SJ RN ingnition issue

[NVJAY775]

Strange issue with the new toy. (Converted from sxi to rn sj)
Rode and ran excellent. Took on a bit of water, ran rough back to shore. Thought it just watered a plug.
Pulled plugs, cranked out (no water in cylinders) put in a fresh set of plugs. It would fire every 10 cranks or so, but only one cylinder. It wouldn't run, just fire once and keep cranking.
Then the starter would spin, but not engage. Pulled the front cover to lube the starter, and noticed the flywheel bolt was a bit loose. But the flywheel was tight and didn't move. I think...
Tightened the flywheel bolt. Put the front cover back on, starter worked like a champ, but the same random single fire is still there. It has a MSD Enhancer. Thinkin it may have gone out?

I have done some searching, but am not sure. So here I am.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance!
Jay

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

Plug wire(s) possibly. Check each wire for spark and trim the ends and retry.

 

[Waternut]

Might want to check the woodruff key. If the bendix wasn't engaging and the flywheel was loose, the flywheel was clearly out of place and those keys are only there for alignment. They can't take major forces. Pulling the flywheel sucks but another woodruff key is cheaper than another enhancer.

 

[NVJAY775]

Plug wire(s) possibly. Check each wire for spark and trim the ends and retry.

Both holes are getting spark. Dangit... Thanks.

 

[NVJAY775]

Might want to check the woodruff key. If the bendix wasn't engaging and the flywheel was loose, the flywheel was clearly out of place and those keys are only there for alignment. They can't take major forces. Pulling the flywheel sucks but another woodruff key is cheaper than another enhancer.

I was dreading that. I've read that a flywheel puller is a must. Good point on the enhancer.

When pulling the flywheel, what's the best way to hold the flywheel / crank while loosening the flywheel Bolt? Trying to keep a flat screwdriver on the flywheel and wrenching is a bit@#.

Thanks guys.

Jay

 

[Waternut]

Go borrow a harmonic balancer puller from autozone. The worst part of the whole thing is pulling the engine or fuel tank to get the puller in place. Best way to hold the flywheel is the rope trick. Pull both plugs, get the piston nearest the flywheel to almost top dead center, then psuh the rope into the spark plug hole. The piston will squash the rope against the head and won't allow it to reach the top of the stroke and therefore locking the engine in place so you can wrench on it. When you're done, just back the engine off by hand and pull the rope out.

 

[NVJAY775]

Owie. I was hoping one of those holes in the front of the flywheel would have some magic hole to pin or something to line up and hold the crank.

Hoping Kragen is open tomorrow. I'll call them, to see if I can rent a puller. We are having a party tonight. YAH!!! But... If I had it my way I would be wrenching on the SJ.

Priorities

 

[OCD Solutions]

I use an Ampro T75520 AC Clutch Spanner Wrench between the puller and the flywheel to hold it from spinning. The 3 holes line up perfectly but the handle is kinda short.It works and it's less than $10 at your local autozone.

 

[weston]

I use an Ampro T75520 AC Clutch Spanner Wrench between the puller and the flywheel to hold it from spinning. The 3 holes line up perfectly but the handle is kinda short.It works and it's less than $10 at your local autozone.

Just use a impact wrench harbor freight tools sells a impact called the earthquake and it is by fare the best bang for you buck

 

[keefer]

Impact to remove the bolt and use the rope trick from post #6 to stop the crank from spinning so you can torque the bolt properly.

 

[Waternut]

All these tools are great but it doesn't alleviate the fact that you still have to use a harmonic balancer puller to actually get the flywheel off...

 

[OCD Solutions]

All these tools are great but it doesn't alleviate the fact that you still have to use a harmonic balancer puller to actually get the flywheel off...

So buy or rent one then. What's the problem? Harmonic Balancer Puller AmPro Part# T73876 Pretty sure it was less than $20.

All in all I spent around $30 and I was able to swap flywheels in less than 45 minutes without removing the tank or using an impact or shoving anything down my cylinder. There are many ways to get the job done, the right way is simply the one that gets it's done. I was on the road away from my shop and my tools. I improvised in the back of my pickup outside an Autozone in the rain and it still only took me 45 minutes to swap flywheels. It's not that big of a job.

 

[Waternut]

So buy or rent one then. What's the problem?

There's no problem. I've done this before and even to me it sounded like everyone was trying to give easier alternatives to removing the engine or fuel tank to remove the flywheel. I just wanted to make it clear to the OP that all these extra alternatives were only useful for removing the bolt and not the flywheel.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I was dreading that. I've read that a flywheel puller is a must. Good point on the enhancer.

When pulling the flywheel, what's the best way to hold the flywheel / crank while loosening the flywheel Bolt? Trying to keep a flat screwdriver on the flywheel and wrenching is a bit@#.

Thanks guys.

Jay

:biggrin:

 

[NVJAY775]

Well hopefully I get the time to get the flywheel pulled and realigned today. Thanks for all the helpful hints and tricks. I'll post up what I find out. On a side note. Holy frickin donkey dung Batman! Those enhancer thingies are expensive. Oh well... Gotta have it if mine crapped.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Those enhancer thingies are expensive. Oh well... Gotta have it if mine crapped.

Amazon sells them for $177 shipped if you can snag one when they happen to be in stock and before they sell out. I had a spare but already passed it on to another member. http://www.amazon.com/MSD-4253-Ignition-Enhancer/dp/B001BN76KC

If you are getting spark then chances are it's not the Enhancer. let us know what you find under the front cover.