Re: What next? Starter?

Posted by HH56 On 2016/8/5 11:21:58

Rusty has given the best advise and I second the compression check. Also check the voltage at the coil terminal coming from ign switch while cranking. It should stay above 5v and more is better. If the load due to whatever -- small wire, heavy draw on starter, poor connection, etc -- allows the voltage to drop much below 5v the spark will be marginal at best and perhaps not strong enough to spark the plug under dense compression.

Another thing to check if there has been a lot of cranking and no action is the condition of spark plugs. The gasoline or any oil vapor could have deposited and fouled even new plugs. That just makes a marginal spark worse to the point there is no spark because it is shunting to ground via a moist layer.

The old inline 8s are notorious for having sticking valves if they have been sitting a while. If you cannot do the compression test, next best would be to remove the L R front tire and the fender access panel so you can get good direct visual access to the engine and area above the lifters. Remove one or both of the valve covers and watch while it is cranking to see if the valves are moving the full distance along with the lifters. IIRC, there was a poster in just the last few days who found 6 of the 8 exhaust valves stuck open on his long dormant engine.