1961 544 B16B 6volt no start problem....
Took it for a spin ...stopped at red light....light turns green ...I hit the gas and thats it it just quit....

I have replaced the condensor,points and Plugs....
I have also swapped out the wires,Cap and rotor with used good ones that I had on the shelf...
I do not think I am getting a spark....
Could it be the timing?....
should I not still get a spark even if the timming is out of wack...
May be I am not checking for spark correctly...some tips on this would be helpful.
Any idea's on what to check next....
please keep in mind I am a rookie at this.....

THANKS in adavance


Vince in Toronto

OK...Problems solved....
Thanks to the Good People....
The no spark issue was because of the insulating washer on the Distributor housing had vanished.....
Replaced washer and got spark...
but still would not start...

After I got spark it would still not start..the symptoms were like I had a weak
battery....
I purchased a new battery and was still getting the same problem..

Well to make a long story short it was the timing out of wack.
after playing with it for hours finnaly it started instently...
I was able to recreate the problem.....

Well it is running and I have taken it for a 50 mile drive without problems..

Who would have thought that the timming being off would act like a weak battery..I mean this thing would hardly turn over until the timing was some what set.
Now it turns over like I have 10 battery's.

thanks all for the help......

I now have spark....thanks to DANNY

found that the insulated washer had deteriated on the inside of the distributor housing...Stuck a rubber washer in there and Yippy I have SPARK..

But it still will not start....
I can hear it trying to catch but I think I killed my battery and probably messed other things up trying to solve the no spark issue...

Now i am not sure if I have the right firing order.....

My ROTOR is pointing at #1 spark on the dist cap.....is this correct
I am assuming that #1 on the cap is to the right of the front latch that holds the cap to the distributor....Please advise if I am wrong....

Thanks good people

Hello,

A repair kit is still available to replace the insulators on your B16 distributor, which I have in stock. The kit consists of several insulator washers and spacers and a new bolt, nut and washers.

There is a stake mark on the upper rim of the cast iron distributor housing that can only be seen when the distributor cap is off. The stake mark should point towards #1 spark plug hole and if you turn the crankshaft until the rotor is pointing towards #1 spark plug hole and at the stake mark, that should be the correct position to put the #1 spark plug wire. This ONLY applies if the distributor drive gear is clocked correctly, but on B16 it is rare that anyone has had that out in a long time.

The firing order is 1-3-4-2 and the rotor turns in a CLOCKWISE direction, which is the opposite direction that the B18/B20/B30 turns.


--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90501

Thanks....this will help....I am pretty sure I have the correct set up now...

Vince;

That washer should be an insulated shoulder washer of fiber...the shape, size, and material are pretty important...after this many years of service, they sometimes deteriorate (if it wasn't replaced with something less suitable, which I have to say a "rubber washer" most definately is!)... I wonder how long that rubber washer will last in there before it too succumbs to the heat and voltage present.

...and while were on the subject, the insulating strip inside the housing on the same bolt, which keeps the points spring from touching the inner wall, was originally paper...that's probably due for replacement too...I'd recommend a 0.010" thin piece of G10 (fiberglass filled epoxy circuit board material for this).

Maybe someone else can confirm firing order and post a static timing procedure for you here...I'm no B16 expert, but info here (http://www.sw-em.com/Volvo%20Ignition%20from%20Scratch.htm) MAY help if you transpose it for your B16.

Cheers

Thanks......I will look for some kind of Nylon washer to fit in there...
Like you said...That rubber washer gets pretty soft when hot.....

You might need to take the plugs out and dry them, sometimes they get fouled with gas and won't spark. A nice quick way to dry them is to use a blow torch on them.

--
'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic 245 + turbo

Probably a silly question but is the battery charge full? The reason I ask is that I had a similar problem with a '59 544 I used to own. The generator went out causing the battery to drain. Since the generator was no longer working the battery remaind discharged and NOTHING worked.
--
'61 PV544 - '65 PV544 - '64 Lincoln Continental

Make sure you have good ground connections from:
battery to the body - unbolt strap to body and aggressively clean strap and body
engine (bell housing) to the body - unbolt strap to body and aggressively clean strap and body


Another remoke spark issue can be (though I'm not familiar with B16 distributors) a short with the bolt that connects the points to the distributor. The bolt should not contact the distributor - there is an insulated locating washer which prevents this from happening, but careful assembly is required to make sure there is no contact.

Also, how's your battery?

You've diconnected the fuel supply to the carbs and had someone crank the engine while you hold the fuel line in a bottle to make sure the pump is working?

Pump is working ...i am getting lots of gas to the carbs...
I have disconnected the fuel line to see if fuel line has gas, lots of gas in fuel line past the pump,I do not know if the carbs are actualy pumping gas to the plugs....
I don't think I am getting a spark
can you help with checking for spark?

Here are a few articles to help check for spark:

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#checkspark

http://www.custompistols.com/cars/articles/ignition.htm

Good luck!
--
Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (44408)
http://www.scarolas.com/58VolvoPV444/

Vince;

I expect you may not be making (or routing to plugs) the IGNition high voltage...

Check for spark by disconnecting any sparkplug wire, plugging it on a spare plug (or laying it on valve cover with a gap), laying sparkplug onto valvecover so that it is grounded, and you can see spark, when and if it occurs at gap...turn IGN ON, (Neutral, Handbrake ON), and bridge with a screwdriver or similar between bolt on starter solenoid (which has big wire from battery connected), and little control wire (which supplies power to energize solenoid). This will turn over engine...observe sparkgap, watch for spark...you should see sparks at gap...if not, pull distrib center wire, hold (rag to keep you away from high voltage) near ground with a gap...repeat...this will tell you if coil is generating spark, but dist has problems (like defective rotor)...advise results here.

This is extremely condensed version...sorry, but I'm pressed for time! normally I'd give much more detail...so I hope it helps...ask here with questions if still not sure!

Good Hunting!

Take a plug out and, with its wire attached, hold the bottom of the plug to a bare metal psrt on the engine and crank with the starter. You should see a spark jumping between the elctrodes. Best to hold it with pliers with insulated handles and a glove. The wallop you can get from the current is a bit unpleasant.
Bob S.