Rebuilt engine last year. 2 weeks ago I tuned up engine and it ran great. During tune up I found very very fine metal shavings/filings on the inside of the distributor cap. Cleaned it and put on new cap, points, condenser and rotor. Ran super good.
This weekend I had a sudden and rapid shut down with some shaking and some backfiring. Checked timing and it seemed OK. Pulled fuel lines and the new mechanical fuel pump is not sucking gas to carb.
Additionally when I sprayed starting fluid into the carb I got nothing. It just cranks. I have good spark at the coil and at the spark plugs. BUT...when I started moving the distributor around trying to retard and advance the timing (at different settings) I am getting a strange knocking sound. SEATOW skipper and wife said it sounded like a backfire coming out of the exhaust. I heard it but typically a backfire comes from the carb area...this sounded like it was internal. The main thing is that the engine absolutely would not fire up even using starting fluid which is really strange.
Since the camshaft runs the fuel pump and the timing I am having a bad feeling that this may be related to the distributer (shavings/filings). I am guessing that some slop has been occurring in the distributor shaft causing the rotor to scrape some fine metal filings off of the contacts.
Has anyone run into a similar situation? I cannot find a similar thread. I am hoping it is only the fuel pump....here are my thoughts on troubleshooting:
1. The fuel pump has failed and needs to be replaced
2. The distributor has gone bad and needs to be replaced
3. The camshaft has crapped out and a major repair is needed
OK guys...please put on your thinking caps on this one. I just spent over $2500 last year rebuilding. I did not replace the distributor at that time. The fuel pump and sediment bowl were changed out just after the rebuild. Any advice/experience you may have will certainly be looked at and appreciated!
Mike
S/V Plan Sea
Punta Gorda, FL
This weekend I had a sudden and rapid shut down with some shaking and some backfiring. Checked timing and it seemed OK. Pulled fuel lines and the new mechanical fuel pump is not sucking gas to carb.
Additionally when I sprayed starting fluid into the carb I got nothing. It just cranks. I have good spark at the coil and at the spark plugs. BUT...when I started moving the distributor around trying to retard and advance the timing (at different settings) I am getting a strange knocking sound. SEATOW skipper and wife said it sounded like a backfire coming out of the exhaust. I heard it but typically a backfire comes from the carb area...this sounded like it was internal. The main thing is that the engine absolutely would not fire up even using starting fluid which is really strange.
Since the camshaft runs the fuel pump and the timing I am having a bad feeling that this may be related to the distributer (shavings/filings). I am guessing that some slop has been occurring in the distributor shaft causing the rotor to scrape some fine metal filings off of the contacts.
Has anyone run into a similar situation? I cannot find a similar thread. I am hoping it is only the fuel pump....here are my thoughts on troubleshooting:
1. The fuel pump has failed and needs to be replaced
2. The distributor has gone bad and needs to be replaced
3. The camshaft has crapped out and a major repair is needed
OK guys...please put on your thinking caps on this one. I just spent over $2500 last year rebuilding. I did not replace the distributor at that time. The fuel pump and sediment bowl were changed out just after the rebuild. Any advice/experience you may have will certainly be looked at and appreciated!
Mike
S/V Plan Sea
Punta Gorda, FL
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