Won’t Start, Next Step?

My ‘57 6v CJ5 won’t start. Last time it ran was more than two years ago. I threw in a new battery, checked fluids, unhooked the gas line, and put a little oil in the cyls and let them soak. The plugs were pretty dark, so I used some fine sand paper on them and the points. I then sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and cranked it but she wouldn’t fire. Checked for spark, and I have it. Tried again pouring a little gas in in the carb, but still not firing.

What’s the next step?

 

Take time to be methodical.

Set points and static timing, carefully to spec.
(...be sure to wipe any sandpaper grit out with a clean card.)

Clean cap and rotor, inside and out.

Gap and clean plug tips. (Did you get oil on them?)
Clean and dry sparkplug upper porcelains. Clean and dry HT wires.
HT wires in proper sequence and location?

Compression test. (no stuck valves?)

Get the acorns out of the exhaust and muffler. (Don't laugh. BTDT)

Charge up the battery.

Roll it down a long hill - in gear. With ignition on. (P.S. Check brakes....)

 

Plugs are a little frothy from the oil,…and currently no brakes!

 

If you have a tow bar have your trusted companion drag it around. you can put it in gear and let it ride for a while to kinda limber it up.

Does the fuel still burn? Is fuel coming out the accelerator port when pumped?

 

That could be yore problem, right thar.

 

I’ve got the fuel line disconnected, cleaning out the tank. I’ve just been putting gas, or starting fluid in the carb to see if it will pop. So far, no pops.

 

I like your thinking. I pulled out the plugs this morning and scrubbed them with mineral spirits, then acetone to degrease. I hit them again with some fine paper. I’ll check the gaps too, although I think it would still try to start, even if the gap was a little off. May get to try again tonight.

 

Please! Do not use sandpaper on spark plugs or points. You can damage them. Use a toothbrush and carb or brake cleaner instead. How old is the gas in the tank?

 

I would tend to agree, although I use extremely fine wet-or-dry or a point file, very gently.

My understanding is that the points back in the day were solid (Tungsten?) and pitting could/should be filed flat. But today they are merely plated?

A plain old fashioned Jeep style spark plug, I think would be pretty hard to hurt.

 

Pouring in fresh gas or starting fluid, fuel line is disconnected.

 

Installed cleaned up plugs and put starting fluid in carb and still nothing. I pulled the battery to top it off and then decided to check the firing order on the cap…I had one and four switched. Duh!

I didn’t try to start after that as the battery was charging. I’ll try again tomorrow.

 

Testing carbs means a lot of idling time and plenty of carbon buildup. I clean my spark plugs at least once a week. Here's how to clean a spark plug. NOTE: the media being used is not sand. You can purchase the media along with the cleaner.

 

First signs of life…it backfired this morning. I’ll get out the manual and revisit the plug wires, distributor cap, points, and rotor. I’ve got some 2000 wet or dry for the points. It’s slow going 15 minutes a day. Thanks for the help!

 

Set your points and timing

 

Wow. I didn't even know they made it that fine. I use a 400 or 600.

 

It’s Alive!
I decided to go with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points and condenser.
I put the new plugs in and for some reason decided to skipped the wires and went right to the cap. I noticed the cap was difficult to get in exactly the right position. I was running out of time today, so I decided to give it a crank. A little gas in the carb and “Viola!” she started right up!
I don’t know if it was the plugs, or the cap was a little cocked, but there’s hope for the future.

 

When I drove a six-volt F-head as my only vehicle, I replaced cap rotor points condensor annually. It once started at minus 35ºF.