Thread: 1980 series 3 6 cyl cranks but won’t start

Hello experienced members . New to land rovers and the AULRO community . Have bought a military spec series 3 with petrol engine. The previous owner said it ran daily before parked 4-5 years ago. Oil is clean. Cranks easily with directly connected to battery . No ignition switch at the moment .
So I am stuck and need help. Tried jump starting to see if engine runs so slowly I can work backwards . Cranks but won’t start . Had few puff but nothing more when I poured fuel and starting fluid . Changed to New spark plugs and checked there was spark on cylinder 1 . Tried with a new coil no luck the coil did get hot . Tried advancing dizzy fully by rotating clockwise to the direction of rotor spinning - anticlockwise . Still no luck . I pulled CARBY, dizzy amd coil from a running motor . Could it be leads ? Or CARBY not throwing in enough fuel ?

Just guessing, but this engine should at least start if there is spark and fuel.

If these are present, likely issues from disuse are (in no particular order)

Carburettor having dried out, the bit that moves to change mixture from venturi pressure is stuck or the diaphragm is cracked.

Low compression from dry rings and cylinder walls and/or stuck valves. Exhaust valves may be burnt.

Poor spark from a whole host of possibilities

Fuel pump not working.

"The previous owner said it ran daily before parked 4-5 years ago." Previous owner has poor (or convenient) memory.

It is most unlikely that the spark plug leads or timing would prevent starting unless these had been fiddled with. (e.g. plug leads mixed up)