Ignition Problem - cranks, but won't start...? Options

[CoronaMike]

Hi all,

I feel like I've tried everything, so I'm appealing to to the sage wisdom of the board.

ok - 74 1.8 Ljet. Was running - albeit started getting a little rough - so I thought maybe the timing was off, or needed new points - etc. Tune up stuff.

Had a really weak spark coming off #s 1&2.

I got a new: Coil, Wires, Cap, Rotor, points, and condenser (which i noticed was hooked to the + side of the coil.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) which I thought was kinda weird it had been running fine at all.

Anyway - when i put it all back together - i made sure that:

Notch on fan was at TDC when cylinder 1 valves were all the way in.

Dizzy - and rotor (pointing at notch) are in the right spot (if not close enough).

Points gaped at .016 (at least until I can get running to put the dwell meter on it)

I DO have 12 volts at the coil.

But - it will start. Not even a stumble.. nothing.


Ideas?

Thanks!! - mike

[Superhawk996]

What you don't mention is whether or not you have strong spark now after all your changes.

Fuel
Compression
Ignition (at the right moment)

One of the three is missing

You can check each of the spark plugs to observe if you now have a hot spark. Then double check whether you have the wires routed to the cap in the proper firing order.

Will it run or at least cough on starting fluid? That will rule out fuel.

If the other two don't get a cough or two, have you run a compression test?

[CoronaMike]

What you don't mention is whether or not you have strong spark now after all your changes.

Fuel
Compression
Ignition (at the right moment)

One of the three is missing

You can check each of the spark plugs to observe if you now have a hot spark. Then double check whether you have the wires routed to the cap in the proper firing order.

Will it run or at least cough on starting fluid? That will rule out fuel.

If the other two don't get a cough or two, have you run a compression test?

How could I check to see if I have a spark if it won't start? The way I checked the spark before was pulling the wire off the distributor while it was running. Would I have to have someone else turn the key and check the spark while it's cranking?

The wires are in the right order. I'm sure it's not fuel, since it started fine every time until i started messing with the wires/distributor, etc.

It seems like the timing is just way off somehow - but - the valves on #1 are closed at TDC.

Compression should be fine - the engine was rebuilt < 5k miles ago.