81 hatch dl Im having trouble getting the timing right. I have pulled number one plug and confirmed tdc with the drinking straw and looking in the cylinder with a light.The timing marks line up on zero. I back the flywheel to 8* btdc and set the dizzy to point at the number one plug wire. When i start the car it runs really rough for a few seconds then dies. Its idling at 600 rpm. I can run the idle screw all the way in or all the way and anywhere in between and it makes no difference on the rpm. What the heck am i missing?

a timing light.

 

Also you are probably adjusting the mixture screw not the idle screw.  Dead center base of carb is mixture.  On the side above throttle linkage is the idle speed.

I only see one adjusting screw on the piece of crap hitachi. I have rolled the motor over a zillion times. The timing is set at 8* btdc, rotor pointing directly at #1 on the cap. I try and start the car it will run super rough for about 5 seconds revs to about 800 rpm, puffs black smoke out of the carb then dies. Anyone have any ideas?

Well i have had the carb rebuilt, new head gaskets, new intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, plugs and wires, cap rotor, coil, ignition pick up, adjusted valves, new fuel filter, new air filter. Adjusted timing. The car ran good. After all of that i decided to go for a drive. I drove the car all day let it sit for a couple hours then drove about three blocks and the car died and now will not start. Anyone have any ideas on where to go next?

Make sure your fuel pump is getting power.

..."and the car died"

 

Sometimes it helps to know how it died.  Suddenly, could mean an electrical problem or timing problem.  Slowly with a hurt dance, could mean a fuel related problem.  With a lot of noise, could mean a mechanical problem.

Just quit running. No noise or shutter or anything. Just like i tirned the key off. Went from driving to dead...

Ok. Tested fuel pump. There is 11.56 volts while cranking. I poured a little fuel into the carb and it tried to run. Is it possible for the fuel pump to be weak?

Ok. Tested fuel pump. There is 11.56 volts while cranking. I poured a little fuel into the carb and it tried to run. Is it possible for the fuel pump to be weak?

 

Doubtful.  low pressure pump if it's workin at all it's fine.

 

I am goin bet you got a clogged up carb.

 

Pull the top of carb (can do on motor)  and unscrew the 4 brass emulsion tubes visible after removing top and blow them out.  Rebuild kit is cheap so you can reseal for resassembly.

Already blown out tubes.

You say "had the carb rebuilt".......By who?  and did they ACTUALLY remove the emulsion tubes and clear them?

 

Too often "rebuilding" the carb is simply considered takin it apart, and reinstalling new seals........

 

Somethin isn't right if it's not getting fueled.

Carb taken off, taken apart, cleaned out soaked and put back together with new gaskets.

Carb taken off, taken apart, cleaned out soaked and put back together with new gaskets.

 

Do you know that the actual 4 small brass tubes were actually removed and blown out........not just soaked?

 

Not trying to harp on this but unless they were cleared positively....they are suspect.......

 

If nothing else pull the bowl drain plugs and see if the bowl is actually full of fuel......Perhaps the float is stuck closed?

Ill pull the top and blow air in the tubes.

pull the tubes out.

 

then blow air back through them. no matter how hard you try you cant get a bowling ball through a funnel, but you can get it unstuck by reversing flow though

Pulled the top off the carb. Unscrewed tubes and blew air back through them. Also the bowl has fuel in it. No change as far as running. Anyone wanna buy this headache :-)

Edited July 13, 201411 yr by 91 subaru

Pulled the top off the carb. Unscrewed tubes and blew air back through them. Also the bowl has fuel in it. No change as far as running. Anyone wanna buy this headache :-)

you deliver....

I almost would

dont make me call that bluff, id like a twin for my gl hatch

Just quit running. No noise or shutter or anything. Just like i tirned the key off. Went from driving to dead...

 

Sounds more like an timing/electrical problem to me.  Have you checked your timing belts ?

No timing belts in this car. But you were right. Timing was off just enough to make it not run. Its running now. Sounds sick but it is running

No timing belts in this car. But you were right. Timing was off just enough to make it not run. Its running now. Sounds sick but it is running

 

Progress !  That's always a good feeling

Sure is. Thanks for the help fellas. By the way, i am going to sell this car once its running good.