She cranks with verified fuel and spark, but no go?

[Spicyunicorn]

After rereading your post I missed that it was a fe350 witch has hydrologic lifters witch are different than the 290 maybe someone will chime in that knows a little more about them but definitely sounds like a valve train issue

[carguybill]

Three things needed for an engine to run. Air fuel mixture, ignition, and compression.

If, by chance, you used starting fluid you may have wiped the cylinder walls dry and are loosing compression there.

Exactly this same thing happened to me once and once I realized that lack of adequate compression was the issue I quickly and easily resolved the problem by removing the spark plugs putting a single small squirt of engine oil into each cylinder.

It started immediately, smoked a bit for short while and then ran perfectly.

Worth a try before tearing your engine down. Good luck.

[Vaughn]

Quote Update: I pulled the valve cover and both valves are all the way out.


When you turn it over are the valves opening and closing?

[hookyplank]

Originally Posted by Vaughn

Quote Update: I pulled the valve cover and both valves are all the way out.


When you turn it over are the valves opening and closing?

The valves do not open or close when turning the engine over. They both remain open. If I press down on the valve springs by hand while pushing the pedal the engine will attempt to start, but there is nothing moving the valves.

[mrgolf]

Your cam is not turning. Engine overhaul.

[hookyplank]

Originally Posted by mrgolf

Your cam is not turning. Engine overhaul.

That's what I was thinking too. Just can't figure out why the cam isn't turning but the crank is...Then, my thoughts got to should I overhaul an engine with 2000 hours or just replace it? I'm not sure which makes the most sense. Trying to weigh out down time, cost and long term value.

[Fairtax4me]

A rebuilt fe350 will run you $1000-$1300 depending where you get it. Possibly more.
I wouldnt waste my time on a $250 Chinese motor.

[carguybill]

If he has hydrolic lifters and they are collapsed would the valves stay open or closed?
I don't know how the linkage is on a FE 350.

Also if the valves are stuck open how could he get any compression at all?

[mrgolf]

One thing I think I would do before going further, I would pull valve cover and take rocker arms off to make sure the push rods are moving or not. If they are not moving the cam is not turning, could be broken shaft or gear.