Does anyone know if new engines are supposed to be hard to start? I have tried lining up the gear on the destributor and putting the engine on dead center, it cranks but won't start. Would it be a good idea to push start it even if the timing might be slightly off? Can't wait to hear that bridgeport idle!

 

Don't know what to tell you. My bridgeport started on the first try once the carb was filled with gas and then cranked. Ofcourse the timing needs to be correct and working. And have non-fowled plugs on. Ofcourse last time I put the bridgeport in, I put in the distrubuter on and it wouldn't start. Later I discovered the leading ignitor went out on it, put it back on with a spare distrubuter I had and it started on first try.

 

Intentionally setting the timing a little bit retarded may help. Are you sure you got the distributor gear lined up with the right mark? It's the little dimple and not the cast-in thingy. Sometimes nothing works except pulling the sucker down the road the first time. Good luck with it! -WG

 

I'm pretty sure all of my spark plugs are working and that i line up the distributor right. The only thing i'm not totally sure about is the e-shaft pulley being on the center because i had it removed and didn't mark the way it is supposed to go back, so i took the spark plugs out and rotated the engine until i saw an apex seal at the first leading spark plug hole, and installed the pulley from that position, slightly moving the engine downwards of course to make sure the top apex is at the top of the engine. I guess my last try would be pulling it, just wasn't sure if that was a good idea for a new engine.

 

check spark on the plug wires. fuel. clean air filter. new motors get some sort of assembly lube put in there so the seals will be lubed during first start. vaseline is commonly used and does foul plugs and makes it tougher for the motor to turn, since it's thicker than gas or oil.

-bp-

 

Isn't your main pulley keyed so it only goes on one way?

 

I believe on 13b's the main pulley is keyed but not on the 12a, there are 4 different positions it could be on. I did put a lot of oil when putting the engine together also some vaseline probably got in there from the rotor housings, maybe that is causing it not to start?!!

 

are you saying that you separated the pulley itself from the part that actually bolts to the eccentric shaft?

if you did ... oh boy?

i believe some of the 12A pullies had a notch to line them up - what year is yours? the only thing i can think of is to either get another one that has NEVER been separated or go through the hassle of trying all 4 positions ... but definitely sort that out before trying to start or you could be in for a lot of unnecessary headaches.

 

Actually what happened is that i bought an engine block with a lot of its accessories missing so i rebuilt it and after i had it put together, i transferred all the parts from the engine i already had in the car to the new one, so i had to remove the pulley. If i took off the whole pulley assembly again and found the key on the eccentric shaft, is it supposed to be facing upwards for the engine to be on dead center? Oh and, it is an '84 rx7.

 

Try turning it over for a bit with the spark plugs removed to spit out some of the excess assembly lube. Clean and replace the spark plugs and make sure you've got fuel. If all else fails tow start the bitch.

 

If I'm not mistaken the keyway should be at the
9 o'clock position at TDC, at least that's the way it is on an RX3. That could definitely be your problem. -WG