Reply to "New engine/low HP"

> If it was an ignition problem, wouldn't I be able to hear it or feel it, like
> when an engine is obviously missing?

It can be more subtle than a miss. I had one case that felt like a really rich
carb, just lazy. Turned out to be too much ballast resistance causing a weak
spark. Some ignitions introduce a bunch of unintentional spark retard at
higher RPM. First, I'd get one of those glass see through sparkplug style
spark testers and make sure I had a strong spark. Then you need to see if the
spark stays stable through the rev range. Have you checked the gap of the
plugs?

> I was thinking it would be nice to do it in the dark to see if any
> sparks were jumping.

If you do that, mist the area with water vapour.

> I have bumped up against the rev limiter a number of times so I know it
> will rev to 6500, if in fact the chip is doing what it is supposed to.

Rev very slowly through the RPM range and see if you can detect any sort
of surging.

> When I have run up to the top of the rpm range, I have not been able to
> feel the drop off in HP.

What did the dyno sheets say?

> The tach does seem to work normally if I'm not doing 0-60 or quarter mile
> kind of stuff.

Some styles of tachs are rate sensitive.

> I can hit the rev limiter and the tach will show 3000 rpm.

Hmmm. That may be a clue. Even rate sensitive tachs aren't that far off.
I wonder if the ignition is being compromised by the tach wiring or ???

Dan Jones