86 302 won't start
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86 302 won't start
Hi everyone. I have a 1986 f250 with a 302 (I know its rare and very underpowered). I have been working on it for weeks. I was told t had a bad piston wen I bought it, but after a compression test on all cylinders I have found noting wrong with it. However, it was very out of time. The previous owner put on a new timing chain and did a horrible job. I fixed that problem but I am still not having any luck. It has fuel, fire, and air. It will run with constant flow of starting fluid int carb. I don't know if the distributor is just being a pain or if the carb is acting up. its got a very clean holley 2 barrel. i have replaced the starter, starter relay, battery, plugs, wires, and battery cables. My only thoughts are that it has to be either bad fuel (it sat for a couple of months) or there is still something wrong with the timing. It will occasionally backfire through the carb. I browsed the forums and couldn't find anything. Thanks for your help.
Kenny
Kenny
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Yes, fuel delivery - it will "run" with "fuel" continually sprayed into the carb... check your fuel pressure and output flow rate at the carb.
Backfiring, now THAT is ignition timing.
Backfiring, now THAT is ignition timing.
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I'm getting fuel to the carb. I actually removed it and checked it. Very clean. Sprays well when you press the pedal. I can turn the distributor and get it close to starting, but it never fully starts. Even if I was slightly off time, it would start, but run poorly right?
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I can check the balancer. Really don't want to remove timing cover again, but I will if I have to. I've checked plug wires many times. They are right unless I randomly have an HO, but I don't suspect that I do.
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Bring the #1 cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke; the distributor rotor should be pointing at #1, and the pointer on the balancer should be showing 0°.
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Cargo Master
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You can set the timing with a timing light just by cranking the engine with the starter, if the balancer hasn't slipped.
You can check to see if the balancer has slipped,TO SOME EXTENT, by putting a plastic straw in the no. 1 spark plug hole. When the piston is at the highest point, the timing mark should be at Top Dead Center or 0(zero). Use the bolt at the front of the crankshaft to turn the engine when doing this.
You can check to see if the balancer has slipped,TO SOME EXTENT, by putting a plastic straw in the no. 1 spark plug hole. When the piston is at the highest point, the timing mark should be at Top Dead Center or 0(zero). Use the bolt at the front of the crankshaft to turn the engine when doing this.
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Ok. I will be working on it tomorrow. Thank you for your help. I'll post more after I work on it. The 0 is very hard to see on the balancer, but I'll get a timing light and hopefully male some magic happen.
Cargo Master
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The 0 or TDC(top dead center) should be easy to find. It should be between numbers running both ways, ie meaning before and after the 0 or TDC position. Once you find your readings on the balancer, make a white chalk mark where the timing should be set at so it will be easy to see when the timing light flashes.
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Ok, I've got an update, I can now get the truck to start for about 3 to 5 seconds, but then backfires through the carb and shuts off. I guess I do have an HO, so spark plugs were only firing on 4 cyclinders, but even after fixing it, Im getting g same results. Going tonight for a timing light, been working late recently.
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Hey everyone. I wanted to give a final update. She's now running! A bit of timing adjustments, spark plug wires changes and she fired up. Unfortunately I have found new problems, but they will be easy, just some loose vacuums. ThanKS for everyone's help.
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