it wont turn over

[drewfever1020]

ok my truck was starting good but now its acting up!
it takes longer to start than it used to.
i think im having problems with my starter?
i went to go get my starter checked and it was ok, so i put it back on my truck!
and it started truning on.
but now it wont start at all it just stays there cranking and wont turn over!
and i could smell a wire burning hah
what can it be?

[cdowns]

if it's cranking do you mean rotating? if it's rotating or cranking it's turning over

do you mean it wont start?

[drewfever1020]

ya i mean it wont start

[cdowns]

if you have points has somebody that knows how set them or at least checked them? have you looked in the carb to see if it squirts gas? have you checked the sppark plug condition? changed any filters?

[68gmsee]

The smell your are talking about is probably a wire to the starter overheating because of the cranking. Also, it could be the battery cable getting overheated. If it doesn't start after cranking it over for 30 seconds, I'd start trying to find out why.

Start by checking to see if you are getting a spark to the spark plug. I usually start by unplugging a spark plug wire, place it close to the spark plug and have someone crank it. You should see a spark.

If you do, then check the carb to see if it's getting gas. Use a flashlight and move the throttle rod to see if it's squirting gas.

If not, you could have a plugged up filter, bad fuel pump or carb problems.

[mr48chev]

Ok, so the starter is spinning the engine over but the engine is not starting. Are we correct in that assumption?

For the engine to run you have to have

Fuel but not excessive fuel

Ignition = spark at the correct time

Compression

Now for the questons

Do you positively have fuel in the tank?
If so are you getting fuel to the carb?u
Can you take the top off the aircleaner, look in the carb and see a squirt of fuel when you work the throttle?

Now if you are getting fuel to the carb do you have a spark to the plugs?
One way to check is to pull a plug wire off the plug and hole it close to the exhaust manifold and see if you get a spark when a helper cranks the engine over with the key.

If you have spark to the plugs the distributor is probably ok if not backtrack to the distributor and see if your points are working. the contacts should not look burnt or excessively pitted. When the rubbing block is on one of the tips of the distributor cam lobe the points should be open about .015 (about the thickness of a matchbook cover).

If everything is ok there and there is not moisture inside the distributor cap (Wd-40 and a paper towel will take car of that) and it still has no spark check for voltage to the coil when the key is on and when the engine is being cranked over.
Either a volt meter or test light will tell you if you have power to the coil or do not have it.

[LockDoc]

-
I'd say you probably hooked the wires up wrong when you put it back on.... You need to double check them.

LockDoc

[drewfever1020]

i didnt hook them wrong cuz i was driving my truck before

[elkynova]

It sounds as if you have a bad ground to starter to the block because of grease or rust or a bad ground to the battery connection or the ground wire from the battery to the block. Both of these problems will cause slow cranking and/or overheating of the battery cables, which would cause a burning smell. Check and clean every connection between the battery and the starter, including the starter and the block. Also check to make sure that your ground cables ( the braided wire connectors) are still attached from the engine to the chassis. No matter how good everything else is, these small items always need to be right or you will have problems somewhere.