[Public-List] A-4 problem

[gordon white]

    I have had a lot of battery and magneto  ignition engines give such 
problems. Here is what I would do:

1) if it does not start initially, pour a couple of tablespoonsful of 
gas in the top of the carburetor. If it is a fuel supply problem, 
generally even a gunked-up carburetor, it will at least start and run 
for a few seconds, thus eliminating the ignition system as part of the 
problem.

2) If that gives no result, pull out one or more spark plugs and, with 
them grounded and  still connected to the wires, try turning it over 
again and look for a blue spark. at the plug(s) (no open gasoline in the 
area, please.)  Being sure, of course, that the plugs are not fouled. If 
there is no spark, the ignition system is at fault.

3) If you can get the engine to run fairly well for a few minutes, you 
may be able to tell if when it stops, if it gasped for fuel, or just 
quit cold. In the latter case it could well be the ignition system. 
Coils and condensers may fail when they warm up, though they work, cold.

     Or, the muffler could be clogged, but in that case the engine will 
probably die slowly.

     If it starves for fuel, it will likely backfire or speed up on the 
last drops of fuel. Look for a gummed carburetor, clogged fuel line, 
gummed or empty tank.

     Of course if it has been worked on, the plug wires could be out of 
order or the cam mis-timed. Or water in the gas.

     But a strict process of elimination will safe a lot of false-starts 
in the process.

  - Gordon White,/Brigadoon II/



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