Volvo RWD 120-130 Forum

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Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Justin on Sat Dec 2 12:15 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Hello,

After a week of distractions, I am finally back on the 122. It has a D-jet equiped B20. Fuel is getting to the cylinders, and they are getting spark. So was I, if I wasn't careful. It still won't start, however.

What's happening is that it will crank, then every few revolutions, a there's a really loud bang!, followed by a sound that can only be described as "dwoooooop, pop." This is more quiet, and the note is a rising one. I'd guess these are gasses burning that have accumulated in the exhaust. It that true?

Once I got home to type this, I realized that the timing is set to 0.0 degrees before/after TDC. Oops! But would the ignition timing being so far out of whack keep it from running competely? What about cam timing? I remember checking about 42 times that the dots were lined up on the gears before putting the cover on, but the little gremlins are about to make me pull off the cover and look a 43rd time.

Thanks,

Justin

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Re: Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Peter on Sun Dec 3 12:56 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Hi Justin,

Apologies for totally spurious firing order. Hope I didn't lead you too far up the garden path.

Good luck getting it started, It may be worth checking that the trigger contacts in the bottom part of the dizzy are free. I once spent ages trying to get an 1800ES to run, turned out the pivots on the trigger contacts were furred up. Sprayed them with freeing oil and the car ran perfectly

Regards

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Re: Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Andrew on Sat Dec 2 12:38 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Timing will definitely keep an engine from running. Set the engine on TDC #1, 0 degrees on the pulley. Then pull off the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing to the #1 tower on the cap. There is even a mark on the distributor to line the rotor up with. Since it has an offset key, the distributor can't be in wrong. If this is all right, and you have spark and fuel, the engine should start. If not, you might want to check that cam timing...

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Re: Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Peter on Sat Dec 2 12:38 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I may be trying to teach my granny to suck eggs here, if so please forgive me. However are you sure you have the basic timing correct. If you set the engine to Top dead centre, then by definition either number 1 or 4 must be on its firing stroke. You can check which by feeling the rocker arms. On the firing stroke both valves must be closed so either 1 or 4 will have clearance between the rocker and the valve. the cylinder that has both valves closed is the one your rotor arm should be pointing at in the dizzy cap. Remember a B20 dizzy rotates anti clockwise, firing order 1-4-3-2.

Regards

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Re: Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Ron Kwas on Sun Dec 3 04:33 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Peter;

It's been a while, but I believe you meant: 1-3-4-2!

Justin;

Ignition of unburned fuel in the exhaust sys suggests an ignition problem-ignition is not occuring where (and when) it is supposed to. You should verify your cam/valve to distriutor(including plug wiring).

Good hunting!

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Re: Can't start new engine 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Peter on Sun Dec 3 06:08 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I think 'll go and wipe that egg off my face now, you're quite right don't know what was thinking!

Regards

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has the drivegear been checked? 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be iadr on Sun Dec 3 17:01 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I seems to me the toughest thing about reassembling a b18/b20 is to put the drive rod in the distributor hole so that it rests at 35 deg once the gear engages with the cam gear. Whats tricky is that the gear rotates in your fingers as it engages in the helical gear on the cam. The old IPD tech sheets say this is the number one problem of their customers. Mine too. I would think this is it almost for sure.

Ian

who has embarassingly, tried to start the 544 several times when this was wrong

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Re: has the drivegear been checked? 120-130 66

posted by someone claiming to be Justin on Mon Dec 4 03:40 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Well, I do recall payiong special attention to that when I put the engine together again last summer. I do not, however, remember what I did. It took several tries to get it right. I do know that now, when the engine is at TDC, the rotor points to the #1 plug wire and the little mark on the dizzy housing. Would that indicate that I got the drive gear in right? I remember staying up for hours trying to get the silly thing right.

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