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BJ8 difficult to start

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check to see if fuel pump is sucking air, which would give you the constant ticking of the fuel pump. sometimes the fiber washers get old and dried out and fuel pump will pull air in from the tank side. tighten nuts on pump banjo's and see if that solves problem.
 
Hi guys, I know this is way after I started this thread but I thought it appropriate to give you all some feed back on the result.
I booked the car into a mechanic proficient in tuning these engines and he did a fine job but it was still hard to start.
After a lot of different forum reading, and studying a workshop manual I have I discovered that pulling the choke out just so far only increased the throttle valve opening, it didn't actually Choke the carb. By pulling on the choke cable another 1/4" or so this actually choked the Venturi and it now starts like a dream...wonderful stuff!!
cheers
mike
 
Miktre said:
... I booked the car into a mechanic proficient in tuning these engines and he did a fine job but it was still hard to start.
Click to expand...

Good news, but your mechanic could have been more help. He could have: showed you how to start a cold Healey; told you you should press the gas pedal to the floor before pulling the choke knob to take some load off the choke cables; told you the return springs on the 'chokes' are often (usually) too weak and the 'chokes' will stick on and the car will run rich--and too fast--once warm, and you'll have to open the bonnet and lower the choke levers by hand.

Took me 30 years to learn all that. You're welcome.
 
For many time I have asked a lot of work from my battery and starter motor, start the engine after some time of rest, drain a lot of electricity-
Now I apply a different strategy at the first AH start:

Turn the Key and hear the pump tic-tac
Open the engine bay
move the starter lever"chokes"on the carbs by hand, to the full position
spray on the air filters a starter compound (etere)
stay ready with a hand to the throttle lever of the carbs
Push the engine starter button
Engine starts normally at the second turn
wait some second moving a little the throttle lever and reduce the rpm moving down the choke lever of the carbs
NOT a easy procedure, BUT the starter motor and the battery are grateful to me

I haven't to repeat again the procedure during the day - or the following days if the car is regularly used as daily driver
 
One more thing I just recalled: Pull the choke ALL the way out and hold to start, then, when the engine will idle--usually around 120degF--turn the choke knob 90deg to either side. Supposedly, there is a mechanism to hold the choke against the springs when you do that, but I don't know for sure. Then, go finish your coffee and come back in 10 minutes.
 
For years I could not pull the choke out far enough on my BJ7, the car was always a pig to start, after the rebuild of the engine I gave the carbs a thorough going over and some of the choke parts needed fettling and straightening out, choke works a dream now.

:cheers:

Bob
 
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