hard starting

[Roberte]

My BJ7 has become extremely hard to start after leaving it for a day or so. After it has finally been started and warmed up there is no further problem. I wonder what might be the cause as well as the cure.

Robert

 

[Keoke]

I would revisit my timing and choke settings

 

[CanberraBJ8]

A common 356 Porsche problem is starting after a few days/weeks of non-use. The modern fuels tend to evaporate more readily and the the fuel bowls dry up. I've just fitted an electric pump inline to prime the carbies (on the 356) - once it starts the mechanical pump is fine. In fact the mechanical pump will start the car too - but takes some cranking to push some more fuel into the carbies, as the pump only works when the engine is turning over. Needless wear and tear on the starter. My Healey has an electric pump so I can't say whether this happens on my Healey.

I guess all Healey pumps are electric aren't they, so my last point is superfluous...

 

[steveg]

I would revisit my timing and choke settings

Agree with Keoke - sounds like trying to start a car with the choke off.

On the HS6 carbs is it possible to take the domes off and see if the jets descend when the cable is pulled?

 

[Keith_M]

I have a similar problem with my 62 BT7. If the car has been run anytime in the previous few days, it starts fine. After a few days of sitting, though, it requires about 5 or 10 secs of cranking (which is actually a long time to crank, I think) before it finally starts. In all cases, I wait until the fuel pump stops clicking so that the float bowls are full.

Since the engine is completely cooled off after 24 hours, but the car starts fine, I have assumed that the problem is caused by evaporation of fuel in the intake manifold and cylinders after several days, but maybe this is a bad assumption.

 

[bob hughes]

I agree with Keoke

My experience of the same problem was timing - it was way out, worth a visit and easy to correct.



Bob

 

[Keith_M]

I agree with Keoke

My experience of the same problem was timing - it was way out, worth a visit and easy to correct.



Bob

I would have thought that a timing problem would make the car hard to start most of the time, not just after sitting several days. My car is set at 15 BTDC at idle, and it fires right up as long as it's been run in the 24-48 hours previously. I'll check it again this weekend, but I'm pretty sure I got it right.

 

[bob hughes]

Keith

In my case hard starting was when cold, after eventually starting - 3 - 5 minutes ish the car would run and would start again easily, even if it was started in the morning, run, put away again in the morning and started later in the day. However after a day or two back to the 3-5 minutes start up. Once the timing was set there were no problems, save a little difficulty in the winter - 2nd or 3rd time on the button.



Bob

 

[steveg]

If the timing was correct, could a broken distributor vacuum unit cause this? Not sure of this, just throwing it out.

Still no answer on the chokes.