1995 ducati 916 resto
 

hi guys.
desperation has set in here.i am currently restoring one of the early cagiva made 916,s and long story short .....I removed the engine which was running to paint the frame ,which I did and have all the original components and loom back into the frame....went to start it and it won't run....I have spark and the pump is pressurising as normal...when I thumb the starter I get no firing but occasional puffs of flame out the exhausts.....any help would be appreciated:eek:

HI there,

Electrics would be my first thought...

Correct HT lead to correct spark plug? etc. etc.

Good luck and keep us posted please.

Cheers - FRank

thanks Frank.....I'm 100% sure coils ,ht leads are the correct way round ( the loom doesn't really allow it) but even though I did swop them round on purpose because that's what it looked like, firing on the wrong cylinder

iirc they use a wasted spark anyway, so both cylinders fire twice per cycle; one at TDC to fire the compressed gas, the other cylinder will be at BDC just before the compression stroke. This means that there is only one pulse fed to both coils and it keeps the system simple. I think!

Anyway, I presume it's actually firing and you can see the plug sparking outside the head?

Is fuel getting into the head? I presume so if it's spitting flames?

Sounds like timing may be wrong. Have you checked the cams? Might be worth resetting everything if you've changed it...

hiya.....thanks for the reply....all your assumptions are correct, a good strong spark on both cylinders earthed on the cylinder head , throttle bodies removed from the inlet rubbers and cranked over and both injectors squirting good fuel. I do not know how the timing could be out because the belts were never off or dislodged but I will check timing tomorrow. I just want to eliminate everything else.

If I'm reading the initial post correctly you have a 916S, is that a Strada then with the P8 ECU and two timing pick-ups for the engine. If so are these connected correctly

hi guys
found my issue.....I did have the stator off because of a keyway/woodruff key issue and must have inadvertently pulled the gear wheel behind it off a bit and pushed it on about 3 splines off. meant the crank shaft sensor was off on the camshaft timing.many thanks

Glad you got sorted!