First Ignition Procedures

A. Empty Cranking
Empty cranking is a term when an engine that has just been refurbished is about to be cranked
for the first time in order to make sure that engine running well. The purposes of doing it are :
To make sure that every part of engine is running well, so no parts that will collide with
each other.
To make sure that no leaks of oil nor water around the valve cover, intake manifold, and
head.
To check whether there is an oil pressure or not. If there is an oil pressure, the oil will rise
from oil pan up to the head and then lubricates all the moving parts within it. If there is no
oil pressure, it could indicates that there is a problem with the oil pump or clogged oil path.
To lubricate all the moving parts within the engine such as bearings, cylinder liner, pistons,
hydraulic lifters, camshaft, and etc.
Procedures of empty cranking :
1. Put the engine on an engine run stand.

Figure 1.1. An engine on engine running stand

2. Make sure that starter motor, carburetor, distributor, alternator, and radiator are properly
installed. (Make sure that the radiator is already filled with enough coolant or water).
3. Prepare a car battery that has enough voltage to crank the motor.
4. Connect all wiring to the battery properly. Always plug the positive charge wiring first and
then the ground wiring is next. Before plugging the ground wiring, try to scratch it a little
bit to the battery terminal to check whether there is a spark or not. If there is a spark, that
indicates there could be a wiring issues. If no sparks means that the wiring system is
properly installed.

Figure 1.2. Battery cable installation order.

5. Remove all spark plugs and place it on working table.
6. Spill a little bit oil into each cylinder using oil can through the sparkplug hole.

Figure 1.3. Filling a bit of oil into a cylinder through sparkplug hole
7. Make sure that starter motor is properly installed and no fuel line that plugged yet to the
carburetor.
8. Do not tighten the oil pressure bolt to tight.

Figure 1.4 Oil pressure bolt

9. Push start button of starter motor switch, then let it spin the motor for about 3 seconds.
10. Check if there were any rattling or ticking noise that comes from inside the engine. If none
of those sound come out of the engine, then spin the motor for 3 seconds. If those noise
come out, then locate where they come from then resolve the problem.
11. Check whether there is any oil leak that could come out from valve cover, head, oil pan,
oil filter, and engine block. If there was an oil leak, then locate where it came from and
then tighten the loosen bolt that caused the leak.
12. If there is an oil pressure, so there would be a little spurt of oil from oil pressure bolt. If
there is no oil pressure, so there wouldnt be any spurt come from oil pressure bolt. When
the engine produce enough oil pressure, then tighten up the oil pressure bolt.
Usually oil leak come from an area where there is gasket is installed on.
B. Cold Cranking
Cold cranking is a process to start engine for the first time after the engine has been build. This
process must be done in order to check that all engine parameter are working well and properly.
Step by step of cold cranking :
1. Install the spark plug properly. Then connect the leads to spark plug in each cylinder
according to the firing order.
2. Check whether there is a leak in radiator hoses and water neck. If there was a leak, then
immediately tighten up the hose clamp.
3. Make sure that all wiring are installed properly and make sure that no spark plug leads that
in contact with header.

Figure 1.5. Positioning sparkplug leads

4. Remove one of the sparkplug from any cylinder, then place the sparkplug on working table.
5. Connect the leads from removed sparkplug to the screw driver.
6. Place the tip of the screwdriver at the head, but slightly lift the tip a little bit so there is an
air gap just like sparkplug instead.
 Figure 1.6. Spark test procedure
7. Make sure that no fuel is added yet to the carburetor.
8. Turn on the ignition switch, then push the start button the crank the motor.
9. If there is a spark strike from the tip of the screw driver to the head, the means the ignition
system is working well. If not then there is a problem with the ignition system.
10. Install the removed sparkplug back to it cylinder. Then plug the lead properly. When
plugging the lead to sparkplug, plug it until hear a click noise, it means that the leads
connect properly to the sparkplug.
11. Connect the fuel tank to the fuel pump using a fuel hose. Make sure tighten up the hose
clamp tightly so there would be no fuel leak.
12. Turn on the ignition switch, and then let the fuel pump pumps enough fuel to fill the
carburetor float chamber.
13. Before starting the motor, make sure that the distributor bolt holder is a bit loosen. So that
would make the timing adjusting easier.

Figure 1.7. Distributor bolt holder

14. Increase the carburetor idle screw by turning it as much as 1 revolution using a screw
driver.

Figure 1.8. Idle screw adjusment

15. Make sure that the radiator cap is opened, so when the engine is running, an inspection to
cooling system can be done.
16. Push the start button, to crank up the motor. If the motor having a difficulty to start, then
rotate the distributor clockwise or counter clockwise to advance or retard the ignition
timing until the engine is alive.
17. Then adjust the ignition timing just right for the first ignition. Then tighten up the
distributor bolt holder properly.
18. After one minute the engine has been running, check any oil leak and water leak. If there
is a leak, locate where it come from, and then tighten up more the bolt or clamp that caused
it.
19. Check whether the coolant has boiled or not.

Figure 1.9. Boiling water for cooling system

20. When the engine is running, there must be a coolant circulation, that caused the water from
the radiator is spread evenly to the water jacket. So need to be added more water into the
radiator. Then put cap back on the radiator.
21. After the engine run about 2 minute, shutdown the engine.