The Ford Barn

dean333 · 05-19-2023, 07:25 PM

I just installed a crab distributor and new spark plugs. Good spark TO the plug, wet and not firing though. Compression test on the cylinder next.

paul2748 · 05-19-2023, 07:43 PM

Even though new, could be bad plugs

38 coupe · 05-19-2023, 08:26 PM

Are the plug leads for 2 and 5 swapped at the distributor cap?

dean333 · 05-19-2023, 08:57 PM

Cap wiring correct.

Terry,OH · 05-20-2023, 06:29 AM

I have found a cap that did not have any electrical continuity between the rotor terminals and the plug terminals, for a couple of plugs wires.

38 coupe · 05-20-2023, 07:55 AM

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Pull the wet plugs and clean them with your favorite spray solvent (carb cleaner, starting fluid, etc.). Install them in two holes that are firing and move the plugs from the good cylinders to 2 and 5. If the problem moves with the plugs then you have two bad plugs. If the problem stays with 2 and 5 you have more investigating to do. I doubt the distributor cap is a problem since you already verified spark to cylinders 2 and 5.

dean333 · 05-20-2023, 05:41 PM

Upon closer look, #2 was firing. Compression check cold 70lbs across the board except #5 which was 0. Poured 2oz of oil in cylinder, still 0. I can see the exhaust valve moving up and down.

dean333 · 05-20-2023, 07:16 PM

I just looked in at an angle and saw the intake valve stuck open.

cmbrucew · 05-20-2023, 09:26 PM

That would do it.

Bruce

dean333 · 05-22-2023, 11:57 AM

Good news. After spraying some Kano Silikroil down the valve stem and letting it soak a couple of days I was able to tap the valve down with a screwdriver. It came back up and stuck again, tapped it down, it came up and stuck. At least it’s starting to move. I just squirted some Kano Kreen down the stem, going to let that soak. I thought I was out of the Kreen oil, found about 8oz on the shelf.

dean333 · 06-11-2023, 03:51 PM

After a week of soaking with brake fluid and periodically tapping the valve down every time it stuck open, it’s now working. I have compression. The battery was too weak to start the engine so it’s on charge. I’m too excited for words!!

cadillac512 · 06-11-2023, 03:58 PM

Good deal,Tim. I'd suggest some marvel mystery oil, atf, or even a half gallon of diesel fuel in the gas to help that intake valve stay loose 'til it gets used to running again.

Terry

dean333 · 06-11-2023, 04:13 PM

Yes Terry, I plan on adding 1/2 quart of Kroil Kreen to the tank and letting it run for 30 minutes later today, after the battery charges up.

dean333 · 06-14-2023, 05:00 PM

I tried loading a video of the engine running to no avail.

drolston · 06-14-2023, 09:28 PM

Early in break-in of a new rebuild, if the car sat for a few weeks, I had some sticky valves. I did several sessions of pouring MMO directly into the carb with the engine at fast idle, and jazzing the throttle to keep it going. Smoked up the neighborhood but quickly got the valves working. Since then, I put 4 ounces of MMO in the tank with every refill, and the problem did not come back, even after sitting for months.

05-19-2023, 07:25 PM	#1
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. I just installed a crab distributor and new spark plugs. Good spark TO the plug, wet and not firing though. Compression test on the cylinder next. __________________ Tim Carlig Last edited by dean333; 05-23-2023 at 02:41 PM. Reason: Corrected the title

05-19-2023, 08:26 PM	#3
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,042	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Are the plug leads for 2 and 5 swapped at the distributor cap?

05-19-2023, 08:57 PM	#4
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Cap wiring correct. __________________ Tim Carlig

05-20-2023, 07:55 AM	#6
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,042	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Pull the wet plugs and clean them with your favorite spray solvent (carb cleaner, starting fluid, etc.). Install them in two holes that are firing and move the plugs from the good cylinders to 2 and 5. If the problem moves with the plugs then you have two bad plugs. If the problem stays with 2 and 5 you have more investigating to do. I doubt the distributor cap is a problem since you already verified spark to cylinders 2 and 5.

05-20-2023, 05:41 PM	#7
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Upon closer look, #2 was firing. Compression check cold 70lbs across the board except #5 which was 0. Poured 2oz of oil in cylinder, still 0. I can see the exhaust valve moving up and down. __________________ Tim Carlig Last edited by dean333; 05-20-2023 at 06:44 PM.

05-19-2023, 07:43 PM	#2
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 4,292	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Even though new, could be bad plugs __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

05-20-2023, 06:29 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,187	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. I have found a cap that did not have any electrical continuity between the rotor terminals and the plug terminals, for a couple of plugs wires.

05-20-2023, 07:16 PM	#8
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. I just looked in at an angle and saw the intake valve stuck open. __________________ Tim Carlig

05-20-2023, 09:26 PM	#9
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,080	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. That would do it. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

05-22-2023, 11:57 AM	#10
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 and #2 plugs wet not firing. Good news. After spraying some Kano Silikroil down the valve stem and letting it soak a couple of days I was able to tap the valve down with a screwdriver. It came back up and stuck again, tapped it down, it came up and stuck. At least it’s starting to move. I just squirted some Kano Kreen down the stem, going to let that soak. I thought I was out of the Kreen oil, found about 8oz on the shelf. __________________ Tim Carlig

06-11-2023, 03:51 PM	#11
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. After a week of soaking with brake fluid and periodically tapping the valve down every time it stuck open, it’s now working. I have compression. The battery was too weak to start the engine so it’s on charge. I’m too excited for words!! __________________ Tim Carlig

06-11-2023, 03:58 PM	#12
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,172	Re: 37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. Good deal,Tim. I'd suggest some marvel mystery oil, atf, or even a half gallon of diesel fuel in the gas to help that intake valve stay loose 'til it gets used to running again. Terry __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

06-11-2023, 04:13 PM	#13
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. Yes Terry, I plan on adding 1/2 quart of Kroil Kreen to the tank and letting it run for 30 minutes later today, after the battery charges up. __________________ Tim Carlig

06-14-2023, 05:00 PM	#14
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 1,041	Re: 37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. I tried loading a video of the engine running to no avail. __________________ Tim Carlig Last edited by dean333; 06-14-2023 at 10:31 PM.

06-14-2023, 09:28 PM	#15
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,811	Re: 37 Ford #5 plug wet not firing. Early in break-in of a new rebuild, if the car sat for a few weeks, I had some sticky valves. I did several sessions of pouring MMO directly into the carb with the engine at fast idle, and jazzing the throttle to keep it going. Smoked up the neighborhood but quickly got the valves working. Since then, I put 4 ounces of MMO in the tank with every refill, and the problem did not come back, even after sitting for months.