Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:15 pm
First off, I'm not motor builder. I've had my Dale since early 09 and it hasn't ran. Brand new rebuilt engine but no go. After countless advise that timing was off, I dropped motor yesterday and tore into it with the updated manual I downloaded. The dots on the cams lined up perfectly where they should be and looked right so guessing that's not it. However, checked valve clearances when at TDC and seemed a bit off. The manual says .36-.41mm exhaust clearance and I got .30mm. Intake says .18-.23mm and I got .12mm. So obviously the clearances are not correct and will need different shims it appears.
My question is: would this be a cause for it not to start at all and backfire badly? Or would this still have been an operable thing if it had been left alone? I've switched out virtually every electrical part, coils, regulators, stators, flywheels, fuel injectors, etc, and nothing. The injectors spray and appear good, it gets good spark, but just turns and turns until you get a big backfire. Usually out exhaust but have had a few out intake.
The quad is a 450 piston kit, Z400 crank with ported head, I think the Boomer intake, and some other odds and ends but nothing huge. Just a standard 450 build per previous owner. I can see the piston and it still does not have a spec of carbon on it as it hasn't ran. Shiny as can be, but haven't removed head yet, just looking through ports and spark plug hole. Just at a loss for what to do and nobody is local except one guy who wants like $400 just to look at the engine and check it over, not including any repairs if needed.
Basically it turns real easy by hand but when the piston comes up to the top, it gets real hard to turn over. You almost have to force it, like the valves are pressing the piston. Would that be a valve shim issue as mentioned above or possibly something else? I did find a former employee of the C'Dale plant a few miles from me who is willing to help who had some cool designs to improve oiling of crank and some other random mods, but he seemed like he doesn't want to touch the engine. Will help get running for fees if engine is in frame he said though. Just trying to get this thing going without busting the wallet if possible.
Any suggestions, comments, or ideas? Can take photos of anything requested.
My question is: would this be a cause for it not to start at all and backfire badly? Or would this still have been an operable thing if it had been left alone? I've switched out virtually every electrical part, coils, regulators, stators, flywheels, fuel injectors, etc, and nothing. The injectors spray and appear good, it gets good spark, but just turns and turns until you get a big backfire. Usually out exhaust but have had a few out intake.
The quad is a 450 piston kit, Z400 crank with ported head, I think the Boomer intake, and some other odds and ends but nothing huge. Just a standard 450 build per previous owner. I can see the piston and it still does not have a spec of carbon on it as it hasn't ran. Shiny as can be, but haven't removed head yet, just looking through ports and spark plug hole. Just at a loss for what to do and nobody is local except one guy who wants like $400 just to look at the engine and check it over, not including any repairs if needed.
Basically it turns real easy by hand but when the piston comes up to the top, it gets real hard to turn over. You almost have to force it, like the valves are pressing the piston. Would that be a valve shim issue as mentioned above or possibly something else? I did find a former employee of the C'Dale plant a few miles from me who is willing to help who had some cool designs to improve oiling of crank and some other random mods, but he seemed like he doesn't want to touch the engine. Will help get running for fees if engine is in frame he said though. Just trying to get this thing going without busting the wallet if possible.
Any suggestions, comments, or ideas? Can take photos of anything requested.