Engine will not fire

[cloned earl]

I have checked the firing order all o.k. should be as i only took the cap off the distributor and did not disconnect any of the HT leads.. tried the oil down the cylinders... no joy, do get the impression its electrical and the plugs were covered in petrol and the garage is starting to smell like a refinery...

Cheer

Phil

[KOY 23]

Flooded?? Choke in, hold accelerator to the floor, keep turning starter until it fires. Do not pump the accelerator.

John.

[martin]

Flooded?? Choke in, hold accelerator to the floor, keep turning starter until it fires. Do not pump the accelerator.

John.

Good news about the firing order, where do I send the beer vouchers ?
Just in case - pull the overflow pipes off the carbs and watch for fuel coming out. Stags are legendary starters, summat's amiss. Martin.

[73stagman]

Seems like you've tried all the obvious. There is a chance that you might not be getting a high enough voltage to the Spark plugs. If the ignition coil has S*** itself you will only get a low voltage spark Maybe why its yellow not blue. Try changing the coil then follow with the condenser / capacitor in the Dizzy. (I ran a Triumph Spitfire up to a few years ago and kept these items handy as spares)

[jamcarr2]

After my recent work on the water pump I had this problem had petrol had spark wouldn’t start and kept wetting the plugs ,it turned out to be the battery I charged it for 24 hours and it started first time and every time since apparently there was just not enough power to start it

[richardthestag]

Hi Phil

You said

I have checked the firing order all o.k. should be as i only took the cap off the distributor and did not disconnect any of the HT leads..

I mentioned

check also that the centre - carbon pin is still in place inside the distributor cap. I had this problem!!!

Not my pic nor a stag distributor cap but the bit likely to be missing is in the middle and labled "center ignition coil button" It is spring loaded and can fall out when the cap is removed, this would leave just the spring underneath to send current from the coil to the rotor and it is not going to do it very well.

distributor_cap.jpg

I had exactly the problem you describe except mine would backfire every now and then while winding it over on the starter. After 2 evenings of frustration I found the centre pin was missing altogether

If the pin is in place check that is springs in and out nicely

[cloned earl]

Thanks for all your help folks..quick update... some good news, some bad...

Took the carbs off noticed a lot of petrol all over the inlet manifold both inside and out, checked the parts diagram and was missing an 'O' ring, ordered and fitted it (although there was not one in place when i took them off)..hey presto she fired up...however she does start and run but only between 30 seconds and 1 minute with lots of 'pop' 'bangy' from the exhaust then she dies, even with the accelerator pressed.. one step forward as they say..

Phil

[DJT]

Thanks for all your help folks..quick update... some good news, some bad...

Took the carbs off noticed a lot of petrol all over the inlet manifold both inside and out, checked the parts diagram and was missing an 'O' ring, ordered and fitted it (although there was not one in place when i took them off)..hey presto she fired up...however she does start and run but only between 30 seconds and 1 minute with lots of 'pop' 'bangy' from the exhaust then she dies, even with the accelerator pressed.. one step forward as they say..

Phil

Have you checked the carb diaphragms? If split this will result in a similar problem. Could also be one or more sticky carb air valves. Try cleaning them and ensuring that they fall back down with a click when raised.