Hello,

My faithful 1963 S2A has a bit of a problem starting. When warm it's fine. When cold if I try to start it will turn over forever - most of the time it will not start but occasionally it will - but I don't think turning it over for 30-40 or more seconds is pleasant on the starter motor.

When it's running it runs a treat, pulls well, no misfire and can happily get to 60MPH as long as there is not a slight hint of a hill (currently no over drive had to remove it in Mongolia)

If I take the intake pipe off the top of the carb, cover it with my hand and then use a combination of choke on, fluttering my hand over the top and a bit of encouragement on the throttle, it will start within a few seconds.

Air filter is not clogged, timing has been checked. Fuel mix seems OK (put it on the gas analyser). If first starting doing this in Mongolia - made worse that the starter motor was giving up and would smoke after a few seconds and battery would drain quickly. My thoughts are that perhaps the carb (Weber ICH34) needs rebuilding - it's probably had sand dragged through it.

I've tried combinations of pumping the accelerator first before attempting to start, choke on, choke off and any other combination I can think of.

Any suggestions?

Has it a good 'fat' blue spark at the plugs ?

When was the points etc changed or re-gapped?

rustyrhinos said:

Hello,

My faithful 1963 S2A has a bit of a problem starting. When warm it's fine. When cold if I try to start it will turn over forever - most of the time it will not start but occasionally it will - but I don't think turning it over for 30-40 or more seconds is pleasant on the starter motor.

When it's running it runs a treat, pulls well, no misfire and can happily get to 60MPH as long as there is not a slight hint of a hill (currently no over drive had to remove it in Mongolia)

If I take the intake pipe off the top of the carb, cover it with my hand and then use a combination of choke on, fluttering my hand over the top and a bit of encouragement on the throttle, it will start within a few seconds.

Air filter is not clogged, timing has been checked. Fuel mix seems OK (put it on the gas analyser). If first starting doing this in Mongolia - made worse that the starter motor was giving up and would smoke after a few seconds and battery would drain quickly. My thoughts are that perhaps the carb (Weber ICH34) needs rebuilding - it's probably had sand dragged through it.

I've tried combinations of pumping the accelerator first before attempting to start, choke on, choke off and any other combination I can think of.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

What altitude are you at ?

Could screw with the air-mix ...

Dippypud said:

Has it a good 'fat' blue spark at the plugs ?

When was the points etc changed or re-gapped?

Click to expand...

Seems to be a decent spark to me. No points

Dippypud said:

What altitude are you at ?

Could screw with the air-mix ...

Click to expand...

No idea what were were at in Mongolia! But now in Lincolnshire so I dare say fairly sea level . air-mix....yeah...tried making it richer/leaner in various stages but makes no difference other than what you'd expect it to do.

Alex

rustyrhinos said:

No idea what were were at in Mongolia! But now in Lincolnshire so I dare say fairly sea level . air-mix....yeah...tried making it richer/leaner in various stages but makes no difference other than what you'd expect it to do.

Alex

Click to expand...

very fine country to be in

Indeed it is

Have you tried cleaning the Carb jets. Its a fine line between working and not with them. I had the same problem with a lawnmower and all it was, was a blocked jet.

I've had issues with hills on, of all things, an Austin Allegro. The little bit of extra lift needed to get fuel into the carb on a slope was just too much for the failing fuel pump. New pump fixed the problem for good.

Not touched the carb yet.

Could be the fuel pump I suppose but you'd half expect it not to run very well once started.