Engine won't start

[RhodeRunner]

RR is back, work kept me busy for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the feedback.

#1TDC. I determined this by cutting a hole to see the role pin of the flywheel. I was able to make a tool to assist in rotating the flywheel CC to the point of maximum compression and completed the turn till the roll pin was vertical. At some point I mixed up the leads (i’m less of a newbie now then I was at the beginning of this saga) so I don’t know where they were when the electric ignition worked. Back to factory settings seemed like the best option.

Update since last post. The starter was underperforming more and more, which was making troubleshooting difficult. I brought it in to get serviced. Turns out the casting (within the flywheel) has significantly worn where the shaft entered allowing significant play. Lucky for me they had a previously serviced starter and solenoid on hand. And I didn’t need to wait for the service.

New starter installed. Like waking up suddenly healthy after a persistent illness and realizing you had forgotten how debilitating it had been - the starter is fantastic. Engine turns over with ease, but still shuts down quickly. I suspect it is finding the right idle mixture or the adjustable main jet setting and we will be off.

As always the fresh water through hull fitting is firmly in the closed position, but looking forward to bringing it to the open position with sustained engine running.

-RR

[JackConnick]

Happy to report back that I was indeed 180° off. SBMolly's ideas of having my "remote starter" (my wife) turn over the engine, then rotate twice afterwards did the trick. I agree, no way to feel the compression with a finger and using hand rotation otherwise.

I did pull and rotate the distributor around 180°, as my spark plug wires reach each spot exactly. I tried setting the timing using Don's trick of seeing where the continuity off the coil stopped. I used a volt meter to see the current.

She then started up easily. However the spark was really retarded. I ran up the revs a bit and rotated the distributor for max revs and she was a lot happier.

I have an Islander 28 so access to the front of the engine is easy.

Thanks guys for you help!

Jack

[RhodeRunner]

RR is running!
Some carburetor adjustment to find the idle. Starts up fast and wants to cut if I don't bring the throttle down quickly. Held true under load with the prop turning.

[JackConnick]

I would run it up and then turn the distributor for max revs.

Jack

[sastanley]

Good news, RR!