Old ford 302 no spark

[Scott Danforth]

Alright I'm on the ocean right now....boat wont go over 2000 ram and can't get on plane....wth

what did you set your dwell to?
what is your timing set to?

 

[Jakem]

Dwell is at 30...as for timing I had dizzy loose and stopped were it ran the best

 

[alldodge]

Dwell is at 30...as for timing I had dizzy loose and stopped were it ran the best

Ahhh, no

 

[Jakem]

Epic fail I'm guessing...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Properly set timing

 

[Scott06]

Once timing is set also check your advance is coming correctly. Im assuming you have mechanical weights for advance these can get hung up. Lack of full ignition advance can limit rpm as well.

 

[alldodge]

Setting timing even on the water under load by ear can be catastrophic. Motor set to run its best with timing to far advanced which can put it where preignition starts. Most likely there is other issues besides timing

 

[Jakem]

I'm going to buy a new distributer....boat wasn't underload when I was setting distributer.

 

[Scott06]

I'm going to buy a new distributer....boat wasn't underload when I was setting distributer.

it was under load when you were trying to get past 2 k rpm. Point he was trying to make is if you set it by ear which is in accurate it is likely you may have timing too far advanced, which leads to detonation, which will burn a hole in a piston. Loads on marine engines produce a much higher detonation potential than in a car.

you probably don’t need a new distributor, likely you just need to set this one correctly with a timing light. Best bet is if you know an older shade tree mechanic who grew up setting points , timing, and gapping plugs every 5 k miles.

 

[kenny nunez]

I thought you had a timing light. If not get one. One other thing to double check is mame sure that when the “0” TDC mark is lined up with the pointer the #1piston is at TDC also. Sometimes the outer ring on the balancer will slip and the timing marks are wrong. Do not even try to use the boat until you have that set right. If after the ignition is correct and you are still having trouble be sure about the fuel supply by rigging up a 6 gallon out board tank to the fuel filter.

 

[Jakem]

I will get timing done properly before I use it again....the fuel pump is brand new as well as water/fuel separate and filter

 

[Jakem]

Update....got a timing light....started boat to warm it up and went to get light from truck...engine was knocking....sounded like from the carb....shut it down....now what

 

[alldodge]

Knocking doesn't come from a carb, knocking comes from rod bearings

 

[kenny nunez]

Start it up with the flame arrestor off to be sure if you have a stuck valve or a problem inside the engine. What is the oil pressure?

 

[Jakem]

I do know that doesn't come from the carb itself it just sounds from there

 

[alldodge]

ok then check as Kenny mentioned

 

[Jakem]

What would the symptoms be if stuck valve...how does having flame arrestor off help

 

[Scott Danforth]

a compression test will tell you if you have a stuck valve

stuck valve makes a puffing sound out of the intake or exhaustwhen running at idle

hard knocking is from a bearing getting pounded from detonation, or a bearing getting destroyed from lack of oil

soft knocking can be from a bad plug or plug wire

start by doing a compression test. are all 8 cylinders within a 10 psi window of 130 psi or more?

if that is good, move on to checking for spark at all 8 plugs

if that is good, check the timing marks like Kenny mentioned. if the damper ring spun, it will also vibrate like a dog passing a peach pit.

if that is good, verify the dwell, then set timing. no more than 8 degrees BTDC

 

[Jakem]

Ok thank you...I will start the process...love the vibration analogy lol

 

[Jakem]

I went out to boat and figured I'd give it a quick flash up....2 knocks and then none..only ran for a min...it smelt gassy