Posted by Ken (32.100.224.2) on January 20, 2001 at 12:08:22:
In Reply to: my baby caught FIRE .... posted by Jason on January 19, 2001 at 23:32:20:
Depending on certain engine conditions the timing chain if worn could have jumped a tooth, the ignition timing could be retarded, can result in the ignition firing a cylinder just before an intake valve closed on any cylinder.
Being generous with pumping the accelerator before turning the engine over could cause this to happen. Another thing that can happen is in a slow cranking, a cylinder will fire and kick the engine backward and reopen the intake
valve again. The fire has already started and follows the raw gas back to the carb.
We will never know but always try to get a good cranking speed before pumping the accelerator.
Another note (not about carb cars) is that on a fuel injection car remember if the spark plugs are removed and the engine is cranked over with the live plug wires near the hole a fire can result due to the fuel still being injected
and drawn into the cylinders. Always remove the coil wire and ground the coil tower or provide a path to jump to ground.