Have gas & spark,engine will not start ??

[Peter Pucak]

Model B engine will only start when easy start is sprayed into the carb. New rebuilt B carb and fuel pump both have gas. Spark at distributor and plugs. Engine ran last summer. Engine new rebuild. Low compression because engine has sat for awhile ??? Thanks for any help you can give me. Not Model A, 32 Ford Model B pickup. Pete

[johnbuckley]

Is it just starting that's the problem ie after you've started with easy start will it run OK?
Stale fuel comes to mind as a possible culprit.

[ford3]

if you have fuel in the carb float bowl and the engine starts when primed , that tells me you a have plugged plugged jet or fuel passages in the carb, you need to reclean the carb and blow out all jets and fuel passages with high pressure air gun, or you can try holding your hand over the carb throat while a friend turns over the engine, some times the extra vacuum created with your hand over the carb throat will suck out whatever is blocking the fuel from getting to the engine, be very careful when doing that, with your arm in the engine compartment with engine turning can be dangerous













tells me you have a carb with either

[H. L. Chauvin]

Agree with above first guesses; i. e, appears to be "air"/"fuel" mixture starvation or imbalance, e.g., could also only be air leaks at intake or carb thus providing air heavy fuel mixture.

[Peter Pucak]

Just starting the engine is the current problem. Fresh gas. Plugs are dry.

[Peter Pucak]

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Just starting is the current problem.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Peter Pucak

Just starting the engine is the current problem. Fresh gas. Plugs are dry.

Still not quite sure what that means.
Once started with ether, does it stay running or will it only run on the ether?
Is this problem only the first start or will it start on its own after the initial start ?
The plugs stay dry even after strangling/choking the heck out of it ? Does fuel ever drip from the carburetor throat after choking ?
Are you getting fuel from the carburetor drain ?
Does it try to start at all or does the engine just spin over without any sign of firing ?
Does the engine seem to turn over normally or does it seem a bit too free/easy ? Have you tried wetting the cylinders ? Add a bit of oil or fuel thru those 4 little holes.

[ford3]

will engine keep running with the choke on part way or fully closed? plugs dry? still seems like no fuel to cylinders

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Peter,

In your reply #6, "Just starting is the current problem."

Could it be a current problem -- no pun intended -- for example, the starter using most of the current needed to provide "enough" current to get it started -- once started, it can run off of the generator provided current if the battery is weak.

Extremely difficult to guess at what is happening on your end from miles away.

Don't give up -- keep posting "all" of what you observe.

[Peter Pucak]

The engine turns over like it wants to start, but will only start when I squirt some easy-start into the carburator. Engine will fire up but only for a few seconds. Gas comes out of the drain plug on the carburator. Full choke does no help. Had the new engine running last summer for about 3 - 4 hours for breakin period per engine builders instructions. I brought the head torque up to 50 lbs. Thanks to all who responded.

[Mike V. Florida]

If starter fluid will start the engine and additional squirts will keep it running then, timing, voltage, compression are good.

That leaves fuel. The fact that if something flammable gets to the spark pugs and will run the engine you are getting no fuel to the manifold.

Fuel to the bowl does not mean fuel to the venturi and up the manifold.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Peter,

As parochial as this test may seem, after not touching the parked car for at least an hour, please try this Vintage Shade Tree Mechanic Common Sense observance technique I learned over 50 years ago:

1. First get ready by getting a spark plug wrench & raising the passenger side of your hood.

2. Get in your car, and with ignition switch "OFF", pull out the choke rod all of the way.

3. While pulling out on the choked rod, hit your starter & begin counting & allow your engine to rotate a minimum of (12) times with the switch "OFF".

4. Immediately after (12) engine rotations, (not later), quickly get out & remove all four (4) spark plugs & look at each part of the spark plug that goes in the combustion chamber.

5. Report back if one plug, (2) plugs or if "all" plugs appear "wet" with gas .................. or dry with no gas.

Let us know exactly what you experience

[ford3]

install another carb

[johnbuckley]

re-endorse diagnoses, #9 - weak spark esp when using starter, #13 - try substituting known Ok carb, or if no substitute available remove carb and check jets are clear esp idle

[no6]

Ethanol screwed up the carb.

[Patrick L.]

Sounds like a carburetor issue to me then. Remove the fuel line and make sure it has a good long steady solid flow. If ok, then just take apart the carburetor and clean it. A can of Deep-Creep [ spray Sea-Foam] and air should clean it up.

[Peter Pucak]

Thanks to all who offered help. The problem was a stuck valve. Thank You.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Peter,

Sincere thanks for taking the time to let us know what you found -- positive sign of a real gentleman.

One's reporting back as to the cause of one's problem is extremely valuable & most informative & part of a never ending Model A education.

[Patrick L.]

The engine wouldn't start because of one stuck valve ?