aprilia project

[chugga boom]

Great to hear you are doing an Aprilia........ but what about the Ardea?

Ardea is still here and still being worked on , Aprilia is my "break time " car bit like the fulvia was, gives me a bit of a breather on the pickup, i like to play with different projects at any 1 time, feels more of a hobby rather than a chore if you get what i meen, i love working on the pickup but its such a massive project sometimes i just walk away for some time out, i'd rather tackle the aprilia than just do nothing

[ben]

Assuming you did your timing checks using the markings on the flywheel teeth did you check that the pistons were where they were supposed to be?

I had an occasion once where my car would not start and eventually discovered that the flywheel was 180 degrees out. From your symptoms it sounds as though your timing (valves and ignition possibly) is 90 degrees out!  Hence the exhaust valve is open on the piston down-stroke instead of the inlet and no fuel is getting sucked in!

It isn't normal for all four plug connectors to pack up and even when they do it is usually when they get hot.
Also with the accelerator pump working on the weber some fuel ought to get drawn in if the valve timing was correct.

[lancialulu]

The marking on the teeth are very faint on my car and I only found it by using a crude (long screwdriver that fitted just the spark plug hole on the cam cover) TDC indicator. Had to go back and forth several times to be sure (now tooth is painted white), and timing static and with strobe at 500rpm is spot on. The advance on an Aprilia is much more instant than a fulvia!!

Tim

[chugga boom]

Assuming you did your timing checks using the markings on the flywheel teeth did you check that the pistons were where they were supposed to be?

I had an occasion once where my car would not start and eventually discovered that the flywheel was 180 degrees out. From your symptoms it sounds as though your timing (valves and ignition possibly) is 90 degrees out!  Hence the exhaust valve is open on the piston down-stroke instead of the inlet and no fuel is getting sucked in!

It isn't normal for all four plug connectors to pack up and even when they do it is usually when they get hot.
Also with the accelerator pump working on the weber some fuel ought to get drawn in if the valve timing was correct.

hi Ben, yes we checked the timing marks several times to make sure they corresponded to no1 cylinder at tdc which they do, this is why we checked incase the dizzy was half a turn out again just incase, i fully accept what your saying about the plug connectors and the accelorator pump yet it still doesnt explain why the cylinders and plugs are all still dry . myself and father have both checked , double checked and one final check each the ignition timing, firing order , valve timing, tappet clearances, sparks at dizzy and plugs, it is trying to go in a mannor but only if its spun over on 12v to get it going faster (which neither of us are a fan of) i'm sure with more persistance we will get it going, thanks for all the ideas and dont feel that we are dismissing them  we are gratefull for any ideas , j

[ben]

In the old days we squirted a bit of petrol in the plug holes, stuck 'em in 2nd, and towed 'em round the block a few times!! Cleans up the clutch and the brake drums at the same time!

[ben]

PS 
       I am sure you know that No 1 cyl on an Aprilia is the second one from the front!

[chugga boom]

yes realised which was number 1 as its a perculiar cam cover that has a factory made radiator brace and number 1 only is cast into the cam box on number 1 cylinder, the tow idea i great idea and have thought about it myself but i'll have to wait untill its got floors brakes and seats!!

[chugga boom]

got a bit more done this weekend , not as much as i'd like to have done but i had to spend the afternoon wheeldind a chainsaw around today chopping logs

[chugga boom]

more...........

[chugga boom]

.

[Parisien]

You certainly know how to move a project on Chugga.......great to see!


P

[DavidLaver]

Is that shrinker/streatcher now a "how did I manage with it" tool?

David

[chugga boom]

Is that shrinker/streatcher now a "how did I manage with it" tool?

David

YEP!!!! so handy and well worth the few hundred pounds it cost, anyone doing bodywork i would really recomend buying one of these if you cant buy off the shelf panels, that door repair panel took me about an hour to make which concidering it curves both ways is not bad going

[LanciAlan]

I am most impressed with your industry - it would take me the weekend just to get organised to take a few photos and post them up!

[DavidLaver]

For all I haven't even touched my project in nearly three years I take comfort that - with no other distractions - progress can be quite rapid.  Even at 10pct of Chugga pace stuff CAN get done.

David