H

hodgson

New Member
my first post and i have quite a big issue, any advice or suggestions would be grateful.

just bought a defender 90 (1986). didnt start at first, but cleaned spark plugs and now starts. The problem is that it wont run, (well runs for 3 seconds and then cuts out).

it came with a weber card fitted and new inline filt . but has been standing for a year or so, this is the reason we found water and silt in the tank and consequently in the carb. so we cleaned the carb out (jets ect).

it still doesnt run!!!! Please help???
 
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yeah fuel is pumping through to carb, and spark plugs working fine as it runs for about 3 seconds and then just cuts out :S
 
there is something wrong with the carb, i have cleaned it out but it still doesnt want to tick over for more than 5 seconds.
 
Not being awkward - you need to answer folks questions if they're to help.


MF asked what colour are the plugs when you pull them out - I suspect looking to understand if they are sooty, clean or wet which might point to a choke or mixture issue
 
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No worries - yes, the spark plugs

Pull the leads off, unscrew and have a look at the bottom where the electrode is.

I suspect they'll be black.

Possible they might be wet and even possibly oily.

Post what you find and the guys will do their best to advise

Oh, and WELCOME by the way
 
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Assuming the plugs and points are clean and gapped properly stale fuel is my guess. Also possibly varnish in the carb jets from standing so long. Drain the tank and keep the fuel for cleaning parts. Get some fresh petrol. Add half pint of white spirit to a gallon (5 litres) of unleaded and start the engine. Give it time to work through the fuel system at idle then take it for a good blast. The white spirit will dissolve any varnish and you may not have to strip the carb. If it still wont run properly then you will have to strip and clean the carb jets.
 
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When you stripped the carbs did you check that fuel goes through the carb, ie comes out of the emulsion tube (might be called something different)?

Have you tried running it without the air filter connected?

During the 3 seconds it runs does fuel appear elsewhere?

Welcome and roughly where are you as there are some top dudes on here that will help you out.
 
yes this was the initial problem (not starting at all) they were black so we replaced them :) then there was a spark so spark plug problem solved. but it still wouldnt start so we looked what was coming through to the carb and because it had been standing for a year or so, there was just water coming through basically so we drained the tank. we found yet another problem- carburetor. the jets were full of crap so we decided to take the whole carb apart and clean it all out. there was one screw that we couldnt get out unfortunately. we put the carb back on and now i am here- the engine starts up with choke but dies after around 3 seconds :(
 
Shifty1962 said:
Assuming the plugs and points are clean and gapped properly stale fuel is my guess. Also possibly varnish in the carb jets from standing so long. Drain the tank and keep the fuel for cleaning parts. Get some fresh petrol. Add half pint of white spirit to a gallon (5 litres) of unleaded and start the engine. Give it time to work through the fuel system at idle then take it for a good blast. The white spirit will dissolve any varnish and you may not have to strip the carb. If it still wont run properly then you will have to strip and clean the carb jets.
Click to expand...

thank you,i will try the whitespirit :)
 
bluehaze said:
When you stripped the carbs did you check that fuel goes through the carb, ie comes out of the emulsion tube (might be called something different)?

Have you tried running it without the air filter connected?

During the 3 seconds it runs does fuel appear elsewhere?

Welcome and roughly where are you as there are some top dudes on here that will help you out.
Click to expand...

yeah fuel flows through the carb as after we have takenn it off again, it is damp with fuel in the bottom chamber.

and no the fuel doesnt appear anywhere else when it is running for the short time.

in derbyshire :)

and thanks for all the help people.
 
I'd try flooring it once it had started to see if any crap cleared out. When I put carbs in my merc it was the same till I ragged it abit then it settled and ran spot on ever since!
 
Karlos28 said:
I'd try flooring it once it had started to see if any crap cleared out. When I put carbs in my merc it was the same till I ragged it abit then it settled and ran spot on ever since!
Click to expand...

yeah tryed thrashing it and when ya thrash it, it keeps running but as soon as you take ya foot off, it again dies :( thanks for suggestion.
 
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