Story so far series 1 resto

[lancialulu]

Hi all
anti-climax here .. just a few subdued pops and an exhaust fume aroma.. I'm thinking the poor old thing has not got enough compression to suck any petrol air mixture in never mind squeeze it and make it go bang.. will sleep on it and have another play tomorrow.
Clarkey

Check ignition timing/ plug lead order....generally the lowest compresion engines run if timed correctly....

[lancianut666]

Hi
I checked the leads yesterday no probs there, next thing is the timing and possibly if I can find it a compression test. There seems to be no suck at all ..I'm wondering if a couple of valves are stuck open or burnt out. Even after a lot of cranking with the cold start device on the spark plugs are bone dry. I will pop the exhaust valve cover off and see what is going on and check the timing. I have a copy of the repair manual and it gives instructions on checking the timing.
Clarkey

[peteracs]

Hi
I checked the leads yesterday no probs there, next thing is the timing and possibly if I can find it a compression test. There seems to be no suck at all ..I'm wondering if a couple of valves are stuck open or burnt out. Even after a lot of cranking with the cold start device on the spark plugs are bone dry. I will pop the exhaust valve cover off and see what is going on and check the timing. I have a copy of the repair manual and it gives instructions on checking the timing.
Clarkey

Check to see if the exhaust is blocked?

Peter

[DavidLaver]

A compression tester isn't expensive:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=compression%20tester&sprefix=compression+te%2Caps

[lancialulu]

Hi
I checked the leads yesterday no probs there, next thing is the timing and possibly if I can find it a compression test. There seems to be no suck at all ..I'm wondering if a couple of valves are stuck open or burnt out. Even after a lot of cranking with the cold start device on the spark plugs are bone dry. I will pop the exhaust valve cover off and see what is going on and check the timing. I have a copy of the repair manual and it gives instructions on checking the timing.
Clarkey

Ahh you didnt me low compression, just NO compression (on all 4 cylinders would be odd/ totally knackered engine?)

[lancianut666]

I seem to remember the plugs that came out being OK normal colour etc so I'm assuming it was running when taken out of the previous car back in the late 70's. I observed the valves on inlet and exhaust moving OK and I checked the timing but had great probs spotting the O on the flywheel tooth... not convinced it was right but with it on the mark no 4 valves were both shut and the rotor arm was pointing at no4 spark plug lead. I need to make a lead so I can crank the engine from under the bonnet so I can see what is going on. I think if the engine was totalled it would blow oil and stuff back into the crankcase . Off to do a bit of paying work now will try and have another look later and I need to buy a compression tester with a long pipe.
Clarkey
ps thanks to you all for the tips and advice

[DavidLaver]

I mentioned to Jason Kennedy I was thinking of having a starter button under the bonnet of my Fiat instead of a hot wire, and he showed me the one he'd installed, permanently, on his.

Perhaps the half way house is a harness with an inline switch and a bracket that can be "installed" and "later" removed but is safe and secure enough for prolonged faff and testing. 

If impatient to test suck and blow can you reach a plug hole with a thumb?

David

[lancianut666]

Hi David
nope is the answer.. have to do some more paying work tonight and tomorrow so I will get a compression tester first then have another go, my son might be over at the weekend so I will have an assistant.
Clarkey

[nistri]

Rather than using very long finger to reach the plug hole for TDC, this is an inexpensive alternative:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Innovative-Products-America-IPA7894-Compression/dp/B000TQ16HG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429857270&sr=8-1&keywords=TDC+whistle

Andrea

[lancianut666]

That looks like a must have...was thinking about the no suck problem and it occurred to me that the carb had been fastened on with a lot of green goo so it looks like there was a sealing problem in this area on the manifold so I might take the carb off (again!) and try and level off the manifold..any thoughts on this?
Clarkey

[simonandjuliet]

Are you sure that you have petrol going to the cylindres ? Worth a squirt of easy start to see if she will fire ?
Good luck

[lancianut666]

Mind reader... tried some Bradex stuff down the carb .. still didn't start... Matron thought it was trying as the cranking speed increased and you can hear the exhaust (just a pipe from the manifold no silencer) popping a bit, it feels like it is on one cylinder ... thing is the plugs are bone dry even after all that cranking I would expect them to be soaked in petrol. I rejetted the carb and swapped out the choke tube to the right size but I can't figure out what the cold start device is for as it ain't getting any extra petrol in there. I have tried squirting neat petrol into the carb but it all drains out the bottom of the inlet manifold hmm... I fear for the starter motor. will sleep on it and have a look tomorrow.
Clarkey

[peteracs]

Hi

Sorry, no idea on the configuration of the carb/inlet manifold on the Appia so this may be a nonsense comment, but 'leaking out the bottom of the inlet manifold' sounds a pretty fundamental problem with bad gasket?

Peter

[lancianut666]

Hi
seems part of the manifold design is a drain for excess petrol, it is a roughly 2mm internal diameter pipe that sticks out of the bottom of the manifold
Clarkey

[neil-yaj396]

If it won't 'run' on Bradex then I don't think there can be any compression.

For a couple of years I made the mistake of laying up my old Frogeye Sprite without starting it for the whole winter. I then used to resurrect it with Bradex. Bradex ignites on compression I think, and the old A Series always used to merrily run with that strange popping sound until you stopped squirting.

It sounds like your timing is totally out, ie valves open on the compression stroke, otherwise the Bradex should fire the engine even in the total absence of fuel?