RODS build........

[tbone]

you should have.... i wrote it up there just now  . It does sound to me like an air lock.

[terry t]

if you got a spark on the plugs the electrics should be ok. static time the engine to tdc. on compression stroke where the rotor arm points to on cap thats no 1 lead.no 1 cylinder is near rad .the rotor turn anti clockwise. firing order is 1 3 4 2

[snafu]

1) Check firing order.

2) If plugs are dry after attempted start, irrespective of choke cover cab inlet with a bit of cardboard (prevents burns to hands in case of backfire) this will draw through more fuel and temporarily negate any air ingress at gaskets.

3) Back pressure only affects performance; engine should start even with no exhaust.

[ROD]

Id like to introduce you to my new hobby.........Trying to start the f****ing Reliant! Tried all the tricks ,not even a cough !Moved the dist. a fraction at a time both directions ,NOTHING!Strong spark at plugs ,but are they breaking down once they are being asked to ignite the fuel in the chambers? The shed stinks of petrol . After trying I take the plugs out ,they are wet with fuel. try them by shorting them to the block ..they fire perfectly!Checked the firing order and static timing so many times that I woke up in my sleep shouting 1-3-4-2! 1-3-4-2!  SWMBO thought I was quoting a position in the Karma Sutra! And Im now looking and smiling at the very heavy hammer standing in the corner of the shed!............Hmmmmm................Just grip the handle with my hand,...swing ,.............hmmmm.....and it'll all be over! ...hmmmmm!

[toad]

rod pm me your no i,ll ring you and try to sort it over the phone cheers toad

[ROD]

I'll try ANYTHING! pm'd...............

[terry t]

hI Rod. you have gone through all the main bits to do with the ignition/timing ect. next thing is fuel.how old is the petrol .try dipping a rag in the tank. go out side and put a match to it to see if it ignites. i had a bike that had been standing for some time and it would not start. petrol vapour smells. but when i tested it . it would not burn .change petrol and it started

[ROD]

Its new petrol! Toad 'phoned earlier ,and suggested a few things which may be the cause. Apparently the timing marks on the pulley could be way off! I was beginning to wonder if I had a dist cap with posts in the wrong place,cos I couldnt get it at tdc AND get the points at the place where they were just about to open ,or thereabouts..  Just b4 he 'phoned I had it running for about 30 secs! Recharged battery and flattened it ! wont start again!The timing must be super critical! Ive never known an engine like it! Ive now wired the 'start' button on the bars to make it easier to throttle it and turn it over at same time.Anyways ,started to make silly mistakes out there now cos Im knackered ,so another day tamara! I'll be out there at about 5 am! guaranteed!B'stard thing! Theres always bonfire night ...hmmmmmmm..!

[tbone]

Timing arggggh......10deg BTDC.......did you know that?
I`m sure Toad would have known.....Yeah i know you need it running first, but its something to think about when static timing.

[toad]

Timing arggggh......10deg BTDC.......did you know that?
I`m sure Toad would have known.....Yeah i know you need it running first, but its something to think about when static timing.
[/quote

thats why we mentioned timing marks even rods did,nt line up and dodgy fuel did,nt help by the sound of it

[tbone]

i knew you`d know 
spose someone had best do a write up on setting the timing n dizzy properly at some point.....anyway i digress

[ROD]

I had good fuel in there from the outset.As I said,difficult to set 10 deg btdc. Hope the battery lasts long enuf this time...Ive now got a ball park window,will keep moving dist a fraction at a time until it fires.
  What is needed is a sticky that explains how to spot if the timing marks dont line up.

[ROD]

Still no joy ! Not even a cough ! Think I 'll give up for a few days to recuperate!

[morrag]

Right, when all else fails, go back to basics. The Reliant motor is very much in the traditional Brit. "cooking" engine style of the past, similar to Morri 1000's and the like, so, just in case the timing marks are wrong, which I doubt, pull the plugs, turn over the motor with a spanner on the crank to find TDC on No1 cylinder by placing your thumb over the plug hole!and feeling for compression. Ensure that the skew gear drive of the distributor is secure, I have had them shear their curl pins, insert dist.in place,with a fag paper between points and turn dist. clockwise until it just releases the paper. Yeah I know, this is not very accurate as regards degrees before TDC and all that, but for this type of motor, it's good enough for the mill to start. If you doubt your fuel supplies or suspect air locks, make up a quart test tank and feed carb. by gravity. Now warm your plugs on the stove, give each cylinder a squirt of fuel, from a syringe or similar, install plugs, throttle closed, no choke, and give it a try, it really should run. Once it does you can 'tweek' the timing, and carburation. This type of motor, if they have been standing a while, need a little encouragement initially, but having run the first time are thereafter fine. One last thing if it has been standing, squirt a little oil into each bore, then spin it over with the plugs out to clear the oil, which will also create an initial piston to bore seal, on a "dry" well used engine, before trying the above. I hope this helps,its "old school" ,"get you out of trouble" 'mechaniking'!but has worked for me many times over the years,so best of..... Morrag

[toad]

something i posted many moons ago this might help? but im gonn ring you anyway!
.
.
thirdly ign timing. can be fun trying to get this right as not all engines like the factory settings! if you look at the timing mark on the pulley 10deg btdc divide in half so you get 5deg btdc then half again to get 2.5deg btdc then play with the timing! you,ve got six variations there! try each setting with or without the vacum advance pipe fitted! you,ll know when you,ve got it right as the motor wont pink or rattle and you,ll definatley notice the differance!