1850hl won't start?

[ABESDOLLY]

Hi All
Last week I went out to my garage for a trip out in the dolly, but sadly she wouldn't start. She was running fine when I drove her in there a few days before.
I have checked and I'm getting a good spark, Ive also check that the fuel pump is working fine and the float chambers are full. But whe. I turn the key it just spins on the start motor but doesn't attempt to start? Please can anyone advise what I else I can try?
Thanks james

[xvivalve]

Where did you check for a spark?

[ABESDOLLY]

I took the spark plugs out and held them against the block

[xvivalve]

OK. I fixed myself a few years back with a similar problem, had a belting spark at the lead ends, but didn’t consider the possibility that all four plugs had failed simultaneously; they had! If you’ve checked at the plug itself, then it’s not that!

If you have good spark and fuel, then it’s usually the spark not occurring at the correct time, or lack of compression but that’s not something that can alter by itself!

Does it sound like it is cranking fast enough?

[cleverusername]

Have you checked the choke is working? I can't imagine it would start in the cold without it.

Otherwise it is a bit baffling, if you have a spark and mixture is getting to the cylinders.

The only other thing I can think of is a blockage in the carb jets.

[soe8m]

It still can be the plugs. In free air faulty plugs do spark but to ignite a mixture the Kvolts to spark rise significantly and make it not to spark.

Best to try 4 plugs first before taking the engine apart.

Jeroen

[cliftyhanger]

Wildcard, but my Toledo suffers badly if it isn't used for a few days and the weather is damp.
A hot air gun over the cap/leads cures it.
But then again if there is a spark at the plug that seems unlikely. But easy enough to do.

Has this ever happened before?

[ABESDOLLY]

Hi guys thanks for your help. So I decided to try changing the plugs and it started straight away without hesitation. Can't really undesand how all 4 plugs can fail, but look fine when taken out and put up against the block?

[yorkshire_spam]

were the plugs NGK by any chance?

[ABESDOLLY]

No bosch plugs

[tony g]

In my experience, if the cranking is a tad slower and it doesnt fire straight away, the plugs can get wet and not want to play. I had it recently on my sprint. Changed for a new set of NGK (same as the old ones) after an hour of charging the battery and instant life. I'm going to ultrasonically clean the old ones and try them again as theyre not worn out. If anyone is using Champion/ Unipart and reading this, throw them away and use NGK or Bosch.

Tony

[ABESDOLLY]

Think I've discover why my plugs failed. They appear to be getting covered in oil

[Richard the old one]

Check that the choke arrangement on the carbs is not sticking on as this will cause the engine is running too rich.

[soe8m]

Do your plugs have the correct heat range?

Jeroen