Now it won’t start

[michaeljhetzel]

I posted earlier this summer about installing an igniter on my old 743, 1.6
Ford. Anywho, installed the Pertronix igniter in the summer, said farewell to the point system. Was running as well as it can and didn’t even use the choke to start it.
Now the bad, when I did the igniter project I realized how jerry rigged everything was in the distributor like the vacuum advance holes oblong, the mounting plate loose and just plain ugly, but it ran fine. Now mind you this machine gets luckily 3-4-6 hours a year plowing snow. It was inherited to me from my dad 25 years ago. But I’ve always maintained it so it always ran when needed.
Now that’s it’s cold again here in northern Wisconsin I could not get it to fire up. What I ask is can, and can I get the top half of the distributor plate with a new vacuum advance, Or do I have to get a whole new distributor. And if so, how difficult is it? I’m no mechanic but I know they need to go back in a precise way for the timing to be accurate. As a note too, I never used a timing light on it even when I changed the points just did it by ear because I don’t have one.
It would crank and crank and slightly sputter and that was it! GRRR

 

[gearbox]

Get a timing light and learn to use it . I rebuild engines Mostly Wisconsin's . Most I see are killed by being to far advanced , broken top ring lands eroded piston tops and head . Timing lights are cheap compared to a 2500 + rebuild .

 

[ZekeSkyree]

Search https://www.ebay.co.uk/

That 1.6 Ford Kent motor was used forever over there and spares are plentiful.

I had the same issue as you and found a used distributor that was in excellent shape with a perfect vacuum advance (which is what I needed) for $30 plus around $20 shipping. If I need anything for the Ford motor, I start there ...

 

[michaeljhetzel]

Search https://www.ebay.co.uk/

That 1.6 Ford Kent motor was used forever over there and spares are plentiful.

I had the same issue as you and found a used distributor that was in excellent shape with a perfect vacuum advance (which is what I needed) for $30 plus around $20 shipping. If I need anything for the Ford motor, I start there ...

Zeke,
That is so helpful! First mines a 742 not a 743 my mistake…..
I never thought of the UK. I’ve never looked at that. They seem to call it a Kent Crossflow engine??? That must be the same? Also it appears that you can get some new ones with coil and all. I have no idea what that would cost or even work. Or should I stick with an original Ford distributor (if I can find one) since I already bought the Pertronix igniter.

 

[Sapientoni]

The distributors need a bit of looseness for the moving parts to keep moving. Don't over think them. If there's obvious wear adding clearances, don't tighten them up too much unless it's with correct replacement parts. I was rebuilding a 2.0 Pinto engine and thought the distributor looked too loose. Being a machinist, I made a replacement bushing to tighten it up. It turned freely and easily. However when I fired it up and started down the street to test the engine, it went about 200' and the distributor seized up, breaking the timing belt. Turns out the shaft has lots of clearance when cold and the oil is drained away, but when warmed up and everything expands, that clearance is eliminated. Another thing you should know about your machines, gasoline engines with governors always "park the throttle" at wide open. This means you'll need to use the choke 99% of the time when starting. 100% of the time in winter. Mine also requires a tickle of the throttle setting.

 

[ZekeSkyree]

My thoughts are fix what is needed. My vacuum advance diaphragm was ripped, and the plate was worn oblong. So I got a used one from the UK and used its parts to fix mine. I could have used the new one, but I had already rebuilt mine and just dropped in the parts.

Do not go back to points, as the electronic ignition is so much better. As a matter of fact I bought my electronic ignition from PowerSparkin the UK for a fraction of the Pertronix kit. Link below:

https://simonbbc.com/k6-powerspark-...-4-cyl-right-hand-1-piece-points-distributor/

Note that the cross flow and overhead cam versions are different from what we have.

As for the Ford Kent motor, they also used that motor in various race car series, so there is also a lot of performance parts available..... Not that I'll ever need a race motor in an old bobcat.

Hope that helps...

 

[Sapientoni]

I swapped the 1.6 Kent engine & trans into a 1964 Austin Healey Sprite. It was cheaper than just the parts to repair that AH trans. I drove it for years. It wasn't a great conversion as I was just learning mechanics but it never fell out and sounded superb with a 2" exhaust system and one bullet muffler while cruising.