dorris wont start, help needed !

[tobiasfg]

my beloved morris "dorris", decided yesterday (after i fitted a new distributor), that she did not want to start. i assumed the distributor was not working so i checked the sparks (there was a spark at all the plugs). after this i assumed that the timing was of so i static set the timing, still nothing. after this i assumed that the new distributor was bad karma so put the old one back on (it worked before i put the new one on), still nothing. I then thought that it may be the new carberetta that i fitted 2 days prior (even though the car was running after i put the new carb on), so i put the old one back on, still nothing. Then i tested the compression, it is the same (about 9 bar) for all four cylinders. this is currently beating me as i have no clue what has gone wrong. (i have also tryed changing the coil)

any help anyone can offer would be lovely.

i am in woodchurch in kent by the way if anyone is local

[beero]

My guess would be that you have somehow mixed up the leads. Make sure no1 lead is sparking when no1 cylinder is at TDC with both valves closed. Welcome to the forum anyway and good luck.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

There are two other points worthy of mention. With ignition on, ready to start up, check the fuel pump is working by listening for a rapid ticking and lifting the cover of the float bowl, which should of course be full of petrol. Pull the choke fully out.

Try and fire the engine. If you have no luck the next step is to loosen the distributor clamp nut so that it can be turned, and you should do this slowly with the ignition on and operating the starter. The timing may be 180 degrees out.

[bmcecosse]

It's NEVER the coil - put the old one back on. You changed the dizzy -why?? - and it doesn't start - so the problem lies with the dizzy - or the way you have fitted it. Where did the 'new' dizzy come from?

[tobiasfg]

i had a missfire prior to changeing the dizzy, thats why i changed it. as far as i can tell the distributor is positioned correctly ( rotor arm points to the lead for plug number 1 when it is at tdc. the distributor is an accuspark points type distributor (and i have put the old one back on and i still get nothing. the leads are on correctly 1342 anticlockwise.

[Chris Edgar]

If the dizzy is producing a spark at all 4 plugs the it is probably working ok.

Each cylinder comes up to TDC twice during a "cycle"...once is on the compression stroke, when the spark should occur. The other TDC is on the exhaust stroke, when the spark will not do anything.
You have to be certain you have it sparking on the compression TDC
if it is the exhaust TDC where you have set your dizzy, then you need to re-fit the dizzy 180 deg & try again.

This is the most likely & easily made mistake when fitting a dizzy.

[bmcecosse]

Just swop the plug leads round two places and try again..