I have been in this MD restoration for the last 11 years. Work/family issues have dragged it out this long. Have been in the assembly stage for the last year. I am at the point of trying to start it but no go. It had a battery ignition on it and ran fine before tear down. I wanted to put it back to original and converted it to a magneto ignition like my others with a rebuilt mag I bought off eBay 5 years ago. Following is a list of things that I have checked and double checked.
1) Double checked the timing marks on the gear train by the assembly photo I took before putting the front cover on, all right on.
2) Pulled mag drive off to check timing, was right on.
3) Checked mag timing 3 times. Mag tripped on #1 cylinder when on the "M" mark on the pully, not 9/16" past "M" as per what the manual stated. Adjusted to 9/16" past "M" but no difference.
4) Checked spark on all cylinders with an inline spark checker, it made it light.
5) Took plugs out, grounded them, turned it over, it produced a small bluish spark.
6) Took carb off. Float & needle move. Lifts needle off seat. Float height is correct.
7) Checked all start linkage adjustments 3 times. All correct.
Checked start valve clearances, all right on.
9) Double checked valve timing and clearances, all good.
10) Manifold butterflies are working properly.
I loosened the injector nuts to be sure their was no diesel going to the cylinders. As much as I do not like using starting fluid, I did loosen the intake crossover pipe and shot some directly in their while turning it over. Not even a pop.
When turning it over on gas, it spins over quickly and almost wants to take off. Their is blackish smoke coming from the exhaust, turns white when either is shot in and returns to blackish when spinning over.
When I pulled the plugs they are black soot covered. I have cleaned them and rechecked the gap a few times. Gap was right. Plugs were not wet as in a flooding issue.
What do you guys think? What am I missing here? Could it be that the magneto magnet is weak and not producing an adequate spark when under compression? I am at a loss here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
A couple more things I forgot, the points are aligned and set per the manual. I took a compression check on all 4 cylinders and showed to be around 115+ psi on the gas side with all new parts not seated in yet.
1) Double checked the timing marks on the gear train by the assembly photo I took before putting the front cover on, all right on.
2) Pulled mag drive off to check timing, was right on.
3) Checked mag timing 3 times. Mag tripped on #1 cylinder when on the "M" mark on the pully, not 9/16" past "M" as per what the manual stated. Adjusted to 9/16" past "M" but no difference.
4) Checked spark on all cylinders with an inline spark checker, it made it light.
5) Took plugs out, grounded them, turned it over, it produced a small bluish spark.
6) Took carb off. Float & needle move. Lifts needle off seat. Float height is correct.
7) Checked all start linkage adjustments 3 times. All correct.
Checked start valve clearances, all right on.
9) Double checked valve timing and clearances, all good.
10) Manifold butterflies are working properly.
I loosened the injector nuts to be sure their was no diesel going to the cylinders. As much as I do not like using starting fluid, I did loosen the intake crossover pipe and shot some directly in their while turning it over. Not even a pop.
When turning it over on gas, it spins over quickly and almost wants to take off. Their is blackish smoke coming from the exhaust, turns white when either is shot in and returns to blackish when spinning over.
When I pulled the plugs they are black soot covered. I have cleaned them and rechecked the gap a few times. Gap was right. Plugs were not wet as in a flooding issue.
What do you guys think? What am I missing here? Could it be that the magneto magnet is weak and not producing an adequate spark when under compression? I am at a loss here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
A couple more things I forgot, the points are aligned and set per the manual. I took a compression check on all 4 cylinders and showed to be around 115+ psi on the gas side with all new parts not seated in yet.
