404 dist 180 off?

rlo · Mar 5, 2013

Had to pull my distributor & replace gear pin. Now it turns over hard / slow like the battery is about dead & when I take off the distributor cap she turns over normal. What"s goin on?

By the way Pete 23 was right on the money about using too long of screw for the points & fouling the advance plate and shearing the gear pin, Shot myself in the foot there & may not be done!

pete 23 · Mar 5, 2013

Shouldn't crank it with dist cap off unless you have switch off or coil wire grounded as coil will build max voltage and try to find a place to exit, possibly through internal windings in coil. Sounds like your timing is just too early and firing before top dead center making starter fight engine. Set it so points just start to open in normal direction of rotation at top dead center or slightly after, not before. I had a customer bring his starter into me for repair one time, I repaired it, he brought it back again, I cold not find anything wrong. He got a little irritated, brought tractor in on trailer. Showed me how it was acting right on the trailer, I retarded the spark where it belonged and it cranked good, and fired right up. I could hear it kicking the starter but he couldn't. Better lucky than good they always say.

rlo · Mar 5, 2013

I didn"t crank it too long but did notice the coil got a little warm. I"ll see if I can tweak the timing a bit. I"m light in the "good" department on this so I could use some luck. Much appreciate the help. Thanks.

gene bender · Mar 5, 2013

You were told to locate the rotor the same position as is was when you removed it. Now you will need to get #1 on TDC firing that means both valves closed then you can position the rotor on #1 plug terminal on the cap and it will start.

pete 23 · Mar 5, 2013

I might have gotten a little ahead of myself here as I assumed you had taken care of the problem of the shaft not turning by pulling distributor and checking for sheared pin etc.

mkirsch · Mar 6, 2013

It's not a huge deal to static time the thing and see where you're at.

All you gotta do is pull the #1 plug and put your thumb over the hole. Turn the engine over slowly with the fan until you feel pressure against your thumb. Shine a light in the hole and bring the piston up as high as it will go.

I don't know if there is a pointer and timing mark on the front of a 404 engine. It's based on the C, which didn't have such things. If it does, verify TDC with the pointer and mark on the pulley.

Now pop off the distributor cap and see where the rotor is pointing. It should be right underneath the post on the cap with the wire that runs to that #1 spark plug. About the 2 o'clock position as you look at it from the driver's seat. If not, your timing is off.

404 dist 180 off?

rlo

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pete 23

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rlo

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gene bender

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pete 23

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mkirsch

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