Had a bit of trouble today. I just got this truck and it has a manual choke, which I've never had on a truck before. Thus I have a couple of questions:

Leaving work this evening, after the truck had sat for 8 hours, I tried to start it (pulling out the choke). The truck did not start. I pushed the choke in and tried to start it again...still nothing (it turned over, but did not fire up). Afraid that I flooded the carb, I let it sit for an hour. Tried to start it again...again it wouldn't start.

First question: How do you know when to pull the choke out when starting the truck?

In an effort to see if I was getting a spark, I pulled the spark plug wire off the number 1 plug and tried to start the truck. This time it started up (though it was missing). While still running, I pushed the wire on the plug and got shocked.

Second question: Any idea why it would start like this?

 

you only need to choke it when it is cold. you got shockd cuz 30,000 volts needs someplace to go.

 

Stupid question, perhaps, but do you mean when it is cold outside or when the car has not been run for several hours?

 

cold outside temps probably below 40 degrees

 

Thanks much.

 

May I add to what Fritolay said, You have to learn your truck. I think most of them that have sat over night need a couple quick depressions of the gas pedel. Usually they will start or at least hit (try to start). You may need to pull the choke to keep it running (or not). Some times you may need to pull it for 3 seconds and then push it back (all or most of the way) and you might have to do a fast in and out again before it settles down.

My last manual liked a little choke until it warmed up completely, and I would always forget to push it off completely.

Should you flood the engine, hold the gas peddle to the floor while cranking it over, this will clear it out. Caution if it cranks under this condition let off the pedal and not run the engine at WOT while it is cold.

I have always said that ol Fords are as cold as your first girl friend, ha ha, but from what I hear today maybe not.

John

 

John's advice is pretty much the way I do it. On my 67, in the morning I mash the gas pedal to the floor twice, pull the choke out about half way and turn the key. In the afternoon, after the truck has been sitting for eight hours, I pull the choke out slightly and give it a go. It will start right up without the choke pulled but will stumble when giving it the gas. Also like John, I have looked down too many times and noticed the choke has been on for a loooong time. Good luck.
jor

 

i think john's 100% right on the money! you have to learn your truck! i had to with my 72..i only use it 2 or 3 days out of the week since i drive a company vehicle for work. but when the engine has not run for a few days,i can depress the gas pedal 3 times,she fires right up,and then i pull the choke just a little for about 2 mins,then she's ready to go.but if it sits for more than 2 weeks,takes a little longer to get her goin.6-7 times with the gas pedal,and have to pull choke all the way.

 

Quotes from a couple depressions of the pedal to 6-7 times, ever think about washing the bore and rings and raw gas in the oil? Ran manual and electric chokes over the years, electric tap the throttle enough to get it up on the fast idle cam step, manual just pull the choke. On both by the second or third cylinder on compression fires off.

 

i only have to hit gas pedal 6-7 times when the engine has sat for 2 or more weeks,i have tried just pulling the choke,but it will not fire..it like the carb loses it's prime when it sits too long

 

sorry i didnt even think about all that been driving that truck for 14 years now (im 28) and dad drove it for about 7 years before that, so all the little start p tricks are just second nature but my truck normally after it ha been started in the morning all i have to do is bump the key and its running. to get it started in the mornin pump gas pedal twice while cranking it over and she normally fires right up i only choke it when it is cold, below 40 degrees.

 

Ahh yes the joys of old trucks.I love mine I drive it on the weekends, so she sits all week. I tap the gas once and then put it on the floor. Crank. 9 times out of 10 she starts. The other times I pump the gas once or twice while cranking. I always leave the choke wide open untill it fires. Once it fires then I adjust the choke to keep her idling untill she is warm. I find if you close the choke and then try to start you will most likely flood. In which case shut the choke off, hold the pedal on the floor and crank away. With these old trucks your best friend is a really good battery, with clean terminals and good quality battery cables. When the motors start to age and lose compression a little more spin at the starter always helps.

 

When should I encounter these problems posted above, i'm at 251K miles and light off on second cylinder over compression every morning? Ran one motor over 473K with two valve jobs, one oil pump and bearing replacement.

 

Hmm, perhaps you're just a bit more meticulous (****? ) about your maintenance then the majority of us, Carl. And it would seem to show with the good luck you have with the longevity of your vehicles. My truck sat in a field for 10 years before I got it with 149K on the clock. Engine's never been apart from what I could tell when I popped the manifold off (original Ford gaskets). I don't have any idea how careful the PO was about his maintenance, but I would guess not very. It could use new stem seals or guides at this point, sucks just a bit of oil into the cylinders under deceleration with a load.

I feel that it starts well in that it fires after only a few revolutions of cranking. In the the summer it doesn't need any choke at all, just one pump of the throttle and hit the key. Now that winter's upon us and I'm starting it at 30º-35º in the mornings, I find that it wants full choke and about two-three pumps of the pedal and lights off after 1-2 seconds of cranking. I immediately push the choke in about halfway and when I get to the highway after a mile of county road, in goes in the rest of the way. I never need to choke it the rest of the day, even if it's sat for 8 hours at work.

I like the convenience of electric choke, but I've had manual choke vehicles all my life so it's no big deal for me to discipline myself to push the choke in at a certain point. And then I don't have to try to figure out what to do with the empty hole in the dash!

 

Im gonna go with ****, only because I am the same way. Unfortunatly I bought the truck with 187,000 miles on it after it had been sitting for 6 years in some guys back alley. When I went to look at it he fired it up cold and revved the heck out of it to show me she runs good.... poor truck. That said I drive hard and havnt had the luxury of a garage or even a block heater. Did I mention that cold for me is -35 degrees Celcius? Congrats on your longevity, the new motor I am building should live a long healthy life, and this one is getting a block heater.