258 sometimes not starting

Would a severe jump in the timing prevent my engine from turning over? Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesnt. Anyone else have the same problem with a 74 258? Everything else is functioning properly. I have yet to see if the timing is actually off, I figured on replacing the timing chain regardless. I just got another jeep and the PO had "a bitch of a time setting the timing."

phantom intermittent randomness

I printed the 26 pages from the manual online, and got some good info from the forums already but i want to check with you guys first in case i #### something up.

 

If your timming chain jumped the engine would probbley run bad and the timming would change you can ck with a timming light.I would ck the distubter vac. advance and mechanical advance to make sure nothing hanges up.
not sure what problem you are having crank no start or not cranking.
my 2 C. is K.I.S. (keep it simmple) when looking for your problem you need 3 thing to start the engine fuel spark and compression. so if it runs some times you have compresssion. now when it doesnt start have you looked down the carb and pushed the gass (not not whale cranking) you should see gas squrt in.
Next ? should the choke be on.how about spark ?

next: not cranking
check all starter connections batt. cables ect.
is the "s" termanal getting power?
does the start ingauge?
batt. good?
post more info and mabye some one has a better idea.

 

points and carb adjustments are common problems

 

Sorry I should have been more detailed guys. The engine cranks and starts most of the time, but from time to time it SEEMS like either the starter is bad or the battery is dead. Checked for voltage, battery was NOT dead and the starter is fine. Beating on the starter has no effect, i dont think its a dead spot in the starter. It goes "click click click click" like a bad starter or a dead battery but its not.

I was thinking that if the timing is all messed up, and my starter is not strong enough to turn the crank if it has a compression lock on it it will not turn over. When running, I can hear my timing chain rattling like a bastard under load, so i did not even bother to check for play Black Betty is being torn apart right this minute, new chain, and gears.

Come to think of it, the last time I tried to start my willys, it was not working either perhaps they are both haunted by angry ghosts of dead japs or k's.

Any quick tips on how to remove the damper assbly. with some homemade puller deal?

 

If it goes click-click-click, it sounds like your solenoid is going bad. A low battery can also cause a solenoid to click or chatter. But I believe you said you checked the battery. Did you check the battery under load?

 

Mine did the same exact thing. It wouldn't jump start either. It was bad battery terminals(clamps)/connections.. I cut and restriped the battery cables nice and clean.

 

Mine jumpstarts fine... OK so maybe I have more than one problem.

Battery terminals are new, and the voltage coming from the solenoid is all good, its not wiring. I will know more when I get the chain in and I get it put back together.

Twisting off the bolt on the front of the dampener was fun, I put it in 4x4, blocked both sides of each wheel and recycled my old bronco roofrack for a nice long bar.

PO went crazy with the paint gun, he did paint over the ground from the starter and a few other places, but the pic shows that it was babied until I got it. Not a spot of oil on it!

 

Slifter,
You said "I printed the 26 pages from the manual online" Where did you find the manual online ??

SPW

 

http://www.c104.net/

believe that's the place.

 

broke my dampening pulley in 4 places, nothing left to bolt the puller to. Any tips before I break out the grinder? I sense that this will be a difficult part to find. AWESOMENESS!!!

breaking stuff sucks

 

hey wally nice jeep man!

 

thanks.

 

Bummer on the breakage, Dude.
Anyhow, I would be willing to bet your starter solinoid is going bad. This would explain the intermittant starting, and would also give you the clicking when it won't start. You might want to go ahead and have the battery load tested (FLAPS or shop can do this out of the rig), even a fairly new battery can have a dead cell.
Good Luck!

 

Now why would I check something as easily accesible and as inexpensive as a solenoid when i can spend piles of beer money on parts and special tools to fix something that isnt broken and then break it whil trying to fix it? Boy its nice to have a few different vehicles to drive around, at least one of them is running at any given time.

Thanks Lostdog when i manage to get Blaq Betty back together I will replace the solenoid, it is looking aged.