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Help with Dist Cap

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by rkusa, Feb 6, 2007.

  1. Mar 26, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    [​IMG]

    Well, That means I had it hooked up wrong which is bad in a way, but still good, as it was me and not the Jeep. Thanks for the info. I'll have another go at it.


    Question. Is the cam in the photo on the right correct?
    The drawing on the left shows well defined sides and places for the points to open and close.
    Mine looks way different, ......?
     
  2. Mar 26, 2007
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Yours looks right. The drawing is generic. You set the points with the follower on one of the humps. Gap setting is close the dwell is the accurate way to set them.
     
  3. Mar 30, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    Feb 4, 2007
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    Well...another full day...and the Jeep starts and idles...poorly. I've timed it, and again attempted to set the dwell.

    My dwell meter might be bad, I don't know. but I have set it with a match pack, and set it again and again. No more fire from the carb, unless I advance the timing alot.
    I installed new points and condenser. new alternator, new coil, new cap and rotor.
    Rewired the dist cap to the coil, new wire from coil to the new ballast resistor.

    New carb gasket, lots of carb cleaner in the carb..checked for vacuum leaks on the manifold and carb...

    Blew air from the fuel filter to the tank. replaced fuel filter hose with screw type hose clamps.

    When the thing idles....for about 1/2 hour, it will speed up and slow down on it's own
    not like being throttled, but like a timing advance.

    If I spray lots of carb cleaner into the carb while it's running it seems to ruin way better and will almost take throttle, but then dies......

    So....any Ideas on what else might be wrong.
    Some one told me a new timing chain....
    Threads say advance the dist. a tooth....
    Can the stuff in the dist under the points cause this.......HELP...!

    ??????????????
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2007
  4. Mar 30, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Ok, I'm not sure what you're doing here.

    Why are the threads saying advance a tooth? Are you unable to time it to 5* BTDC? Unless you can't set the timing to 5* BTDC then you shouldn't need to move the distributor around.

    Did you fix your vacuum leak yet?
     
  5. Mar 31, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    Feb 4, 2007
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    Sparky: Just drawing at straws, and scouring the threads for info. .... I can easily get it to 5 BTDC on the timing. I still need to get a vacuum gage, but the vacuum leak at the base of the carb is definitely sealed. and all visible vacuum hoses are plugged. Yet the problem persists.

    What about the timing chain.....how do you tell if it's bad. ....as for setting the dwell, to double check my understanding of it.
    You turn the motor till you get on a cam bump on the dist cam. Then you set the open points to the thickness of a match pack. Then you re time.
    Is that correct....?

    Or what's next......? And any idea about why the carb cleaner makes a difference. When I load up the carb with it at idle, it almost takes throttle.....way better.....but then dies.
    Maybe I need to take the carb apart.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2007
  6. Mar 31, 2007
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    Ok here is the deal with points, you set the point gap to I think .016" of an inch with a feeler gage when the points are open and on the hi point of the distributor hump. That is close!!!
    Start the engine and then check the dwell with the motor running if the dwell is not within spec that means regardless of the gap you set you are off by some amount. To much dwell angle means the gap is to large, not enough gap means the dwell angle is to small. Once the dwell is set properly then reset the timing with the timing light, the vacuum advance on your distributor needs to be unhooked and plugged when you set this and the engine needs to be idling at the correct 650 rpm, Once you have it timed then tighten the distributor hold down bolt and rehook up the vacuum advance. Then if need be readjust the idle setting and work with the vacuum gauge to get the idle mixture right..
     
  7. Mar 31, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    Feb 4, 2007
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    OK and Thanks.....
    One more question......
    I spray carb cleaner in the carb while at idle and the thing runs better for a min or so.

    Wirh my 1978 Chevy 250 eng Truck....carb cleaner kills the engine....all I read says carb cleaner sprayed into a running engine should kill it....

    Is this a clue to the Jeep problem....????
     
  8. Mar 31, 2007
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    sounds like you have another vacume leak,or the engine is not getting enough fuel due to the carb not being set right,like sparky has mentioned countless times YOU NEED A VACUME GAUGE,this will tune the carb jets the best way that you can,and also show up another vacume leak IF you have one,these gauges are cheap,around $15 would be a safe guess,and can be bought at any parts store
     
  9. Mar 31, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    Feb 4, 2007
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    Yep....vaccum gauge is my next purchase. I also tested the fuel pump...seems to work well. puts out fuel when cranking.

    My dwell meter is either broke, or I'm way stupid, but I'm hoping it's the meter.
    I set the point gap, but just can not get the meter not to pin to the right.

    So....I'll be back with a vac gage real soon.
    Thanks for the help. I know I'm a little hard headed at times....

    Also, I'm selling my 78 Chevy truck on ebay. It needs less help than this Jeep, as the motor runs great. But I need the funds to carry on with this Jeep.
     
  10. Mar 31, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Set the gap, set the timing, tune the carb (with a vacuum gage) THEN worry about setting the dwell after you're sure you have no vacuum leaks or other problems.
     
  11. Apr 2, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2007
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    [​IMG]


    OK....I got a vac gauge. but then the Jeep would not start...I reset it at TDC etc.
    still no dice.
    Then I checked for spark....not real blue, but spaerk.
    Then I rechecked the fuel pump....it worked to the carb.
    But for all the attempts at starting, there was no flooding etc.
    So I then sprayed lots of carb cleaner in the little hole on the top of the carb....the Jeep then started and ran for a min or so.
    Then I filled up the little hole with gas....about eight loads with the thing in the photo above.
    The Jeep started and ran, with great throttle until that gas was gone...then died.

    So, I filled it again....and it ran again. No off idle problem...reved up good.


    So now what.....do I take the carb apart...if so is it hard......what is the possible prognosis.
    I think this is the biggest clue so far, and since I have had it it is the first time it reved up and reved up real nice.
    How do I fix it and what is wrong.
     
  12. Apr 2, 2007
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Sounds like you have fuel problems. Did you check fuel flow (volume) ?
     
  13. Apr 2, 2007
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    :iagree:

    Vacuum gage can check fuel pressure now that you have one. :)
     
  14. Apr 2, 2007
    lamar

    lamar Member

    greenville sc
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    some one may have already mentioned this cant remember thread is so long but have you checked the fuel filter?
     
  15. Apr 2, 2007
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    wrong float level,stuck float, bad fuelpump,one of the three
     
  16. Apr 2, 2007
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    left one thing out,hole in fuel line,could be a cracked hose etc,need to check out the fuel system compleatly,before foolin around with anything else,check your fuel psi first,easy to do and will eliminate a bunch of things,if you have good fuel psi its gotta be in the carb
     
  17. Apr 2, 2007
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    did you have good vac? or did you get a chance to check it?
     
  18. Apr 3, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    No, my new vac gauge is still in the package. I did disconnect the fuel line, from the carb, and while cranking it squirts fuel a good distance. It seems like the carb is not letting the fuel into it, although it did idle before.
    With all the stuff I was doing to the timing, etc I figured it was the dwell. when it did run, after squirting fuel in there, I was able to hear the slightly out of time condition, but it still sounded better than ever so far.

    So .....the vac gauge has no instructions....how would I hook it to the fuel line.
    and what do I look for.....?

    If the float is stuck....how would I un stick it. I don't really want to take apart anything that I can't put back together until I know what or how to ....!

    I'm so happy to have some type of idea what might be wrong.....!
     
  19. Apr 3, 2007
    71 Muk WA

    71 Muk WA New Member

    Mukilteo, Washington
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    How old is the gas in the tank?
     
  20. Apr 3, 2007
    rkusa

    rkusa rkusa

    Western NC
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    Most of it is a few days old. The PO installed new fuel line from just behind the engine to the tank.
     
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