Topic: Getting started
in Forum: C3 Engines
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I've had this on-going "first start-up of the day" problem for awhile and it's really starting to bug me. Here's the situation:
First start of the day, the engine will crank over, and over, and over but will not start. Takes 2 or 3 attempts and sounds like there's no gas. Pumping the accelerator a few times does seem to help on the 2nd or 3rd try, but can then seem like it's starting to flood if I don't "back off" on the accelerator.
Once she's started, if after running for a minute I then shut her off - turn the key again - she'll start right up first time. Engine barely cranks over 2x before firing up. Then it's good all day. The next morning, same thing - that first startup is more work.
Now, I personally can easily sympathize that as we all get older 
that first start in the morning takes a little more effort 
, but I'm wondering if there's something going on either with the carb or fuel pump or fuel line/filter?
that first start in the morning takes a little more effort , but I'm wondering if there's something going on either with the carb or fuel pump or fuel line/filter?Any ideas?
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Hi Eric,
That problem of cold starts may be related to the setting of the choke on the carb. If the choke is closing too far, the cylinders will load with gas and the plugs will not fire. Pumping the accelerator probably opens the choke enough to eventually start. I suggest checking the adjustment of the choke when the engine is cold. Holding part-way down on the acc. should open the choke slightly when cranking the engine. I hope that this helps!
Joe T
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Choke setting was my absolute first thought as well.
Eric, is this a Qjet or after market card? Either way, get ahold of the service manual and follow the instructions to check your choke settings and see if that helps matters any. Is the carb in good shape? Rebuilt in the last couple of years?
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[QUOTE=JoeTrecca]Hi Eric,
That problem of cold starts may be related to the setting of the choke on the carb. If the choke is closing too far, the cylinders will load with gas and the plugs will not fire. Pumping the accelerator probably opens the choke enough to eventually start. I suggest checking the adjustment of the choke when the engine is cold. Holding part-way down on the acc. should open the choke slightly when cranking the engine. I hope that this helps!
[/QUOTE]
I think you may be on to something regarding the choke. I know that once it does catch, if I don't keep my foot on the gas a little, the idle is so low that it will stall out. I will have to look at the choke settings and see what's going on there. Thanks!
[QUOTE=lukesvette]Choke setting was my absolute first thought as well.
Eric, is this a Qjet or after market card? Either way, get ahold of the service manual and follow the instructions to check your choke settings and see if that helps matters any. Is the carb in good shape? Rebuilt in the last couple of years?
[/QUOTE]
It's a rebuilt Qjet that was put on about 5 years ago now. It's been this way almost since the carb was replaced so maybe the carb is bad or it was never properly adjusted.
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Good to see you back on the forum, Eric! 
Once you check the choke, and adjust if needed, and that doesn't correct the problem, you'll need to remove the carb, take the bottom(throttle) plate off, and epoxy the core plugs on the fuel bowl. They're leaking, and all of the fuel that is in the bowl is running out into the engine overnight, so there's not enough fuel in the bowl to fire it off first thing in the morning. Most Q-puke rebuild kits come with a small foam rubber-like "pad" that fits down in the throttle plate, to seal these core plugs, but they don't work very well, or for very long.
A smidgen of JB Weld will usually resolve the leak. I usually take a small hammer and peen the plugs a little first, just to seat them back up in the body of the carb, then mix up the JB Weld, and schmere it over the plugs. You have to watch how much you put on there, because the bottom(throttle) plate has to bolt back on, and if you get too much epoxy on the plugs, the plate will not sit flat, and then you've got another problem all together. What I do is put the epoxy on the plugs, and give it a few minutes to harden up a bit...enough that it doesn't smear off easily. Then, I'll sit the bottom plate on there, and mash it down with hand pressure. That way, when I take the plate back off, I can see how much epoxy is enough. If there's too much to let the plate sit flat, then I have to wait until it hardens completely, then use a good mill file to file the epoxy down a little, until the throttle plate will fit nicely.
hth
(Photo credit: kstyer)
Once you check the choke, and adjust if needed, and that doesn't correct the problem, you'll need to remove the carb, take the bottom(throttle) plate off, and epoxy the core plugs on the fuel bowl. They're leaking, and all of the fuel that is in the bowl is running out into the engine overnight, so there's not enough fuel in the bowl to fire it off first thing in the morning. Most Q-puke rebuild kits come with a small foam rubber-like "pad" that fits down in the throttle plate, to seal these core plugs, but they don't work very well, or for very long.
A smidgen of JB Weld will usually resolve the leak. I usually take a small hammer and peen the plugs a little first, just to seat them back up in the body of the carb, then mix up the JB Weld, and schmere it over the plugs. You have to watch how much you put on there, because the bottom(throttle) plate has to bolt back on, and if you get too much epoxy on the plugs, the plate will not sit flat, and then you've got another problem all together. What I do is put the epoxy on the plugs, and give it a few minutes to harden up a bit...enough that it doesn't smear off easily. Then, I'll sit the bottom plate on there, and mash it down with hand pressure. That way, when I take the plate back off, I can see how much epoxy is enough. If there's too much to let the plate sit flat, then I have to wait until it hardens completely, then use a good mill file to file the epoxy down a little, until the throttle plate will fit nicely.
hth
(Photo credit: kstyer)
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You can check the bowl leakage by first thing in the morning, remove the breather. open the choke plate, and crank the throttle to see if gas squirts into engine. If there is no fuel right away then for sure Your bowls are leaking. Nice to stumble on someone local. I used to live in Amherstburg. Still go down that way once in a while. If You have fuel right away then its probably the choke. Good luck.
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