102 not starting

[JohnT]

I need some advice on starting my recently acquired a 102. After resetting and cleaning the points there is a good yellowish spark. Cleaned everything I could get to, including inside the tank. Now there is fuel getting to the cylinder (plug is wet) and I assume a spark but no life, not even a cough, plug is a Champion D16; ignition is Wipac and the carb is an Amal two jet (this has been well cleaned). Tried starting with choke; without choke both with throttle wide open. Any bright ideas, I’m no engineer so beyond cleaning I get lost.

[Hugz]

Check position of magneto base plate. Could be sparking at wrong time. You have the correct sparkler (plug, as my Chinese friend calls them). Fresh fuel?

[JohnT]

Thanks for the thought and confirmation that the plug is correct. Fuel was purchased and mixed yesterday although the outboard oil has been around for a while as we bought 5 ltrs and don't use an outboard that much. I have no idea how to check the magneto base plate position on the Wipac as it seems to be fixed but I’ll have a look and see if there is any adjustment. Points and plug are set at 20 thou. I don’t have a compression tester, could there be an issue with compression? I'll have another go this morning but there was no sign of life when I eventually gave up yesterday.

[Hugz]

Okidoke... magneto base has a locating stud which is on the underside and on the 102's is (facing the transom bracket) starboard rear. There is a hollow in the casing that this stud nestles into. The stud can be tightened in the wrong position and everything seems tight. Another quick check is to remove flywheel nut and sparkler and remove magneto top plate and see if the points close at about 20 degrees b4 top dead centre (tdc).
It is possible you have flooded her and the plug is too wet. I'm sure it is something simple. When in doubt I always change plug.



Cheers Hugo.

[JohnT]

Thanks for the help, I tried cleaning the mag with a bit of emery where it picks up from the magnets and the 102 is now running, I pinched a spare plug from my 1930 Austin Seven racing car and the Seagull now expects to do Brooklands at 80 mph! Post should now read 102 starting.