Howdy folks:
I got the new head gasket on.... She started right up and there's no evidence of water in the cylinders.
I've had her running for a total of about 20 minutes, and I'm still troubleshooting an intermittent shutdown problem, although I think I have that winnowed down to low fuel pressure. I've bypassed the OPSS, the primary circuit, the priming bulb, the Racor. The carb is clean as a whistle, floats adjusted. All that's left is the Facet electric pump, which, according to Don, is a likely suspect, as it's old and the Catalina 30s are susceptible to low fuel pressure, etc....
Here's my new problem. I'll give it to you in stages:
1.) I did a spring replacement, as three of the springs were broken. In the process I MAY have let one of the valve keepers fall into the crankcase via the little holes. I don't know that this happened, as I had the holes plugged most of the time, but I still can't account for one of the keepers. I had ordered an extra set, at the prompting of Ken at MMI (nice call, Ken).
2.) The engine ran incredibly well for those first 20 minutes -- more smoothly than I've ever heard her run. She started right up after a couple seconds of full choke. All was good. Today, however, I had difficulty getting her started. She finally did start, but she was running roughly, then suddenly she seemed to snap out of it. However, just as she snapped out of it, I touched the #2 spark plug and it was so freaking hot that it gave me a blister. So I shut her down. The #1 spark plug was just as hot... but #3 and #4 were a normal temp -- just warm. The engine was only running for 60-90 seconds. During that time I fine tuned the timing by rotating the distributor. The #1 and #2 sparks were badly fouled, while #3 and #4 were more or less normal. Also, the water was exiting the exhaust at a normal rate.
3.) While she was running well, I noticed that there was an oil leak coming from the oil pressure adjustment nut. I tightened it down, thinking that might stop the leak. It didn't, so I tightened some more to no avail. I have a sealed washer on the way.... Also, my oil pressure and water temp gauges are in-op. Both are on the way. Also, the engine was rebuilt by MMI back in 2002.
4.) I recently opened up the water jacket and cleaned it thoroughly, along with the T-fitting, replaced the gasket and installed new bolts. I don't think this has anything to do with the problem, but I thought it should be mentioned.
So there it is. What could cause the #1 and #2 spark plugs to heat up like that, and yet allow #3 and #4 to remain relatively cool? Could it have anything to do with the missing valve keeper? Again, I don't know that it's in the crank case.... I know this is scarce and incomplete information to go on, but it's the best I can do at the moment.
Thanks in advance, gentlemen.... Sorry to keep coming back to the well....
d
I got the new head gasket on.... She started right up and there's no evidence of water in the cylinders.
I've had her running for a total of about 20 minutes, and I'm still troubleshooting an intermittent shutdown problem, although I think I have that winnowed down to low fuel pressure. I've bypassed the OPSS, the primary circuit, the priming bulb, the Racor. The carb is clean as a whistle, floats adjusted. All that's left is the Facet electric pump, which, according to Don, is a likely suspect, as it's old and the Catalina 30s are susceptible to low fuel pressure, etc....
Here's my new problem. I'll give it to you in stages:
1.) I did a spring replacement, as three of the springs were broken. In the process I MAY have let one of the valve keepers fall into the crankcase via the little holes. I don't know that this happened, as I had the holes plugged most of the time, but I still can't account for one of the keepers. I had ordered an extra set, at the prompting of Ken at MMI (nice call, Ken).
2.) The engine ran incredibly well for those first 20 minutes -- more smoothly than I've ever heard her run. She started right up after a couple seconds of full choke. All was good. Today, however, I had difficulty getting her started. She finally did start, but she was running roughly, then suddenly she seemed to snap out of it. However, just as she snapped out of it, I touched the #2 spark plug and it was so freaking hot that it gave me a blister. So I shut her down. The #1 spark plug was just as hot... but #3 and #4 were a normal temp -- just warm. The engine was only running for 60-90 seconds. During that time I fine tuned the timing by rotating the distributor. The #1 and #2 sparks were badly fouled, while #3 and #4 were more or less normal. Also, the water was exiting the exhaust at a normal rate.
3.) While she was running well, I noticed that there was an oil leak coming from the oil pressure adjustment nut. I tightened it down, thinking that might stop the leak. It didn't, so I tightened some more to no avail. I have a sealed washer on the way.... Also, my oil pressure and water temp gauges are in-op. Both are on the way. Also, the engine was rebuilt by MMI back in 2002.
4.) I recently opened up the water jacket and cleaned it thoroughly, along with the T-fitting, replaced the gasket and installed new bolts. I don't think this has anything to do with the problem, but I thought it should be mentioned.
So there it is. What could cause the #1 and #2 spark plugs to heat up like that, and yet allow #3 and #4 to remain relatively cool? Could it have anything to do with the missing valve keeper? Again, I don't know that it's in the crank case.... I know this is scarce and incomplete information to go on, but it's the best I can do at the moment.
Thanks in advance, gentlemen.... Sorry to keep coming back to the well....
d
Comment