LCGB Forums

Just fitted a varitronic plus rebuilt the top end, tried to start it last week and eventually got it started but took a load of kicks to get it going. I tried again at weekend and again tonight and it's just not starting. Checked the wiring and it looks right the plug is sparking and was wet with fuel. Set up is Imola small block with franspeed so I set it around 19 degrees based on cam lam website not stobed yet as it only ran for a couple of minutes.
Only other bit of info after 5 or 6 kicks I seemed to get kickback, I think it's electrical or timing but any thoughts.

set your timing to around 24 BTDC at tick over, more advance should make it a little easier to start, but suspect there may be another underlying issue?

Use your strobe to detect if a spark is actually being generated. (Your strobe light will flash if it is.)
Could be an HT leak, which can be a sod to find. The damp weather of winter doesn't help.
Change your plug cap for a new one ( especially if its a generic unbranded cap). If you are using resistive sparkplugs then make sure your plugcap is 'straight through' without any suppression resistance.
NGK caps work well on Lammy's.
Noise suppression resistance can be in the HT lead, Spark plug cap or the spark plug. Make sure it's only applied to one of these only, as any more will just give you a very weak spark.
Kicking back suggests very advanced timing........
Get a mate to kick it over with the plug out and use your timing light to try and get a degree reading off the flywheel. Confirm / adjust as required.

My most recent engine build wouldn't start, like yours has Varitronic which is in all my engines. I couldn't understand it because Varitronics usually makes starting a first/second kick thing.

Anyway, to get it started I set the Varitronic to full retard, and she fired up instantly allowing me to check the timing and set properly.

May be worth a try.

Not everyone likes Varitronic, but I do, I have had many reliable miles from it.

Warren

P.S. I'm no technical guru, it is just something I tried and it worked.

dscscotty wrote:set your timing to around 24 BTDC at tick over, more advance should make it a little easier to start, but suspect there may be another underlying issue?

+1

thanks all for the help, had another quick check last night and I have got the wires on the CDI the wrong way... didn't get chance to see if that's fixed it but will give it a go tonight.