Thread: Can't start my Series2

Originally Posted by conjames

Thanks again folks for the feedback. Will be fitting a new condensor and see how it all goes. I did a compression check and only getting around 50lbs on that...I suspect I'm going to have to do the Head as well soon.

rgds

Con

nahh for a 7:1 engine thats been sitting around for a while that might have stiff rings thats plenty...

get it running, give it an oil change and drive it around for a week or 2 and see what it does then.

OK just a thought, forgive me if I offend. You said you aren't getting any spark at the plug....... Do you have the plug earthed when you are doing this test, if you just hold the plug and turn it over and it isn't earthed then you won't get a spark.

If the spark is getting as far as the lead then check the gaps on the plugs as sometimes they don't come ready gapped.

I honestly think it may be a fuel issue, maybe pour a little petrol in the carby and crank it over to see if that starts it or even a little down each cylinder just to be sure.

Good luck mate I am addicted to these cars now and once you get it running you'll get years of enjoyment.

A frustrating one, if you haven't tried another coil do it, because if it has a fault in the secondary it will spark in the open air, but when under compression can't develop the extra voltage to fire the plugs under load. Occasionally a coil will give a nice blue spark out in the open but refuse to fire a plug under compression. If the coil checks out OK then measure the voltage at the coil with the points open and then closed. There shouldn't be more than a volt or two difference if the primary circuit is OK. If a ballast coil is fitted it should give a better spark than a straight 12 volt one, but it will burn the points out quickly and will stuff the dielectric in the condenser very quickly. That's because a ballast coil is really rated at about 7 volts, and the voltages will exceed the rating of the condenser. Also don't assume that new means good with some of the rubbish that's around now. Check every component by substituting with one that works on something else.Good luck

Originally Posted by Stormy

If a ballast coil is fitted it should give a better spark than a straight 12 volt one, but it will burn the points out quickly and will stuff the dielectric in the condenser very quickly. That's because a ballast coil is really rated at about 7 volts, and the voltages will exceed the rating of the condenser. Also don't assume that new means good with some of the rubbish that's around now. Check every component by substituting with one that works on something else.Good luck

Yes be very careful with a new coil, I thought I'd fit my old HZ coil to give a better spark on my series and like stormy said I blew the new condenser that I had just fitted. Sometimes I wish I didn't feel the need to fiddle just for the sake of working on her.

To make a suitable test plug that simulates the conditions in the combusion chamber grab a spare plugh cut the leg off of it and hose clamp it to a large clip.

on a series the rocker cover bolts are perfect to connect this to.


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