Xflow lost my spark

[chrisb]

Hi guys
A little bit of advice please if you would be so kind ..
so this is how my issue started ...

TVR 1600m 1976
mild state of tune .. fast road
running a non vacuum 45d4 distributor side exit cap ( original screw on .. screws removed adapted to clip on )luminition in cap electronic ign ( points replacement type )
twin 40s maybe running a tad rich .. kicks out smoke black/grey

was as starting a running fine ... no choke on cold start , bit stand off when cold ..
just started every now and again in the garage not driven
done this for a while now , decided I was going to change the RVI 2430 rev counter that has never worked.. replaced it with a dolomite smiths one.. RVI use a strange link wire which I joined together.. car wouldn’t run without doing this .. anyway new wire ran from the - side of the coil and the dolomite rev counter sprang into life
I’d ran out of time to finish the job , so went back to the weekend after..
car started .. but wouldn’t rev ... felt like it was on 2 cylinders.. the engine died and wouldn’t re start .. fuel gauge was close to empty so I put it down to no fuel .
£15 lighter with two cans of petrol .. ( I remember the days when you could just squeeze £2 into a fuel can ) poped it in .. still wouldn’t start .. turning over but no spark
12 volts ar the coil .. no spark out of the coil or plugs ..
have i killed the coil / ignition kit I thought by replacing the rev counter ... I couldn’t understand it
anyway I’ve bought a accuspark stealth ign kit with 12v coil ...
fitted it .. but still engine won’t fire..
checked again for 12v and it’s there ... I put 12v from the battery to the coil and by touching it feed on and off I get a spark inside the cap .. and then at one of the plugs ..
plugs are wet .. blow torched them dry .. no difference.. will not spark when engine is cranked

sorry guys long winded but thought I’d give as much if as I can ..

thanks in advance
chris

[wildo105e]

Hi Chris,

Will it start if you power the coil direct ? Sounds like you are losing 12v to cool on crank maybe ?


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[katana]

Bad fuel set-up and lots of cold start ups without a decent loaded run = fouled plugs. Most plugs these days once they get to this stage are fit only for the bin - they never come back even if seemingly cleaned. I'd try a better guess at the fueling - lack of choke for cold starting is a steer and a new decent set of plugs as a 1st step!

[chrisb]

Hi Dave
I’ve tried with 12v direct from the battery, without the ign on, as I generate a spark by touching the wire the engine responded as it ignited the unburnt fuel in the cylinder the rotor arm had stopped on ... but that was it.

As Katana said it maybe fuel related... so i’ll Try a new set of plugs

[wildo105e]

As Katana said it maybe fuel related... so i’ll Try a new set of plugs

Absolutely, I had a misfire when starting mine. I tested this with a cheap spark tester you plug them in between the plug and lead and they light when sparking. That would confirm you have spark on crank etc. They are about £4 made by laser. new plugs wont do any harm either. Dave Walker did an article years ago how they fail when wet etc so certainly worth a look.

[chrisb]

So I’m just about ready to pour petrol on it and set it on fire ....

It’s got a new coil , new side exit distributor cap , new accuspark stealth kit ... new plugs , new rotor arm

It’s got 12v at the coil from the ignition... rotor arm is turning

Not firing .. no spark

I put 12v to the coil .. and I can it sparking inside the distributor cap .. and with a lead off it sparks at the plug

I’ve tried it
With a jumper lead from the coil but it still doesn’t fire ...

So with the ignition on I rechecked I have a live at the coil + and a live at the coil -
IS THAT RIGHT

The has been running fine until I got felt like it was running out of fuel .. then died ... no spark

Ideas please

[chrisb]

Bad fuel set-up and lots of cold start ups without a decent loaded run = fouled plugs. Most plugs these days once they get to this stage are fit only for the bin - they never come back even if seemingly cleaned. I'd try a better guess at the fueling - lack of choke for cold starting is a steer and a new decent set of plugs as a 1st step!

New plugs ... no different

[wildo105e]

Hi Dave
I’ve tried with 12v direct from the battery, without the ign on, as I generate a spark by touching the wire the engine responded as it ignited the unburnt fuel in the cylinder the rotor arm had stopped on ... but that was it.

if this is still the case then you have spark, but do you get spark when cranking the engine ? if not have you tried a live direct to coil and crank ?

You should have a live and neg to the coil i think the live should come from the accuspark ? IIRC from my anglia i have the same sort of thing.

Dave

[wildo105e]

Also what fuel pump are you using ? Mechanical ones have habit of randomly failing


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[chrisb]

No spark when cranking the engine with or without a direct live feed from the battery positive to the coil +

I can only generate a spark by touching a live to the coil whilst the engine is static ..

Fuel pump is electric.. with a regulator.. pipe has been taken off and I have fuel being delivered

I’m going to get some points & condenser.. then see if that alters anything.. if it starts then accuspark can have it back

[Forest_rallying]

As you have suggested go back to a simple set up to get your engine started with simple points and condensor, then that eliminates the eletronic ignition shite.

[chrisb]

So I bought some points... And they don't fit... Grrrrrrr
img]http://media2.turbosport.co.uk/2013/11/201904200704101196IMG_20190419_180326.jpg[/img]

[chrisb]

[chrisb]

2nd location peg no where near, and the screw won't go into the threads because the hole is in the wrong place

[Miniliteman]

There are 2 types of points: red heel contacts and blue heel contacts.
The distributor you have Should have red heel contacts but it looks like someone replaced the baseplate with the other type.

[chrisb]

Hi all
Thought I'd update here
Accuspark unit returned, no fault found, they are now retesting it after my phone call
Bought a new base plate.. Points now fit and I got a back fire.. Yeah we have a spark!!!
Messed the timing up but I can sort that..
Old base plate has had the advance peg welded.. And the points screw was a larger thread.
Found a lump of what looks like carbon under the base plate... Any ideas anyone?
It was wedged in the slot that the advance arm would normally pass through

Anyway I now await accusparks phone call, ran out of time tonight so will sort the ign timing tomorrow night if I get chance

[chrisb]

[chrisb]

[chrisb]