SOME "OBVIOUS" THINGS !
How many times have we heard (or said) "My engine won't start!" Too many to count, that's for sure and with that in mind I decided to outline a few of the basic steps to go through (or up) before you haul everything back to the shop for a refund, a battle of personalities, a slanging match, or even a fight.:-)
You spin the motor but nothing happens! What's wrong?? Well all engines need three things, these being compression, fuel, and a method to ignite the fuel, either a spark-plug or a glo-plug. (We're not talking diesels here)
So the first and easiest thing to check is compression.
Turn the engine over by hand (Not a starter)
Is there a point where it gets difficult to turn the motor over followed by a point where it suddenly becomes easy? If so the "hard" part (G) is where you're forcing the air inside the motor into a progressively smaller space . This is done by moving the piston up the bore to the point where it resists effort to such a degree that it's noticeably more difficult. If this happens on your engine, you have compression so it's time to check something else.
Have you got fuel going into the engine? Check first to see if there's fuel in the TANK. If there is, check to see if it travels down the fuel line to the carb. Do this by giving the tank a "blow-job" Wrap your lips round the VENT pipe and blow. Fuel should flow out of the line going to the carb. If it DOESN'T, then you have a blockage somewhere. Find the blockage and clear it.
Now you have fuel travelling down the line, but is it getting into the carb? To check this you remove the main needle valve adjuster and give the tank another "blow-job". Fuel should flow out of the hole where the needle usually is. If it does, replace the needle and screw it all the way in, but DON'T overtighten it. Now turn the needle OUT 2 full turns. It may not be absolutely correct for you fuel/engine combination, but it'll certainly be enough to allow the engine to run if all else is correct, which brings us to the last of the three "essentials".
Assuming a Glo-motor it's time to check the plug. Don't fart about trying to start the engine by grinding away with the starter till your eyes drop out, better to take the plug out and do a proper check. So, remove the plug.
When the plug's out and in your sweaty mitt, connect it to your power supply (NOT 12 Volts either) with the power turned down to the minimum, or if you have a two position (high and low) driver, use the LOW position.
Is there a BRIGHT orange glo?? If not, turn up the power progressively, or select "High-Amp" on the panel. If you don't get a glo at ANY position, or the glo is not BRIGHT, but a piss poor attempt, then the plug's knackered so bin it and get a new one.
Same thing with the new one. Test it physically BEFORE you put it in the motor, using the above method. If you start with a low power setting and gradually work up to a higher setting, there's little chance of "blowing" (that word again:-) the plug, but starting at high power can cost you a plug and you never got you use it, so think on.
So to summarise. If you've got compression, fuel (in about the right quantity and a good glo (or spark) you have an engine that WILL run. No doubt about it. If it doesn't run, one of the three is missing. Now all you have to do is "fine tune" the mix of fuel and air and you can be 3Deeing all over the place in no time:-)
More of other stuff later.
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