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Update on starting new engine
  • dougc_portland
    Posts: 286Gold Member
    First off, thanks to everyone who has responded to my first thread about starting the rebuilt engine.

    It is not going well. I have literally quadruple-checked everything; plug gap, points gap, timing mark in conjunction with rotor, spark at the points and plugs, etc. I have retarded the spark and advanced it. I even had a good friend who is a very good mechanic looking over my shoulder and he agreed everything looked right.

    The thing we both noticed, aside from the slow cranking, is that it seems to want to flood even though we are applying minimum throttle. The carbs were rebuilt professionally by a local, very reputable carb guy who had all the right tools and gauges for setting up the carbs. This guy does all of the old classic cars in the area. The air fuel mixture screws are backed out 1 and a 1/2 turns. Too much or too little? Also, the throttle plates were fully closed but I have opened them up a tad to let in more air.

    In the morning I am returning the battery to be checked out. I noticed it was built in July 2010 and probably never had a trickle charger on it.

    Thanks again for all the feedback,
    Doug
  • rambos_riderambos_ride
    Posts: 3,124Platinum Member
    If it were a Chevy...I'd check #1 is at TDC, and go thru the plug wiring to make sure its in the right firing order.

    I'd imagine a similar approach on the Hudson would eliminate that as a potential starting problem.
  • Ken U-Tx
    Posts: 1,106Platinum Member
    Was the valve lash set correctly before the starting attempts? Sometimes an engine is assembled, but the valve lash had not been set following a rebuild. Also, check the compression. You said it has sat awhile since it was rebuilt, sometimes valves may stick open especially with new, tight cast iron guides.
  • Steve E
    Posts: 213Gold Member
    Just a thought, have you got the firing order going the right way in the cap? I think the rotor turns clockwise in these engines with # 1 being around 11 o'clock. Been there, done that!