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Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:24 pm
by Dusty B
OK, need help! Katrina started and ran fine last fall, crank start, magneto all same as last time. Sat over the winter, now when I crank it over get a loud backfire thru the exhaust !??? First reaction was it is out of time but nothing has been changed since the last time it ran?? Suggestions on where to start??? Thanks, Dusty B

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:34 pm
by Bill Hudson
Dusty,

Not an expert, by any means, but I would suspect moisture in the distributor cap. Wipe it out good and see if that makes a difference.

Bill

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:45 pm
by 64/67lo-boy
what about an exhaust valve that mey be stuck open?

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:52 pm
by Jim Becker
Do you get a good loud click out of the impulse coupling each time it should fire? A sticking coupling can cause some bad timing behavior.

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:58 pm
by tst
check and make sure the distributor cap is dry inside also
Tim

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:10 pm
by Chris D
Ditto to what 64/67 said, exhaust valve not closing properly/sticky valves

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:36 pm
by lazyuniondriver
All 3 of the aforementioned scenarios very possibly causing your grief.

If the impulse snap is late, so will be your spark. This is the easiest to check, all visual by looking at the timing marks and listening for the magneto snap.

Next check that distributor cap for moisture or other defects.

Thirdly, a quick compression test will determine valve operation or lack there of.

I think your diagnosis is correct but the timing affected in a slightly different manner.

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 6:47 pm
by Dusty B
lW/check cap tomorrow! Then on to compression. Thanks, Dusty

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:26 pm
by Donegal Cub
Borrow her Ladyship's hairdryer it's great for drying out the distributer cap etc
Donegal Cub

Re: Wha Hoppened??

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:23 pm
by Rick Spivey
Points gazed over; just guessing, but possible. clean them up, and try again.