[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Mar-02 AT 02:49 PM (EST)]Well, I got that radiator back on, no problem. Actually got to drive the truck to work on Friday. I was pretty excited. It started right up too! I thought maybe the new plug wires made all the difference.

But today the truck won't start. Here's what I have tried...


After several attempts using my normal method (pump five times and start) I pumped alot more times and cranked on it. Figured I might have flooded it, so I waited awhile. Still no dice. Poured just a little gas into the carb but no change.

I went and purchased a Neihoff carb rebuild kit, took a look at it and I don't think I can rebuild this carb on my own. I could probably learn to fly the space shuttle before I rebuilt a carb.

I went out to the truck and played with the distributor a little to see if it might be the timing. I didn't move it much, like 1/8-1/4 inch each way, but that didn't help. Sprayed a bunch of carb cleaner on all the linkages and the barrels as well.

I bought a fuel filter a while back, but I can't find out where the heck it goes. It's about five inches long, and it is a paper element surrounded by perforated metal. I found a hose under the bed near the front filler tube with an inline filter on it. The filter I got is about ten times biger than that one. I bet the filter is in bad shape, the truck was used in dusty conditions. I need to replace the filter, but I have about .75 cents to my name until Friday, thanks to the rebuild kit.

Oh yeah. While I was staring at the carb in frustration, I noticed that the green wire from the coil (?) was frayed. It's only complete by a few strands of wire. Maybe that could be part of my problem???
Jeez, there's probably a host of things wrong with this old truck.
Why in the heck did I get rid of my Acura!?

I'm pretty darn frustrated right now.

I have used the search function to aid in my quest, but it pulls up about four pages of related topics, and many of them have little or no mention of the search words I typed in. I have tried "or" and "and" searches.

I guess I'll have to take this POS to somebody who knows what their doing. I hate to give someone else that cash, but I don't know what else to do. That means another two weeks without the truck until I get the cash.

mi1lion, how much would it cost to have you live here for a few weeks???

I miss my little Jap four bangers!

 

2 things to try. First if you flood it push the pedal to the floor and hold it there while you crank it over. Don't pump it. I a few seconds it will clear the excess gas. Also with someone turning it over for you pull out the coil wire from the dizzy. Hold it just above the cap and see if your getting any spark. If not that narrows it to electrical. Let us know what you find out.

 

P.S. I live SW of Denver. Too far to do you much good but here's my e-mail. I also have a 73 F250 and relate to your frustration.

Rocky

knighthawk@idcomm.com

 

>Oh yeah. While I was staring at the carb in frustration, I noticed >that the green wire from the coil (?) was frayed. It's only complete >by a few strands of wire. Maybe that could be part of my problem???

This could definitly be a problem. This sounds like the wire that supplies/removes a ground to the coil causing it to send the voltage to the sparkplugs.
Repair this wire then try it. Cut thru the wire. Strip back about 1" or so on each wire end. Make sure the wires are shiney clean copper colored, if not a little sandpaper will help. Then twist the two ends together tightly and wrap with electrical tape. Temporay fix
Now see if you get spark. It sounds like an electrical problem as you put gas in the carb and nothing happened. If it was sparking it should have least sputtered or ran for a few seconds.
Good luck.

Sparky

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Mar-02 AT 09:54 PM (EST)]I really don't think the problem is electrical, but I definately need to fix that wire. It only is difficult to start when it's cold outside, AND if it sits overnight or longer. It can sit for two days and start fine on a warm day. It can sit through a cold work day and still start with a little coaxing for the drive home.

Thanks for the tip on clearing a flooded carb, I'll remember that.

Hopefully someone will rebuild my carb for me without having to take it in the shorts too bad. I might need a new Acc. pump diaphram too, but they're only a few bucks. I'm glad everything has been available and inexpensive so far. Except for the exhaust.

Thanks for everyone's continued support. Despite me lapsing into fits of rage I still love this truck, and can't wait until I can concentrate on things like cosmetics and audio. Seems like a long way off right now though.

Thanks for the email addy. Fastcat! I'll try not to bug ya, but I may have to... I really appreciate it. I don't drink much, but I owe ya a beer! Unless you're into Jagermeister! WooooHooooo!

Anybody paid someone else to rebuild a carb? Remember what'cha paid???

 

i just rebuilt it myself. what kinda carb is it bud. i might have a diagram that might help ya do it urself

 

Motorcraft 4bbl. There is an exploded view which serves as instructions. I might be able to figure it out, at the cost of having the truck out of commission for a week. I'd hate to tear into it and not be able to finish it. Imagine taking all those pieces to someone and saying "here, fix this!" I don't have the heart to do that to anybody.

If you have something that's like, color coded for kids, then I'll take a look!

 

ill see what i can do pal.

carbs are easy to erbuild. just have paitents and a quiet space so no one scares u. ull do fine.

 

I noticed in several other posts that some of these trucks have a fuel filter that mounts in the fuel pump. They described the filter the same way you did. Just a thought..

Just think.. summer is coming and you'll be cruising through town in someing more fun than a Jap four banger... keep the faith, it will run!

 

First off fix that wire, broken wires are a problem that's easy to fix.

Second, I think he's right about the filter going on the bottom of the fuel pump, Carter pumps do that too.

I used to make a living (not much of one) running a carb rebuilding shop and learned quite a bit.

It's not all that hard, just think of it like this: You're trying to open up the carb in order to clean and inspect. Take the time to examine how things come apart so that you can get them back together the same way.

The important thing is to clean all the passages. A few cans of Berrymans B12 carb cleaner will do a great job.

Once it's clean, check all the specs like float level, idle screws etc...

Before you scrape off a gasket, lay out the new gasket and make sure it's the right one.

If you don't want rebuilt the whole carb, you could get 3 large cans of carb cleaner and clean the fuel bowl, jet passages, idle passages... this might help for a temp fix.

the other idea is to just buy a rebuilt or replacement carb, I've seen Holley's for the $100 range with no exchange.


Your problem sounds more electrical that carb, I'd pull a plug wire and hold it 1/4" from ground and check for a spark jumping the gap while someone cranks the engine.

 

Well, the fuel pump is new, so I'm hoping the filter is new as well.(?) I will get that wire fixed pronto, and do that plug spark test as soon as I can. Thanks!:-)

 

Carbs are acctualy pretty simple to work on. They just look scarry. Just take your time and lay things out kinda in the order you take them apart. Also if it's only in the cold that it wont start it sounds like a choke problem. Is your choke closed when you first try to start it? If not you may need to adjust it so it is.

 

I think the carb is supposed to have an auto choke. It doesn't work. Somebody rigged up a manual coke, but that doesn't work either. Sometimes I close the flap myself, but it doesn't seem to help it start any easier.

I got it started this morning, but it sprayed coolant again after driving three miles, and now it will not run above 40mph. NOW WHAT!!!

I have tried and tried to get it to spray while I am looking at it, but it just won't cooperate.

I fixed that wire (kinda). I was able to remove the plastic topper for the coil easy enough, but I wasn't able to pry open the connector that actually contacts the coil. I managed to get the wire back to the connector and wrap it around the end of the connector. I guess it's better than it WAS, but it's not the best.

There's lots of wires that are not connected and lots of wires that are just twisted together and not capped or anything. The engine is a transplant, and I guess nobody ever intended to actually drive the truck on the street when they were done. I just need to spend a whole lotta time under the hood re-wiring the whole thing. The good news is a bonus check for $500-600 is arriving next week.

I just don't know if I should buy another beater car, or fix the truck. The co worker with the BMW I'm borrowing is being nice, but I know he wants to sell it to somebody soon.

I really need some good weather this weekend!