Hi, i just got home this beast, gave it a wash and done a couple of rides. During the day I had to switch it on several times and sometimes a few ours apart. Previous owner told me he usually gives 3 pumps at the thrust and then swiches on flawlessy. Not much for me. I ended up draining the battery last night trying to swicth it on. I then got it started but jesus.. What can be the problem? what can I check?
I would say 3 pumps is too much with what looks like a Holley carb. Charge battery, pull out spark plugs see if they are wet, clean and dry off. Let raw fuel evaporate from cylinders by leaving plugs out for a while.check if chock is fully open. Reinstall plugs, crank engine, then tap gas pedal. If it floods, then crank with gas pedal at atleast half way open, do not pump.
Pumping the pedal that many times can flood the engine. 2 pumps in the morning is OK, but a warm engine shouldn't need any pumps.
If the choke is working correctly, you should set the choke by depressing the pedal full to the floor once, and release. Do this at a "normal" speed (one-two seconds) not "stomping it". This sets the high idle, and "primes/charges" the intake. Then crank and avoid "peddling", and the engine should catch and start. If you have a manual choke, pull the lever out about 1/2 to 2/3 and see if it will start, with very little "peddling" or "throttle position" like below in the "warm" starting. Once you learn where the "sweet spot" for the choke is, you can use that most of the time when the engine is cold. You will learn to adjust to the ambient air temps, but it will take a little finesse and time to get there. (first time with a new rebuild and manual choke, I would move the choke from full choke back to open as I was cranking to find the "spot" where it would start). When warm, it should start with no or very light application of peddle, no more than 1/4 to 1/3 pedal very slowly applied as you are cranking. If flooded, put pedal to the floor and hold, then crank and hold the pedal until it clears. It will either start, or you will find the engine cranks a bit faster (like it is trying to catch), when that happens, let the pedal off the floor and continue to crank, and it should start. For those of us fortunate to have learned this a bazillion years ago, it is like falling off a bicycle, once you learn how, you no longer need gravity to do it. For those brought up in the EFI world, it is an art to learn. Hope that helps.
Thank you guys, I'll put your advice in practice today. In the meantime I read the instruction manual (it's still in the car!) and I found very similar instructions. I guess this technique is old news for many but I'm fairly young and never had experience on these cars, I'm so excited to be learning!
Thank you guys, tried as you said with 1 slow pump, cranked the engine and it was on in a second. Had to keep the pedal to a 1/4 for a moment to keep it idle and that was it. Here it's a hot summer now, will it be different in winter?
Good to hear. Yes, in the winter it will need good bit of choke and fast idle for a few minutes before driving, but otherwise the starting process is the same. If the timing, choke, and idle mixtures are all adjusted properly, you should have no trouble anytime of year. Fuel changes winter to summer blends might require a little tweaking, as carbureted cars can be finicky about the changes, but nothing drastic.
