Compression issues

[Will F]

What's it like with the plugs out? Are you sure its not just a 'tight' bottom end?
Also - What are you turning it over with? A short, 3/8 ratchet will make it really difficult!

[Jonesfach]

So turns out the fully charged battery didn’t work. Turned abut more but nowhere near enough. This was with a different starter too.
What is strange is 1• Even hand cranking is so so stiff 2• you can hear on each turn the engine releaseing pressure through the carb or through the oil filler when I removed the cap. This I don’t remember from previous novas.
Dont know if I’ve done something wrong during the build. The bottom end turned freely before I put it together so could it be a timing thing? Sure the top arrow was at the top and bottom at the bottom.

I find my 1300 pretty tough to turn by hand and you do get noise through the carbs as the pressure increases and decreases.

[Jonesfach]

With plugs out it should whizz round.

[leggattr]

So far as I recalled the bottom turned with ease before I bolted the top back on. Plugs out and it does turn easier yes. I will go back to check timing again but just doesn’t currently have the guts to crank with plugs in.
when hand cranking I was just using a small socket with extension so will try again with a breaker bar. Didn’t know if the oil not getting around the engine wasn’t helping matters

[torquey]

Starter defo a good known working one? Bigger bar needed to turn over by hand for sure!

[leggattr]

Tried 2 starters, both tested working off the engine.

[torquey]

Defo got enough oil in it? Remember a guy who rebuilt his engine and forgot to put oil in he was wondering why it was so hard to turn over by hand .

[leggattr]

So just been back out to car, taken 2 videos of turn over. 1 with distributor disconnected and plugs/fuel out and the other all back together. Don’t know how to uploads them tho? Anyway it’s got plenty of oil in and with plugs out it spins lovely under the starter and oil was getting to the cam. Again when all back together the 2nd time had the same problem.

[millworm]

Have you checked what voltage you're getting at the starter motor?

[Jonesfach]

Is it firing at all? Trying?