new sparky things

ok, checked the spark plugs...  the #3 and 4 plugs didn't look so hot, kinda black...  according to the "how F'd up are your spark plugs" chart i have that might be carbon deposits (meaning rich mixture or weak ignition) or oil (meaning worn valve guide or piston rings-ouch)...  i don't think it was oil as it was more chalky...

oddly, plugs #2 and 1 looked better, so i hope it's not the oil issue then....

anywho, put in all new plugs and tried to fire it up again without any luck, so i decided to swap out the coil to see if that would help - negative...  i dumped a cap-full of gas down the throat of the carb and it fired up pretty quick...  ran about the same as always, dying eventually when i pulled back the choke...

 
this makes me still think it's a fuel flow issue...  maybe there's something clogging up the flow somewhere in the line, but under load (choke, acceleration) it forces enough gas through, but when you try to let it idle down it doesn't flow enough to keep it running...  i know my fuel reserve tap is messed up and i have a rebuild kit for it... also ordered a fuel pump rebuild kit, will try that too....

"Love" that exhaust

Got the exhaust mocked up.  I hope it sounds good and flows right.  I am going to raise it a pinch to make sure I have ground clearance.  Brian, just rip the engine down to the block, you will find your problem.

no spark.....

so my streak of running away from having a running engine continues...  changed the timing up a little bit to see if that would help anything, but then i couldn't even get it to start... the starter motor just turns and turns... it tried once or twice, but nothing...

took off the cover plate for the accelerator pump on the front of the carb...  the accelerator pump gasket looks fresh and new... gas poured out when i took the cover off, so i know gas is getting from the bowl to the accelerator pump...  sprayed carb cleaner and air in there to loosen up the balls in there in case they were stuck... no change... gas

now it just won't start, not sure of the timing is so off it won't start, or what... might try a new coil next, and check the spark plugs, maybe they are fouled from all the crap i've been trying....

no improvement

ok, so started it up (which always takes a lot of cranks) after fiddling with the carb from last time... didn't change anything, so decided to change the points and condensor (geez what a pain to change the condensor!!), then it was a pain to set the points too (i know tom, be quiet)...

 

 

 you can see the condensor looks older than dad...  and the points are all pitted, not sure what that means....

well, no change to speak of... backfired a few times in the video, which it normally doesn't do... it really seems like a fuel issue...  it seems to stay at higher RPM's even after i let off the gas...  and of course after i cut the choke it dies... now i am wondering if the timing/advance is off... when i set the timing it seemed way too advanced, maybe i messed it up and at higher RPM's it's where it should be, but at idle it's a mess....

had an hour to spare

so, i popped the top off the carb to take a peek...  everything looked fine...  the float seemed loose, not stuck on anything and the needle valve seemed ok too...  i shot carb cleaner through all the jets, etc., just to see if that does anything...  i'll try to start it this weekend, and see if it helps...

here's my fancy (read:expensive) new battery...

might take a look at the accelerator pump next, and see if the the little balls in there are stuck...

Spy photo?, Is it true, Has buzzsaw gone on another diet???

Project shrouded in secrecy? It like the stealth bomber? 200 hp, 1300lbs