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ok, this may be a dumb question [ Starting ]

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I've been trying to practice the fine art of choking. Just when I think I've got it idling and warm, and decide to move it along, I get the misfires again. Not as bad as before, but a few. What really bugs me is that my wife starts laughing (as in, you moron, you can't even drive the thing) and my kids start getting nervous (as in, Dad, are we gonna make it?). After I've driven a quarter mile, it runs like a charm. So I'm still working on it. A little red faced, but working.

Scott
 
sounds like your wife and kids need to learn the fine art of walking! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


[ QUOTE ]
I've been trying to practice the fine art of choking. Just when I think I've got it idling and warm, and decide to move it along, I get the misfires again. Not as bad as before, but a few. What really bugs me is that my wife starts laughing (as in, you moron, you can't even drive the thing) and my kids start getting nervous (as in, Dad, are we gonna make it?). After I've driven a quarter mile, it runs like a charm. So I'm still working on it. A little red faced, but working.
 
joeq,

Thanks. Best laugh I've had all week. Woke up to a flat front tire, and found air leaking through about 20 spokes like sieve. Why today? Guess I'll try to figure out what to do about this one right after I get back from the dentist.

Scott
 
This is just an off the wall thought but are you getting small back fire at other times? Such as when shifting or going down a hill? If so, you may have an exhaust manifold to down pipe leak (or hole in the pipe).
 
One of the charms of owning a British car is not having the car start all the time. Many times I've drawn a crowd aroung my car, all admiring and nodding "looks good." Only when I try and start the car do people really smile and nod a lot more, usually accompanied with yes, now I remember.
Sounds like your over-choking the engine before starting. There's two small diameter pipes running down from the intake manifold. There sole purpose is to drain off excess fuel from over-choking, yours may be clogged. Good Luck. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is just an off the wall thought but are you getting small back fire at other times? Such as when shifting or going down a hill? If so, you may have an exhaust manifold to down pipe leak (or hole in the pipe).

[/ QUOTE ]

The above is also a symptom of a mixture set too weak /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
ok, so i'm doing all the right things (i think - gas down, choke out, gas up, start) and it still takes a whole lot of tries to get it going after it's been sitting for a week. is this normal? what are some of your experiences like?
 
I don't think depressing the gas pedal helps. SU carbs don't work that way.

After you've turned it a couple of times with the choke out, if it still hasnt started then push the choke back in. This avoids flooding the carbs. Works on mine every time

DerekJ
www.healeysix.net /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Shhhhh Derek,Editor Reid may be listening and he also knows Basil.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Derek,
I think Joe said that he depresses the gas pedal while he pulls the choke & then releases the pedal "gas up" before starting. This procedure is sometimes used to "unload" the fast idle cams to make pulling the chokes easier. Especially if the choke & cam linkage are worn, or if there is a lot of friction in the cables. With some other types of carbs that have fast idle notches in the cam, instead of a smooth cam contour, this is the only way that you can get the choke fully pulled.

Joe,
As Andrew said, it DOES sound as if the overall mixture may be weak.
D
 
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