• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

Please Engine....START!

redscare

redscare

Basic User
City
LA County
State
CA
Alright. So I go to get in the 8 today and turn the key. It starts up fine but then after a few seconds, dies off. :eek: I started it again, revved the engine a little more this time and it still died off after a few seconds. :mad: In trying to determine the problem, I noticed that I couldn't see any fuel being spit into the carb whenever I pushed the pedal. I poured some gas into the carb started it up and it started and died again after a few seconds. I then found that the linkage which controls the choke plate isn't engaging. There is a clip which holds the rod into the groove (see pic), but I guess it's not holding it close enough because whener I gas it the choke plate doesn't move even the littlest bit. Do you guys know how I can fix this? or do you have any other ideas as to why things aren't going the way I want them to?
 
The only time the choke plate should move is when you give it that 'priming kick' first thing in the morning. The choke coil is cold, and will spring the choke shaft, which holds the choke plate shut. The choke shaft in turn pulls up on that stepped cam, which holds the throttle slightly open.
When the engine starts, the idle should be a bit high, and continue to get higher as the choke coil heats up- the heat causes the bimetallic coil to loosen its hold on the plate, which allows it to fall open to the vertical position. When you 'kick down' the throttle, the stepped cam falls away from the throttle, which allows the throttle to go to its closed position and return you to your curb idle.
So, that said, it's not the throttle that moves the choke, it's the other way round. The problem here isn't your choke, though, it's the fact that you may not be getting fuel.
First, Is there gas in the tank? If yes, disconnect the line to the carb and point it into a jar, and crank the engine over.
Next, is any gas coming out, and is it sufficient to produce at least several ounces over the course of a few seconds of cranking? If not, your fuel pump may be bad, or your lines or filter may be occluded.
If you're getting enough gas, you may have a blockage in the carburetor itself- the float valve may be stuck closed, or you could have junk blocking the venturii and jets in the carb body.
Let us know what you find.
 
Woo-hoo!!

She's running!!! :D I don't really know what I did though. I disconnected the fuel line from the carb (i had just filled up so I knew there was gas) and tried to start it. It didn't put too much fuel in the jar the first try, so I twisted the jar around and tried again and the fuel came out just fine. So I hooked the line back to the carb and checked again to see if any fuel was getting into the carb through the venturis. This time there was and she started up beautifully. So what was it? Just a clog in the line? I honestly don't know what I did, but I'll take it. :)
 
Are you running the stock fuel filter between the pump and the carb (the metal one with one inlet and two outlets)? If so, are you sure you have the overflow tube (the outlet closest to the edge of the filter) in the 12-o-clock position to make sure the filter isn't just draining fuel back to the tank? That can be a big problem if your fuel pump isn't quite up to snuff. There may have been a small blockage in one of the lines as well, and whether or not that will cause a problem in the future just remains to be seen.
Well, glad you got it running, that's great news.
 
I'll rotate the filter just in case. The outlet lines were roughly at 3 and 9 o'clock. Thanks for your help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top