back in.<br /> if all the above steps were followed and no cool refreshing beverages were partaken it will light off with no back fireing. post me back if further clarification is needed but dont ask for specs that are in your manual.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: no spark

I think you could be out 180 degrees. Stop and think about that harmonic balancer for a moment. Think of that timing mark that you see on the harmonic balancer as 12 o'clock. Now imagine making additional marks at 3,6, and 9 o'clock too. In so doing, you have just broken the 360 degrees of the crank rotation into 90 degree increments. That being said, moving clockwise around the crank:<br /><br />12 o'clock = 1 or 5<br />9 o'clock = 2 or 6<br />6 o'clock = 3 or 7<br />3 o'clock = 4 or 8 <br /><br />So even if the number one piston is at TDC and the rotor is pointing at #one. It could actually be on the top of exhaust stroke on #one instead of the top of the compression stroke. To resolve this, bump the engine over until you can get the rotor to stop while pointing exactly at a plug, any plug, but for example say #3. Now pull the distributor and point it to #7. Button it down and try It out. If it works let me know. If not we can work from there.

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: no spark

Well there you go two for one

 

[thmlrmg]

Re: no spark

hey rodbolt, it is people like you that keep me coming back to this site. thanks for all the help i will be going back to the boat sunday with your directions and my manual in hand. thanks man i will keep you posted on the outcome.

 

[thmlrmg]

Re: no spark

you too, Boiling Point 212, thanks for the help

 

[rodbolt]

Re: no spark

trust me<br /> one step at a time<br /> what you are doing is timing the spark occurance to the piston at or very near TDC COMPRESSION stroke<br /> remember it willbe at TDC on the exhaust stroke as well. I usually set it while the valvecover is off. just watch the intake valve close and that cylinder is on compression stroke.<br /> find #1 TDC compression stroke and the re3st is a piece o cake. the book says nothing aboput checking for spark with the key on. that comes from 30 years of building engines.<br /> I did my first 327 chevy at the tender age of 14. . not many mistakes you can make that I aint done. and I still have all my digits, both eyes and most teeth <br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[outboardguy]

Re: no spark

A little off the subject but pulling the distributor is not something I would try and do often.A few years back I had a boat come in with a ford 352 in it,and I had to reseal the intake manifold.Well one of the more experienced mechanics told me to pull the dist slow and try to shake it so the oil pump shaft doesn't follow it if the safety clip was dislodged. <br />Well I pulled the dist and sure enough I heard the shaft fall out and hit the bottom of the pan.That job became a nightmare of pulling engine and pan,putting the shaft back in it's spot and replacing engine. Anyway like I said be careful

 

[thmlrmg]

Re: no spark

ok i did exactly what you said rodbolt and you were correct we were 180 out somehow. well we now have spark but no run. i know we have gas i can see it on the plug and i have spark when i ground it to the block. when i advance or retard the timing on the distributor it seems like nothing is happening, i still get the same spark i was getting. any help. the next spark i am going to see is me lighting a match and throwing it into the boat.

 

[Darian F.]

Re: no spark

Dont torch it just yet! Hey Ford guys dosent the rotor button turn opposite than on a chevy. If the plug wires were removed it could be that (it burnt me once) <br /><br />on another note the engine should misfire, backfire, cough, etc. if the spark, fuel, and compression is good and the distributor is rotated(this means timing is not correct or plug wires on wrong)<br />have a buddy turn the key and give the distributor<br />a turn keep a fire extinguisher handy.

 

[thmlrmg]

Re: no spark

the rotor turns counterclockwise and it doesnt cough or anything. the plug wires were not removed and we have the firing order correct per the manual but i don't see where the rotor is pointing in reference to the lock-down bolts in the manual. we have the motor at tdc and the rotor pointing to the #1 tower on the dist cap. kinda pointing at the #6 cylinder the back side of the rotor points almost directly at the # 1 cylinder. any help would be completely appreciated. thanks