340 won't start

Chuckle · May 28, 2009

I bought a 340 gas about a year and a half ago. The engine was rebuilt before I bought it (less than 100 hrs) and it ran fine when I loaded it and unloaded it. I partially disassembled it to fix a few hydraulic leaks and to repaint it (mostly just sheet metal and the hydraulic pump). I finally put it back together and other than a new rotor distributor and plug wires everything was the same as when I took it apart. However, it won't start. I changed the points and condenser and the plugs, it is definitely getting spark. It seems like a fuel issue. The carb (a Zenith) was put on just before I bought it. I tried using starting fluid, I even pulled the plugs and put gas in the cylinders. It seems to sputter but won't fire up. I ran a compression test on it and cylinders 2,3 and 4 and they were all around 130 lbs, however number 1 was around 90 lbs. I wouldn't think this would cause a starting problem, but I could be wrong.

tesmith66 · May 28, 2009

Sounds like a stuck valve. You'll have to pull the valve cover and have a look.

rustyfarmall · May 28, 2009

It sat for a year and a half. most likely with gas in the carburetor. Take the carb apart and clean it, drain out all the gas that is in the tank and put in fresh, and it'll probably start.

Bkpigs · May 28, 2009

Does the 340 have the distributor after the hyd. pump? If it does (like my 300) check your timing. When you took the hyd. pump off, the dist. may have turned without you knowing it.

El Toro · May 28, 2009

Are you sure you have the plug wires are in the correct firing order? Bring No1 piston to TDC on the compression stroke and note which way the rotor turns, its probably CW and both valves should be closed on that cylinder. Once you have No1 piston to TDC see if it's pointing at the No1 plug tower. That wire should be connected to the plug near the radiator. The other wires should be connected CW in this order on the cap. Hal

2-1
4-3

Chuckle · May 28, 2009

Well, I went out over lunch. I cleaned the crank pulley off and turned it over until I was at TDC on number 1. Pulled the distributor cap and found that it was timed to No. 4 cylinder, so I switch the wires so that it was timed off No. 1. Tried it and no luck. So I loosened the distributor nut and played with the timing. Kept sounding like it wanted to start. Finally, it "started" but only as long as I held the starter button in. I checked the wiring diagram and here I had the wire from the key to the start button on the wrong side of the switch. Moved that over to the other terminal and she fired right up (three wrongs don't make a right)!!!!! YEEEHAAA!!! What a relief, I had been playing with this on and off for almost two weeks. Hopefully, this weekend I will be able to set the timing correctly and adjust the carb (although it seems to be running pretty good). Thanks for the help.

El Toro · May 28, 2009

Glad you found the problems and have it running.

Hal

340 won't start

Chuckle

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tesmith66

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rustyfarmall

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Bkpigs

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El Toro

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Chuckle

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El Toro

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