Not striking up

[Rhinoman]

If its jammed then its too late to worry about damaging it. Is there any sign of the head gasket being changed recently? is there oil around the valve train? oil starvation will cause the cam to seize.

[The Bird Man]

The cam moved fine when the belt was on, as soon as I took the belt of and tried turning the cam separately that's when I had trouble. Don't think it's actually seized.

[Rhinoman]

You probably just need to push harder, if you're not happy with that then back off the valve clearances so you're not working against the valve springs.

[The Bird Man]

It's just one thing after another with this bloody engine. Right re-set the cam timing as I'm pretty sure that was 180 out, but now I can't even test if what I've done works as the engine doesn't turn over. Well it turns over by hand but not by the starter motor so I whipped it off and tested it, it works fine, every time. Put it back on the engine, a very half hearted attempt of trying to turn it over. Swapped batteries with my daily driver and still the same problem. What can this be ? Many thanks One day I'll be driving it on the road !

[twiss]

Sounds like the starter could do with a clean out to me...

[Rhinoman]

Could also be a bad ground strap, it should be connected to one of the starter motor bolts.

[The Bird Man]

Just took it off AGAIN, bloody red hot !!!! Going to strip it down and give it a good service. Though the bloke did say he hadn't long bought it and does look in good nick but going to crack it open and check. Tested it once more, all seems good. Good ground, kicks out all the way nicely and turns fast. Hmmmmm.............

[Rhinoman]

On an 8V I find it simple enough to look through the oil filler and check that the valves on no 4 are open, if they are then no1 is at TDC.

[The Bird Man]

I'm mega confused !!! You say if that the valves are open, the valves don't open at the same time though, do they ? Not with mine. This is what I've done so far, number 4 piston at top dead center, crank sprocket timing mark lines up with the mark on the block. Both intake and exhaust valves are closed for that cylinder, the exhaust valve has been closed for a while and the intake valve has just come back up and is closed, cam sprocket timing marks also line up with the notch on the timing belt cover. This is the engine timing set up right isn't ? While it is like this the rotor arm was pointing to number four on the dizzy cap so I took the bolt out and took the distributor out and turned it to number one. This being all done, I don't see why it shouldn't start. I haven't missed anything have I ?

[Rhinoman]

I'm mega confused !!! You say if that the valves are open, the valves don't open at the same time though, do they ?

They are both open on the overlap at TDC at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke. They won't be open by a lot but as you turn the engine you will be able to see the exhaust closing and the intake opening - or the other way round if you're turning the engine backwards.
At TDC on the compression stoke there will be play in the rockers.