R1 Carb Conversion - Won't Fire!

[frodo_monkey 0]

Hi all,

 

Apologies for a stand-alone topic, but I need the collective genius of the forum to make my car run - its due on the rollers this Friday!

 

Basically I've been building a new engine and have fitted R1 bike carbs (see here), and I've been trying to start it but with no joy.

 

It turns over fine, and there is definitely fuel getting to the carbs. But it just won't fire! Having taken a plug lead off, there appears to be no spark at all. I haven't touched the wiring at all since it was running on injection, and it is still running the original coil and distributor (which I put on in the position that it came off the old std engine). I'm a total mong with electrics and the multimeter I do have is broken - though I do have one of those screwdriver-with-a-bulb dooberries.

 

Can anybody explain to me either whats wrong or how to diagnose it using what I have available?! I have read the article on the main site but I don't know what the ign amp looks like, and I was under the impression I could just 'plug and play' with carbs! If anybody could even come over and help an idiot you can help yourselves to any parts in my garage

 

PLEASE HELP!

 

Cheers,

 

Frodo

Edited April 9, 2007 by frodo_monkey

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Ignition amp picture.

 

From looking at your other topic you had the coil on the inlet maifold so the ignition amp should be on the drivers side inner wing iirc.

 

Ideally you will need a working multimeter to check you have 12v's at the coil when the ignition is switched on. You haven't simply missed refitting the distributor field wire plug have you?

 

Graham.

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

frodo, check your wiring is the same as the wiring on the guide on the main site. If you have one of the screwdriver-with-a-bulb dooberries as you call them you should easy be able to check you have power where its needed.

I may be able to get down wedensday afternoon, if not then thursday I can almost definatley pop down and give you a hand.

[frodo_monkey 0]

Thanks Graham and Richie for your help!

 

I've managed to scrounge a multimeter off a neighbour so I'll get back outside tomorrow evening to do some fault diagnosis... I had a quick look earlier and I don't think I've missed reconnecting any plugs, but looking at it with fresh eyes might reveal a different story

 

Putting the multimeter between the positive on the coil with the ignition on and earth, I get 12v - same between the negative and earth. Does this imply an earthing problem? Sorry for mong questions, I need to read up on electrics!

 

I think next thing to check is that my wiring definitely corresponds to that on the main site, the loom has been hacked around a fair bit (not by me!) to put in cut-off switches, separate ignition and start switches etc so something may be wrong - but I figure as it ran before it should run now... Dizzy seems to me to be the first port of call.

 

Hmmm!