tucka786

Again thanks for the advice/input. I will try again then feedback.

Thanks for the replies. The straw test ..should the piston have full travel to the top? or at the start of the compression stroke i.e just starting to rise from the bottom ? or somwhere in between ? I checked the coil teminals with a 12v test lamp and light comes on both on + and - when grounded. When I crank the engine the test light goes dim from both + and - of the coil . Is this correct ? Also is it possible to set tdc with a test lamp ?

I don't think there's timing belt...compression is good.

Thanks to everyone replying to my earlier posts I did get the engine (bench test) started. However after trying again after a few days it won't start again. I followed previous advice and did the following again 1) set tdc by removing sparkplug cylinder #1 , rotated pulley until all pressure released.Replaced sparkplug and wire. 2) set rotor pointing at #1 , first cylinder on left side (when looking at engine from front) 3) coil wiring is correct yellow to minus and black and white to positive. 4)Have checked spark plug leads and firing order correct to all cylinders 5) Have repalced engine with new plugs and fuel is getting to carb by using easy start spray just get it firing Engine will crank over fine won't not fire again. Can't think why as it fired only a few days back. Have also tried to locate tdc by using test light by attaching negative lead to minus of coil and grounding it on engine. Have rotated the pulley but test light stays all the time so can't set tdc? I'm thinking it could be the distributor ? but I'm getting spark to all the plugs and they engine fired only a few days back. The distributor is a Hitachi D4R82.Is it possible to test the distributor outside the car and if so how ? Could it be the coil ? Really need help to get it firing again . Thanks in advance. Tucker.

Thanks for the reply. Is there any test I can do with the distrubutor to make sure it functions correctly and providing the correct spark at the right time ?

Thanks to everyone replying to my earlier posts I did get the engine started. However after trying again after a few days it won't start again. I followed previous advice and did the following 1) set tdc by removing sparkplug cylinder #1 , rotated pulley until all pressure released.Replaced sparkplug and wire. 2) set rotor pointing at #1 , first cylinder on left side (when looking at engine from front) 3) coil wiring is correct yellow to minus and black and white to positive. Car will crank over fine but not fire. Can't think why as it fired only a few days back. Have try to locate tdc by using test light by negative lead to minus of coil and grounding it on engine. Have rotated the pulley but test light stays all the time ? I'm thinking it could be the distributor mabe the points are not opening or closing correctly? but I'm getting spark to all the plugs. The distributor is a Hitachi D4R82 and I don't know how to set the points correcty.Is it possible to test the distributor outside the car and if so how ? Any help / advice appreciated again. Thanks in advance. Tucker.

Checked cylinder #1 and took out sparkplug placed finger on sparkplug hole and rotated pulley until all pressure was released, set the distributor rotor pointing at cylinder 1 cranked it over and it fired up straightaway. Thanks for to everyone for all the help.

Took all the spark plugs and they were wet with fuel from my previous days attempt to start the engine. Gave them a clean and refitted them. I have tried starting again and still not firing but still cranks over fine. Sparks getting to all plugs and fuel be applied directly to carb manifold ( easy start spray) just to try to get it to fire once ..... Can anyone offer some advice on spark lead wiring to the correct cylinders as i'm thinking the spark leads maybe connected incorrectly. Carbs do need seem to be standard as this engine was fitted in a vw beetle and I know the engine was running fine before it was removed. Also will timing on the distributor affect it from firing ? Also can someone help me with a step by step guide on how to set bdtc on the pulley as I cannot think what else can be the problem causing it not to fire. Any more wires that I have missed? Thanks in advance. Tucker

I am in the process of bench testing a EA81 engine so it is the out of the car. Following advice from my earlier post I now have the coil attached correctly (wires from distributor ,black & white to + of coil and Yellow to - of coil). I have a live feed from the + of the battery to the + of the coil. The fuel pump is pumping fuel into the carb. I do not have a fuel pump control unit attched to the fuel pump so when pump has power it is on constantly while I crank the engine.The engine cranks over fine but is not firing. There is spark to the plugs. Am I missing any other wires to make the engine fire ? Does any wires have to be attached to the alternator in order to make it fire ? Any help/input appreciated . Thanks in advance. Tucker

Hello, I need some advice on the wiring of a coil on a EA81 engine which I am currently bench testing so it is out of the car. I know I have to have a live feed directly from the battery onto the postive side of the coil. I have the following wires from the distributor which I am not sure of Yellow Black and white Does the yellow place on the minus side of the coil and the black and white to the postive side of the coil ? Is there any other wires that need to be on the coil from either the distrubutor or engine ? Thanks in advance Tucker