well i've finally found out the problem with my samurai. turns out, the timing belt was off.

this was after i was gone in tampa for 5 days and my friend went ahead and changed the distributor cap or something.


we aligned the timing marks and it ran. yay! but i feel like i only have 20 horsepower, and it doesn't sound to good. and my spark plugs are black.

the timing marks are dead on. i don't see how they could be off. although, after researching on the forum, i've heard that on these motors, the marks tend to not be correct. is this true? should i just keep trying virtually random places until it works?

and i've already tried 180 degrees. it still ran, but even worse. i've tried a few other places as well, and it seems like no matter where i put it, it will alwyas run- to an extent...

The timing marks should be close enough. You could check that TDC is where its supposed to be by removing the no1 spark plug and using a screwdriver or similar to feel where the piston is. Its not a very accurate method but it should give you some confidence. If the timing marks appear to be some way off then check that the locating key on the crank pulley is good. If the marks seem OK then set everything to stock and look elsewhere. If the plugs are sooty black rather than oily black then the problem could be a weak spark or it could be a carb problem. Could the choke be stuck on? Is the vacuum advance working?

OMG THIS is insane. you've got to read this. read carefully



i've already gone through all the carb issues. and i know it's not spark.

here is the real kicker though. i just got done working on it, and today we took the head cover off. and when the timing mark on the cam gear is inline with its mark, the distributor points to the 3rd cylinder.. isn't it supposed to point to the first? and on top of that, i watched the valves and rocker arms, and both valves are closed when it sparks to third! meanwhile, the next valve to open on the #1 cylinder is the intake valve!!!!! so basically when my marks on the cam gear are lined up, everything is ready for the 3rd cylinder!

so i did my best with the screwdriver to find TDC for the third cylinder, and lined up the cam gear marks. so basically i had everything set up for the 3rd cylinder, which overall fixes everything. the first cylinders valves are closed when it sparks. and so are the others.

so i'm guessing that my timing marks on my camshaft were set for the 3rd cyclinder, and the crank was set on the first! (for TDC)

as i watched the valves, i noticed the firing order was 3421. and in the book it says 1342. which is the same firing order, just with a different lead piston.

it still wont run. although, this is the first time i've cranked her and it was a constant reving. before i guess my timing was completely off, and it slowed down and sped up my timing causing the starter to speed up and slow down.

The bottom pulley can't be on properly, it must be 90 degs or so out. I'd pull it and check that the key is in place. Are you sure that its not slipping round? You said that you already aligned the timing marks, which cylinder did you align them to?

Either you have some sort of booty-fabbing going on at the crank timing belt pulley (like rhinoman sez) OR somehow (!), you have a camshaft or crankshaft that just happens to fit in your engine but isn't OEM for your engine!  It MAY be OEM for another version of the engine though but I have never heard of such a situation....  if such a thing were possible.

There should be exactly two camshaft/crankshaft orientations possible with the engine.  One will run with the sparkplugs wired OEM-style,  The other will run with the sparkplugs wired rotated 180 degrees - assuming spark and fuel is working properly. 

well i also forgot to mention that the last owner said he bought the motor brand new.. so maybe since it was a recently made motor they did something different? idk.

but what do you reccomend that i do? the keys on the pulleys are fine. and idk if this makes a difference, but the mark for aligning the crank cam gear that is on the motor is a different looking mark than the one in the haynes manual.

idk if this makes a difference, but the mark for aligning the crank cam gear that is on the motor is a different looking mark than the one in the haynes manual.

That may well be the problem. Look very carefully for a second mark, I don't have a pic to hand but IIRC there are often two.