Cj7 iron duke. No spark.

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #1

Hello I am new to the forum just bought an 81 cj7 151 cu in. with 76000 original miles. It has been sitting for 10 years. I have gone through the motor and replaced everything that needed it. I thought I had it ready to start but no spark. I have replaced the distributor, coil cap and rotor, plugs and wires. I am getting a little over 12 volts to the distributor when the ignition is on and it is grounded . I am pretty mechanically inclined but I am stumped and quite honestly frustrated any suggestions ?

 

wayoflife

Administrator

Staff member

• May 14, 2016

• #2

Welcome to WAYALIFE, it's good to have you here. I used to have a 81 CJ7 but with a 258 and regret selling it. Regarding your issue, you kind of sound like you're having a similar problem to what I was just having on my Jeepster Commando. Are you sure you have TDC set on compression? Turned out that my distributor was clocked 180° and #1 was set TDC on exhaust.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #3

Yes I brought it up to tdc and when I stabbed the distributor the rotor was pointed at no. 1 spark terminal. Also I forgot to mention once I installed the new dist. I put the old coil back in and after trying to start it ,it melted the coil

 

Ddays

Hooked

• May 14, 2016

• #4

Cj7tony said:

Hello I am new to the forum just bought an 81 cj7 151 cu in. with 76000 original miles. It has been sitting for 10 years. I have gone through the motor and replaced everything that needed it. I thought I had it ready to start but no spark. I have replaced the distributor, coil cap and rotor, plugs and wires. I am getting a little over 12 volts to the distributor when the ignition is on and it is grounded . I am pretty mechanically inclined but I am stumped and quite honestly frustrated any suggestions ?

Click to expand...

Distributors, points and condensers? WHAAAT? :crazyeyes:

Ran through same scenario with my old Ford 8N tractor last year and what Eddie said is exactly what I did....dist was 180 deg out.
Was ready to push the damn thing over the hill

Ooops. Disregard..you replied before I had chance to reply.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #5

It is HEI with the coil in the cap

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #6

Would it hurt anything if I rotated the dist 180 and tried it

 

wayoflife

Administrator

Staff member

• May 14, 2016

• #7

You're motor will hit TDC twice, once on compression and once on exhaust. Have someone help you out by putting their finger in the #1 spark plug hole while you manually rotate the crankshaft. They should feel pressure as you come up to the correct TDC.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #8

Ok will try it as soon as I can. Hopefully today. I will let you all know as soon as I do.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #9

This is all my voltage readings. Battery -12.6v
Key on at dist+ 10.8v
Dist- 2.5v
While staring
Dist+7.5v
Dist-1.5v

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #10

This is the rotor at tdc on compression stroke so I must have put it in backwards. I'm gonna try to do it this evening and i will keep yall updated

 

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Cj7tony

New member

• May 14, 2016

• #11

BTW this is my jeep the last pic is how it was when i got it

 

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2Cross

Caught the Bug

• May 14, 2016

• #12

Nice CJ7
Good luck with it. Will be a lot of fun
[emoji106]

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 15, 2016

• #13

Ok so I re stabbed the distributor. I'm guessing it was 180 degrees there is no notch on the oil pump for the shaft to slide in, but anyways still no spark and the coil keeps getting hotter the longer u try to start it

 

WJCO

Meme King

• May 15, 2016

• #14

Did engine start at all prior to new distributor? And no spark at #1 or no spark from coil at all?

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 15, 2016

• #15

No it had no spark when I bought it and hasn't been started in 10 years . The owner said it ran when it was parked. How would u check spark on the coil

 

WJCO

Meme King

• May 15, 2016

• #16

Cj7tony said:

No it had no spark when I bought it and hasn't been started in 10 years . The owner said it ran when it was parked. How would u check spark on the coil

Click to expand...

Run a jumper wire from the coil secondary tower and hook the other end somewhere near ground but leave a .030 gap or so. Then crank the engine and see if you have spark. I would also ensure all fuses are good.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 15, 2016

• #17

I'm sorry what is the coil secondary

 

WJCO

Meme King

• May 15, 2016

• #18

Cj7tony said:

I'm sorry what is the coil secondary

Click to expand...

Not sure exactly what your coil looks like, but the secondary is the large terminal that sends the spark. Here's an example.

 

Cj7tony

New member

• May 15, 2016

• #19

I have an hei dist.

 

WJCO

Meme King

• May 15, 2016

• #20

Post some pics of the ignition coil. You said earlier that your coil melted. Are you talking about the pickup coil inside the distributor or the ignition coil outside the distributor? Two different components.