wankel1988

iTrader: (1)

I have just rebuilt my 88 GXL engine, in process of trying to start the thing. I have a big noob question.... when I spin my engine clockwise, which way should the CAS rotate??? I think I might have my drive gear backwards, causing the CAS to turn backwards, causing my no start. Someone please help me or direct me to the best place to look for this. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

pfsantos

iTrader: (1)

Your CAS drive on the eccentric shaft cannot be backwards. Hold a screw and spin it 180° - you'll see what I mean...but...you may have the wrong side facing the back. The FSM (see sig. for links) talks about a chamfer on the inside, but I won't say which way it goes off memory. If it's wrong, it may put the CAS off a little bit.

I would first re-stab the CAS with engine at TDC and put it into the front cover again, being careful so the gear doesn't turn. Some people take off the cover on the CAS, and make a corresponding mark to know when the gear is aligned.

wankel1988

iTrader: (1)

what should be aligned? I thought that the upper "pointer" should point to the lower corner of the left side pickup and the upper side of the right pickup, is this right?

HAILERS

You hold the CAS out of the car, in your hand. You align the marks on the bottom gear with the mark on the CAS housing as is shown in the FSM.

Common sense at this time will tell you that you should remove the black, flat cover off the top of the CAS, and note where the moving parts are in relation to the fixed, non moving parts in the CAS. The pointer opposite the black coil is just about where it should be when the marks on the bottom of the CAS are aligned.

Now install the CAS in the engine while the front pulley mark is aligned with the fixed pin on the front cover. Once installed, you rotate the CAS body til the pointer in the top of the CAS is again where it was prior to installation.

Timing should now be within approx five degrees of where it should be. You need to take a timing light to the thing to get spot on timing.

The CAS drive gear can be installed *** backwards, but it'll still drive the CAS gear in the right direction. What will be bad, is that the CAS will have to be rotated more than the slot in the CAS body will currently allow. Action must be take to overcome that problem is that ever happens to you.

wankel1988

iTrader: (1)

Should the car still start, even if the drive gear is backwards. That is my biggest question right now, or should I have to move the CAS up or back a tooth at a time?

HAILERS

IF the drive gear is put on backwards, the timing will be off quite a bit. Normally the CAS sits with its lockdown nut/bolt more or less in the center of the slot, than not, when the timing is right/gear is on right etc.

A lot of things might cause the engine to be hard to start other than the drive gear on backwards. So it's hard to say what to do. IF for some reason you thought that gear was on wrong, you want to rotate the CAS anti clockwise, maybe all the way.

But if the front pulley marks are opposite the fixed pin, and you installed the CAS per the FSM or how I mentioned above, you should be able to rotate the CAS body til the pointers in the CAS top are where they were prior to the install. IF you can, then it seems to me the drive gear is probably on right.

Rebuilds sometimes are hard to start due to flooding/lack of compression. Lack of compression might be because the apex seals end piece havn't broken loose yet and therefore are not sealing good. Low compression results in flooding.

Either make a fuel cut switch or remove the fuel pumps plug and try using just a second or two of starter fluid sprayed into the air filter. We assume you have spark and fuel already. I guess.

wankel1988

iTrader: (1)

I do have air and fuel, so I guess i'll try the starting fluid. I can put the CAS back to where it was before install. So according to you, I should be ok. I guess I'll try to pull the fuel pump relay and then try the starting fluid trick. Thanks for the help. I'll try this now.

HAILERS

I stole this jpg off this site.

See. He has the pulley mark opposite the fixed pin on the front cover. He also has the top off the CAS.

Notice how the two *pointers* on top of the CAS drive, are cutting across the corner of the black, fixed coil?????? That is how the CAS should look. The timing won't be off five degrees if set as shown. More than adequate for starting an engine.

Rebuilt engines have low compression before starting the first time. The corner seals are not broken from the apex seals yet is the reason.

Verify the fuel rails are getting fuel so that is not in doubt.

Then get a can of starter fluid. Disable the fuel pump by any means. Spray fuel into the air filter box for two seconds or less. Try stating.

Make sure you have spark also before doing the above.