Can anyone help me with this?

I recently replaced my points and condenser with a Crane Cams XR-i conversion kit. I also replaced the plugs, wires, coil, cap & rotor. Initialy I got everything in and cranked her up and she ran, I didnt adjust the timing with a light but got her to idle pretty smooth. I took her for a test run around the block and she had a little more jump and shifted a little tighter (3 speed auto). I got her home and turned her off and then tried to turn her on again and thats when she wouldnt crank over. I checked for spark to #1 from the cap, no spark, I checked for spark from the coil to cap and got it to spark but intermittently. I called Crane and they said if I have spark at the coil then the module is working.

Can anyone help me out with this? Was hoping to go shooting and need my truck to haul the targets

 

"...she wouldn't crank over?"


Or do you mean it cranked over/turned over and the starter worked...but it refused to light up?


Big difference here

 

Yes, you're right, sorry. The starter is cranking but she doesnt turn over. It gives a cough like it wants to but ultimately just cranks.

 

Install a jumper wire from B+ to the coil+ and try starting it. It could be the power to the coil. (Fuse?)
Check all your new connections.

I would then focus on that conversion kit.
Make sure there is battery power to it. If it has a fuse check it first.


Considering it WAS running it's got to be simple unless the Crane unit failed which is a possibility.


Most electronics fail immediately if they do. It's called "Infant Mortality".

 

Thanks, I will try that, I have read online of others doing that with the pertronixs and accels. Do i still connect the wire that I assume is coming from my ignition (maybe the resistor wire?

 

I added a pic I took

, the wire in question is the red one and it comes from my firewall

 

So the spark you say from the coil is intermittent? Should be nice bright blue, at least 1/2" If it's intermittent, there's your problem.

Put the points back in for giggles?

 

I used a inline spark tester, it should show rapid blinking correct? When I first did it I did it old school with the phillips, the spark was bluish but i dont recall the length exactly. I was doing it on a painted valve case too so i am sure that didnt help.

 

what gauge wire do you recommend for the jumper?

 

14-16 wire ga will be find. You can leave all the wiring on the coil when adding a hot wire from B+ to coil+ turn key to start if it startup & runs you'll have to remove the Hot wire to kill the motor tho.
Orich

 

Ok, I got some 12 ga wire, I tried last night but I removed the red wire coming from the firewall. I will try again with everything in place. Thanks for the heads up about disconnecting, I had both ends cranked down, that would have been fun to disconnect. I do also have a kill switch, have a parasitic draw that I plan to tackle next. Can I use the kill switch to turn her off?

 

Is a Resistor wire suppose to be used with the crane dizzy kit? Or a straight 12-14volts can be used. Some units can't handle over much over 12 volts and can be damaged.

Orich

 

You have a KILL SWITCH hooked up? WTF?

Remove it.

Make sure you have a good connection from B+ to the positive side of the coil.

All you need to kill the engine when it's running using a jumper is to simply cut the wire.

 

I have a draw that drains the battery overnight, for now I have to use it. Ok cut the wire

 

The instructions call for the resistance wire to be reapplied. I tested it last night and got 9.5V, so I am going to assume this red wire is my resistance wire, everyone has told me it will be a pink wire but maybe the previous owner changed it trying to solve the parasitic draw problem. When I bought her, he told me he disconnected the neg battery cable at night. After a couple of times of forgeting, I decided to install the kill switch. So do you think I should still do the jumper? I already tried last night but I did it without the resistance (red) wire. I am going to check my coil again to make sure it has spark which, according to Crane, indicates my module is working.