First start problems

[Howie]

I'm having some problems cold cranking my new ford crate 302. It has a new starter, a new optima red top 750cca battery but I barely get more than a fraction of a turn every time I engage the starter. I've tried bypassing the wiring and connecting directly to the battery. Same result. I've tried with coil connected and disconnected, same result.

And yes I did put the oil in. :)

Dying to finally start the motor but this is frustrating!

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Howie

[Mustang Man]

You mean you see the crank just turn an inch or two and then nothing? Have you tried to manually turn the engine over? Perhaps there is interference somewhere. ALWAYS had turn the engine after installing and before first start to ensure there's nothing hitting/binding. Have you tried taking the spark plugs out and bumping it with the starter then?

Mark

[Howie]

You mean you see the crank just turn an inch or two and then nothing? Have you tried to manually turn the engine over? Perhaps there is interference somewhere. ALWAYS had turn the engine after installing and before first start to ensure there's nothing hitting/binding. Have you tried taking the spark plugs out and bumping it with the starter then?

Mark

It's turning a few inches every time, sometimes more but never more than say 10 inches of the belt. I'm pretty sure it's not hitting anything but ill try the hand turn and will let you know. Thanks the suggestion. H

[meganuke]

You may have a bad battery, even if it's new. If possible, and after turning it over by hand, get a jump from a known good battery.

[Howie]

You may have a bad battery, even if it's new. If possible, and after turning it over by hand, get a jump from a known good battery.

Yeah good idea, but tried that and jumped from my car , no joy, same result. Also tried starting straight from battery rather than via switch and wiring, same result. I has to be engine.

Will try taking the sparks out next - I realize now how that will help by reducing the compression pressure.

Will let you know if that makes a difference....!

[Howie]

Yeah good idea, but tried that and jumped from my car , no joy, same result. Also tried starting straight from battery rather than via switch and wiring, same result. I has to be engine.

Will try taking the sparks out next - I realize now how that will help by reducing the compression pressure.

Will let you know if that makes a difference....!

Ok engine turns fine with plugs out so its about effort needed to compress cylinders. battery is good. With Belt off the engine cranks VERY slowly, but maybe more than before. Still nowhere enough to fire.

Feels like it should be battery but...any other ideas?

[skullandbones]

If you are sure the battery and starter are good, you should check along the battery cables and check for hot spots after cranking. You could have a loose connection that will cause a significant lost of voltage. I had a bad connector on a long cable run that got so hot you couldn't touch it after cranking for a while. I would check the wiring first. If that isn't it then take the battery and starter to be tested. I was going to say you could have a some kind of mechanical binding (bell housing, clutch, pressure plate) but you said it turns freely when the plugs are not in. You've got to narrow the problem down by eliminating each component. Good luck, WEK.

[edwardb]

Losing track a little of what you've done... With the plugs out, the engine should turn over pretty easily by hand with a socket wrench on the harmonic balancer bolt. Several revolutions just to confirm. Seem OK? Still with the plugs out, try using the starter. It should turn over very fast with almost no resistance. If both of these are OK, and you're positive the battery and wiring are OK, I'd be suspicious of the starter. Either it's defective and won't work properly under load, or it's binding somehow when engaged. Are you sure you have the right starter? There's a version for manual and another for automatic. BTW, you mention the belt. I'm assuming you mean for the alternator, PS, etc.? That shouldn't matter.

[cob427sc]

Make sure you have a real solid ground to the chassis. If the engine is not grounded sufficiently you will have problems (experience!).