Cold Start Procedure

When my car has been sitting for about a week, I have a little difficulty getting it started. Seems like the gasoline is not in the carburetor yet but after a dozen or so cranks, it fires right up. Hot starting is never a problem, only after the car has been sitting a week or two. Should I be pressing the accelerator to the floor first, pumping the accelerator, leaving the accelerator alone until it fires or ?? When I turn the ignition key, I do not hear any clicks so I assume I do not have an electric fuel pump. I have a 1776cc with dual 40 Webers. Any advice?

Beth, Where have you been?

With a mechanical fuel pump you need to get fuel into the carbs by pumping the accelerator pedal 2-3 times before turning it over. Should fire right up after that.

Well I hate to disagree with Terry, but if your car has been sitting for a while and it is slow to start, that is because the gas in the float bowl of the carb(s) has probably evaporated. Pumping the gas pedal won't speed that process at all.

The float bowl is a little reservoir in the carb that needs to have gas in it for the car to run. The time you are waiting is the time it takes for your mechanical pump to fill your float bowl. Keeping your pedal down a small amount while cranking is all that is required.

To be honest, one week kind of sounds short for the float bowl to be evaporating to empty. You might want to have a mechanic check to assure there is not a slow leak in your carb.

Know what? I just let it crank for a while without touching the accelerator pedal; that gives the engine enough time to build up oil pressure at the same time the pump is getting the fuel into the carbs. It doesn't take THAT long.....you don't want a shot of fuel immediately into the cylinders as it washes away the oil film. I'd say just let it build oil pressure first.

Beth, check the float level in you carbs, sounds like they're too low. If they're OK, do a complete tune-up, starting with the ignition first, then adjust carbs.
A properly tuned engine won't need the accelerator pedal pumped , or long cranking periods to get it to start- it should begin to fire after a few seconds of cranking.

I am sorry, but if it is a Mech. fuel pump, which works off of the engine, how will pumping the peddle with the engine shut off help get gas to the engine? Think you need to turn it over with the peddle down, then gas will get to the engine, if this is your problem or not I don't know, but might help.

Jerry

Should be easy to tell if you have a mechanical fuel pump -- It attaches to engine just to left of Generator/alternator near the oil filter. It could have a bad diaphram and be letting fuel drain back to tank. Do you have a glass or plastic fuel filter (not sure I like either in the engine compartment) that you can check before you crank the engine -- it should retain gas about half full. Electric fuel pumps don't always make a ticking noise -- there are electronic (Facet) and rotary ones that make little noise.

Jerry, a carb isd like a toilet, with the fuel supply being the water supply to your tank.
the "ball float" in the tank is the same as your fuel float. Your tank/float bowl is kept fuel
by your "supply" be it a mech.,electric, gravity or other. When you "pump" your accelerator
it's the same as flicking the toilet handle "accelerator pump". Engine on or off fuel will
be "pumped" into the throat/drain. Again, once running/ flushed the float/ball drops and
allows additional fuel/water into the tank until regulated "off" again by the float. Thats why
when people talk about gallons per hour/ 45 psi etc....it's all bunk. If your bowl can be kept
"full" by your supply then thats enough. The "bowl" evaporating within a week would probably
point to other issues. Engine too hot boiling fuel after shut down. Sorry for the long winded
post I was just trying to explain the "pumping prior to engine start.

Excellent analogy. And it also explains the flushing sound I heard on m 69 dodge charger w/magnum 383 under the hood... Gads what a pig.!

Good to hear from you Beth. Get your Bethtub plates on yet? angela

Thanks Guys, I will try all of the above to see what works best until I can get it in for a tune-up which is coming up next month. I've been hiding out under the radar lately just reading all the SOC posts but not necessarily posting while watching all the arrows fly by overhead. But, during the recent lull, it seemed safe to emerge!

Angela, I did get the BethTub plates finally and have gotten a lot of great comments about them, hope to post pictures soon.

Thanks to all for all the cold-start advice...but, isn't it just like me to ask a simple question that has the potential to start a another uproar? Of course, I won't mention anything about current political events, I've learned my lesson....tee hee.