skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 So we were driving down the road and the truck (my 72) just died. The engine was still running but it was like the throttle went out. It wouldnt accelerate when i hit the gas. It came to a rolling stop and died. I tried to start it back up and it tries to turn over but wont do it. I have no idea whats wrong and I hope it isnt serious. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Check your distributor. Check your gas. Check your oil. Check your battery...have the alt checked. Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 its got gas, ill try and check if im geting spark Quote Link to comment
WICKED JESTER Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 try checking the fuel pump Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 im really in over my head here, im just really starting to lurn this stuff. :o Quote Link to comment
integradude19 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Thats why you have the forum. Post up anything you find out or think is odd or out of place. This place is like a repair manual that talks. Have you checked for spark yet? Look at your fuel filter real quick and just see if you have fuel in it. Quote Link to comment
mike Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 check your vacuum lines and check the linkage on the carb, my brother had this problem on his 620 and the nut that holds the throttle cable assembly was loose enough to let it rotate and bind up... the idle/primary was stuck closed ...it felt tight after that and still looked right at a glance, but it wasnt... I checked EVERYTHING except that... towed it home tore it apart, swapped dizzys scratched my head and cussed alot... finally swapped the carb out with a webber and I noticed the throttle assembly was dinked up when I was swapping the linkage over to the weber... Would have been a 5 minute free fix if I had known to look... learning experience for sure... Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 the fule filter has fule in it, im unsure how to check for spark. all the plugs look clean no crap in them Quote Link to comment
integradude19 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 To check for spark pull number one plug out, put the spark plug wire on it. Take off all the other wires and note which wire goes to each plug. Wrap the plug with something likea rag or t shirt but don't cover the end. It'll zap you pretty good if you don't. Push the threads of the plug up against bare metal anywhere on the motor. While holding it up against the metal turn the motor over and watch for a spark. Quote Link to comment
nukeday Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Lots of guys online right now, I suspect points. I have a matchbox EI dizzy here out of an L20. Will it drop straight in the L16? Just talked to skunktruckin, he's still learning some of this stuff, but he learns fast. It's a lot easier to show some of this stuff than it is to describe it... Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 the fule filter has fule in it, im unsure how to check for spark. all the plugs look clean no crap in them Stick your tongue in a plug wire and have someone crank the motor....but be sure to record it on video. :lol: It will only work if the camera is running. :D Quote Link to comment
integradude19 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Checking for spark will tell how the points are doing. Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) Lots of guys online right now, I suspect points. I have a matchbox EI dizzy here out of an L20. Will it drop straight in the L16? Yes it will, you will need the L20 Pedestal and it will bolt right up. ;) Edited November 5, 2009 by Phlebmaster Quote Link to comment
nukeday Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Phelb - The pedastal on the dizzy itself? I'm L series deficient... integradude19 - I've got a 'spark tester', just a glow lite that goes between the plug and the wire. If there's spark, it lights up. I've also got a test light and Mike Klotz's instructions for checking the points using the coil neg. Plus a set of long handle sliding pliers, we'll get the spark checked one way or another. I think I have some 521 points here, but I don't know if they'll fit. The trick here is to keep skunk's truck running while he learns, which is why I suggested an EI. The truck runs really well, and unless he lost a coil, or ballast resistor the only real wear item is the points. Hoping to get over there this afternoon... Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Phelb - The pedastal on the dizzy itself? I'm L series deficient... You need the part that mounts the distributor to the front cover with 2 10mm bolts. :) It has the timing marks that you need. Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 we could snag the one off my 77 KC for now Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) That sounds like a good idea...as long as you know how to wire it up. :) Here is a good thread: http://forum.ratsun.net/showthread.php?t=11828&highlight=matchbox+wiring&page=2 LOOK OUT!! Mike is typing one of his famous novel length posts again. :lol: Edited November 5, 2009 by Phlebmaster Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 when it comes down to it i really want to take the l20 5 speed out of my 77KC and toss it in my 72, then put the 4speed with engine in the kc and sell the KC super cheep Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Does the starter turn it over briskly? Or does it barely turn one or two times and stop? Yes, it turns over fine.... go to check for spark No, it turns a few times slowly and craps out.... battery is low or undercharged. Battery may be no good but suspect a bad connection on one of the terminals. The other end of the ground where it bolts to the head may be loose/bad or the positive cable where it bolts to the starter may be loose/bad. Clean and tighten all connections. Check for spark: Pull a plug or stick an old one in one of the leads and lay on top of valve cover. Crank it over and watch for spark. Yes, there is spark. Skip to: is there gas? No spark.... Put plug wire on coil wire and try... Yes there is spark.. rotor or distributor cap is bad and not allowing spark out to plugs. No still no spark... points are not conducting or not opening (no gap) Short across points with screwdriver with key on. don't worry it's only 12 volts on the points. Yes there is spark... points are bad or out of adjustment No spark.... no power to coil .... ignition switch bad or ballast resistor open and no connection. Is there gas: remove air filter and look at sight glass on front of carb, fuel level should be at the mark on glass. Yes there is gas.... pump throttle and look down the carb, you should see strong squirt of fuel. You have fuel and spark it should start. No gas, carb is empty... you are out of gas dummy! Fuel filter clogged, fuel line clogged with rust.... pump bad (not likely). Remove the filler cap on tank... it may not be venting the tank properly. If air rushes in try to start, the pump should now be able to suck up fuel to the carb. Quote Link to comment
nukeday Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Online parts check shows the points are the same for the 521 and early 620. I'll pull a set of points from a spare dizzy. I also have a couple of spare coils and ballast resistors, and one set of plug wires. I just went out and looked over the EI, the pedestal is on it, the only coil I have to run it is a Mallory black box coil. Looks like my timing light died, so I'm not sure we'll try to swap in the EI. If it's electrical, I've got most of it covered. If it's the ignition switch, we'll have to pull the one from the KC. Guess we'll see what we get... Quote Link to comment
Phlebmaster Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I just went out and looked over the EI, the pedestal is on it, the only coil I have to run it is a Mallory black box coil. Guess we'll see what we get... You can get away with using the stock points coil...just pull the resistor out of the loop. ;) Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 yeah so the plugs were covered in corrosion, and the wires were well crap. not to mention that it was out of gas:o. i fail, some one delete this thread and wash away the shame:blink: Quote Link to comment
nukeday Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 This truck has the dual point dizzy, so we just cleaned up the points a little bit, cleaned the cap and rotor and replaced the spark plug wires. A little gas, and ta-da. Don't feel too bad, you're not the first guy to run his truck out of gas. Hope to get together and put the EI in it before those points are completely gone though. Didja' post yet about the other jas-ifras thing yet? Quote Link to comment
Roadracer Al Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 So, now that you have all this good electrical work karma built up, the next project is testing the fuel level sender and fuel gauge on the dash. :lol: Quote Link to comment
Guest kamakazi620 Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 BTW what the hell is a fuel gauge?? mine allways says "E" that means Enough or Extra!!! i pull the gas cap shake the bed on the truck if it sloshes it will get me where i'm going!!! Quote Link to comment
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