a4gom Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Changing battery / jump starting Not sure what state of tune yours is in but IME when they have been left for a few months they draw some serious power on initial cranking, I leave mine on a conditioner so would expect the battery to be in tip top condition but if I don't managed to catch it in the first 1/2 a dozen tries I've no chance. It usually fires straight away with a bit of assistance though, I successfully use a decent size power pack or a mains powered booster at home but if you are using jump leads they need to be good quality ones with a decent cross section and make sure you have the jump leads connected up right i.e. on the donor car to the battery terminals and on the westie the +ve to the battery and the -ve to the engine this makes quite a bit of difference. P.s. it may be something else but its worth a try. P.P.s. at yesterdays sprint at croft 2 xflow powered westie needed a little assistance to start but once warm there was no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I use one of these to check for a spark: eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">In-line spark tester You can always borrow mine if you are near to York Good for checking the leads, but not the plug itself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Remove a plug , re connect the plug lead , hold the body of the plug against the engine block (use some insulated handled pliers or similar ) Spin the engine and check to see if there is a good spark across the plug gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcc21racing Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Its worth checking the exhaust system, mainly the exhaust manifold my x-flow at the moment eats gaskets and so causing a leak in the exhaust system. Just a very small leak and it will not run from cold even with jump leads ect, sort the leak and it fires first time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minisweeper Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 That's absolutely fascinating tcc21...I do actually have a small leak in my central exhaust gasket (which is how I knew I was getting smoke out the exhaust!)...I hadn't even thought that would be a problem but could it be that simple? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcc21racing Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 yes it could, surprised me too its the central gasket that goes on mine, it realy doesn't look like much and the car will run when warm with the odd pop and bang from the exhaust. i would put money on it! it realy is worth checking before taking your ignition system apart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Try and get some copper gaskets for the centre exhaust port. You used to be able to get them from the Seven Workshop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minisweeper Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Cheers for your time/bits&pieces today chris - I've just had a quick play with the inline tester and I am getting a bit of a glow with it but nothing which gives me a great deal of confidence... I think I might invest in a battery charger/conditioner and some new exhaust gaskets and see where that takes me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu999 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 i would put money on it! I wouldn't - unless the engine is *highly* tuned - and even then the difference between a slight blow and sealed would be marginal in terms of how things are working at starter speeds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stussysoil Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 No probs mate, let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minisweeper Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 It would seem a little strange I think stu but since I could do with a new gasket anyway it cant hurt to check! We shal see... It's tuned but not *highly*...last check I was getting about 130bhp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu999 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Stranger things and all that But I have started many an engine *without* any exhaust system at all (and probably in most stats of 'blowing' too)before now without problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minisweeper Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 I'll just take the whole thing off then! At least I wont have a leak Might make a bit of noise in the garage though... :S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcc21racing Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 I still would put money on it Ran many an engine too without an exhaust system, you should see the flames you get from a 5.3 v12 jag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minisweeper Posted April 9, 2008 Author Share Posted April 9, 2008 Right..I've swapped all the exhaust gaskets (only swapped them for the standard ones for the time being will invest in the copper ones later if it works) and put on the ignition coil, plugs, and leads that Chris lent me. I also got a battery charger/maintainer which has helped the cranking a lot. Now (on last attempt) I get a pretty effective sounding cough and splutter out of it when I turn it over but it's still not quite starting... Plans for the weekend involve getting it compression tested (subject to finding a compression tester) and maybe investigating the dizzy a bit more to see how it looks... Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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