engine kicks back and turns over backwards

[paul s.]

Are you sure your pointer and tdc on your balancer are accurate?

[#84Dave]

And if you're using a 'dial-back' timing light, throw it in the trash can! 80+% of the dial-backs are inaccurate. Anywhere from 2-12 degrees inaccurate! Buy a Flaming River,Sears, or MSD. OR...... borrow a couple of your buddie's timing lights, that aren't dial-back, & compare to yours. -Dave-

[reven327]

It wouldnt start at all, if it was 180 out. It does start and runs great when it does start. However 7 out of ten times it kicks back and back out of carb a puff of white smoke. I am gona try and pull dizzy and back it up a tooth or forward a tooth . I am thinking it is not in sync with valves a tooth or so.

[reven327]

Are you sure your pointer and tdc on your balance are accurate?

No , however it is all new parts . In witch are the correct for mt application. So if i were to guess , i would say yes it is accurate.

[IMCADW]

I'd venture to say you're balancer and pointer aren't marked correct. Get it running and dial it back some and see what it does. It won't hurt the engine.

[dieselgeek]

nobody's asked if your timing at cranking RPM is steady? make a paint mark on the balancer so you can see it VERY well at low RPM, see if it's bouncing all over the place when you are cranking. Bad wiring/grounds/power and even bad starter contacts can play havoc with low rpm ignition timing. Sounds like you have sparks happening at the wrong time only during cranking.

[reven327]

Thx for everone's help! All fixed,the dizzzywas off a tooth .

[IMCADW]

Someone care to explain "Tooth off" for me. I've been around racing engines for over 10 years and have never had a problem being off a tooth on the distributor.

[dieselgeek]

Someone care to explain "Tooth off" for me. I've been around racing engines for over 10 years and have never had a problem being off a tooth on the distributor.

It screws up the phasing such that SOME of the sparks jump to the wrong tower - and then you get the intake backfire, starter kickback, etc. You can usually tell when this is happening as cranking timing is actually all over the place. Noob Mistake #1 but we've all been there, right?

[IMCADW]

I guess if I'm off on phase I just spin the dizzy one way or the other.

[dieselgeek]

I guess if I'm off on phase I just spin the dizzy one way or the other.

You must be using a crank trigger then? spinning the dizzy when you're using a pickup coil mounted to the body of the dizzy, throws the timing off.

[IMCADW]

No, I'm using an MSD. I've heard it talked about and have never once seen the distributor being off a tooth cause a motor to not run right. Maybe I am missing something?

[IMCADW]

I have seen guys be off 180 degree's though...

[reven327]

Deisel geek, in reference to your last post tht is exactly wht was happening. Thx for the post!! And for the guy how has been working on engines for ten yrs and never heard of being off a tooth, every day is a learning experience!

[IMCADW]

Explain, that's what I'm asking. I've heard of "tooth off" many times, but it makes no sense.