Bus won't start

[left handed kennedy]

After quite a long time rebuilding my 78 VW Bus after a fire, I cannot get the thing to turn over. I know I have fuel and spark (check them both), but still no go. The specs are as follows:

Megasquirt 2 ECU running the fuel injection
Mallory Hyfire 6 CDI
Mallory vacuum advance dizzy (from aircooled.net) along with the plugs that they recommended gapped to .040

I have removed the driver side valve cover and set the initial timing via the #3 cylinder valves. One thing I’ve notices is that the rotor arm on the dizzy is pointed toward the front of the bus. If memory serves me correctly it usually is pointed toward the back of the bus. Could I be 180 out?
Is there another way to set the initial timing that may work better?

Please let me know, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sped372]

I cannot get the thing to turn over.

Just double checking... can't turn over or turns over but won't start?

[left handed kennedy]

Turns over just fine, battery at 12.2v. Just won't fire.

[sped372]

Look which way the rotor points and from the dizzy cap trace each wire back to each cylinder and make sure they correspond to the right location. Even if you are 180 out it should still fire provided the wires are in the "right" spots.

Are you fluent in the static timing procedure (with test light clipped on the coil)?

[left handed kennedy]

No, never done that before. How is it done?

[sped372]

If you have the Muir book there's actually a decent writeup in there of how to do it. This one isn't too bad either:

http://www.aircooledtech.com/timing/static/

Basically you're watching for when the points open by measuring voltage at the coil (test light). Keep in mind the timing mark you should use for static timing is what you'd expect to see at idle with no vacuum influence (advance or retard) on the dizzy. It should get you close enough to run, but you'll want to verify max advance with a stroboscopic timing light.

People are pretty polarized over static timing but I feel it's an invaluable skill to have up your sleeve. I always double check with a strobe but find static timing charming in its simplicity.

[left handed kennedy]

Thank You, I will give this a try tonight.

[left handed kennedy]

Got it going! Wow, she runs nice for sitting for so long.
Figured out that it wasn't the timing after all. It was the throttle position sensor wasn't hooked up to the megasquirt ecu right. Switched two wires, got a clean reading, and off she went. Thanks for the help. I ended up making a TDC whistle/balloon and it worked perfect.

[sped372]

Glad you got it going.

[Amskeptic]

Glad you got it going.

Me too.
IIRC, the Mallory HiFire doesn't allow you to statically time it. It doesn't use points and there is no way to accurately catch the firing point.
Colin