Starting issue
 

Car ran fine 2 days go. Yesterday wouldn't start and today it won't start. Gas is dipping out of the carb. Think maybe the float is stuck or something? 29 fordoor is the car.

Thanks,
Neal

Re: Starting issue
 

I would check for spark first before you condemn your carb. Fuel dripping is normal if engine wont start , unless its pouring .

Re: Starting issue
 

Could you give a quick refresher how to check for spark again? Don't I just make sure in the distributor that when the hammer hits that there is a spark happening?

Re: Starting issue
 

Take the High tension wire off out of the dist and hold it just off a head stud and turn the engine over by pulling the starter shaft down with your hand... You should have a nice blue spark jumping from the wire to the head nut!

Re: Starting issue
 

If it ran fine the last time, and gas if dripping, the simplest possibility is that you've flooded the engine. The fix is to hold the gas pedal tight to the floor (or do this with the hand throttle ALL the way down) and crank the motor longer than you'd think--don't be pulling on the choke rod during this process! If it's flooded, this will clear out the fumes until enough air gets in to support combustion, at which point it will start to sputter, at which time you might have to choke it a bit to keep it going, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.

Make sure that no one has spun the gas adjustment valve too far open--turn the choke rod clockwise until it stops, then open it back up (counter clockwise) about 3/4 turn for cold start.

Once it starts, be sure to run it long enough to get the motor good and warm to drive off the gasoline that has seeped by the rings into the oil--a thermostat helps here, but them's fighting words for some folks.

Steve

Re: Starting issue
 

I'm kinda with Steve, sounds like you just flooded it.. If what Steve doesn't work out[it should though], remove the sparklers and blow them dry[ if they are saturated with fuel they won't fire], spin the engine over a couple times, replace the plugs and start it up..

Re: Starting issue
 

Ok guys I will give that a try. I think it may be flooded also, but 2 days in a row seems weird, that's why I wonder if maybe the float somehow got messed up. Can it stay flooded that long that 2 days in a row to try to start it and that happens?

Re: Starting issue
 

Do you have a fuse or power shut off other than the key? If you have a disconnect was it turned on? Check and see if the fuse is good or bad. Put the accelerator pedal to the floor and try to start it without the choke and let it spin several revolutions and let up on the pedal and it may start. Let us know what you have tried as mentioned in the earlier posts and report back.
Good luck. Russell

Re: Starting issue
 

I won't be able to check it out for about 24 hours so 6pm "ish" tomorrow, so I will report back and let everyone know if I get it running or not. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Neal

Re: Starting issue
 

I think it can stay flooded for days; where's the gas going to go? Half the valves are closed; if the carb is wet, then only more gas fumes are going to get in the intake; it's a long trek for fresh air to get in from the exhaust.

It may or may not be your fault that it flooded; may or may not be something wrong with the carb. If the carb has been dripping all this time, there's definitely something wrong with it, which may be major or minor.

Let us know.

Steve

Re: Starting issue
 

[QUOTE=steve s;389960]If it ran fine the last time, and gas if dripping, the simplest possibility is that you've flooded the engine. The fix is to hold the gas pedal tight to the floor (or do this with the hand throttle ALL the way down) and crank the motor longer than you'd think--don't be pulling on the choke rod during this process! If it's flooded, this will clear out the fumes until enough air gets in to support combustion, at which point it will start to sputter, at which time you might have to choke it a bit to keep it going, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.

Make sure that no one has spun the gas adjustment valve too far open--turn the choke rod clockwise until it stops, then open it back up (counter clockwise) about 3/4 turn for cold start.

Once it starts, be sure to run it long enough to get the motor good and warm to drive off the gasoline that has seeped by the rings into the oil--a thermostat helps here, but them's fighting words for some folks.

Steve[/QUOTE


Guys, Model As have updraft carbs. If I remember right, liquid gasoline does not run up into the intake manifold no matter how much the carb is leaking. Better look for the problem somewhere else. It ain't flooded. No sparky,,,,

Joe,,,

Re: Starting issue
 

Appears it was just flooded. I got the car running and even though it didn't run the best it still ran. Backfired alot, so I'm thinking there may be a timing issue or the points are set incorrectly. It was a 28 Fordoor Leatherback, so I decided to go ahead and buy it, couldn't pass it up. Thanks for everyone who posted ideas and helped out.

Re: Starting issue
 

[QUOTE=VWJoe;390180]Joe,
I agree that liquid gasoline won't run uphill, but relief from flooding while the car just sits for a day or two is probably dependent on the evaporating gas fumes diffusing out into the air. Net diffusion of vapors will not occur thru a barrier of similar fumes coming up the intake manifold from a drippy carb.
Steve

Re: Starting issue
 

I'm glad you got it running that easily.. It probably was flooded as you suspected.. I guess someone should have told all updraft motors that they couldn't flood, cuz, they've been doing it and I've been 'un-flooding' them to get 'em running for 50 years and I'm pretty sure they were doing it before I came along..