Can't get truck started, HELP!!!!!!
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 70
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From: Northport, New York
Can't get truck started, HELP!!!!!!
After parking my '48 f-3 dump truck with a flat head v8 for a year, I cant get it started despite a new fuel pump, carb.,new gas, coil, wires, plugs, points rotor & cap. I'm getting a spark at the plugs but can't get the engine to fire even with using starter fluid spray & gas down carb. Any other suggestions.
Thanks, Eric.
Thanks, Eric.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Northport, New York
No, the plugs are dry. Today I pulled the plugs & re-checked the gap as well as the point gap- all was good. fuel was getting to carb., spark was getting to plugs, starter fluid was used but engine did not fire!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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do a compreesion check. my guess is stuck valves. i have a old forklift that has a chrysler ind flathead and if it sits for extended time the valves gum up. when you do get it running drain a quart of oil and add a quart of marvel mystery oil. i have had to pull start trucks in the past when nothing else worked.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 67
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From: Azle, Texas
He means pulling it with another truck. If you do this have the F3 in a high gear like 3rd or 4th, otherwise you could break a driveshaft.
Does the engine backfire or at least pop when trying to start? If it does then I'd say your timing is way off. Like 55dude said I'd check the compression. If the compression is good and the timing is right, then you may have a very weak spark or a distributor problem(broke gear?)
Does the engine backfire or at least pop when trying to start? If it does then I'd say your timing is way off. Like 55dude said I'd check the compression. If the compression is good and the timing is right, then you may have a very weak spark or a distributor problem(broke gear?)
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Breckenridge, Minn.
I stored an old 48 Cadillac sedanette for a friend and prior to it coming to my place he had trouble with it starting. He said it started and as fast as it started it died. Took a cression check and four of the cylinders were dead. There were two intake and two exhaust valves stuck open. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Northport, New York
I'll definitely do a compression test. The truck cranks but will not fire at all. With the starting fluid I spray into the carb when cranking even with a weak spark & no gas there should be at least a pop. The distributor seems ok, the rotor spins & points open & shut when the engines cranked.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Here is what I was told about these old flatties, when they sit for a period of the time the piston rings compress a bit, and if it's a worn engine, this is enough to lose the seal of the pistons to the cylinders. I had this problem with a '52 I bought. My friend who told me this suggested I hook up a 12 volt battery so I could get the engine spinning supper fast to make up for the lost compression. Sure enough, the engine kicked over and once the pistona got warmed up the rings expanded and sealed the cylinders. I was able to kick it over after that without a problem.
You may be able to achieve the same by pulling. The '52 I had wasn't road worthy enough to pull so I opted for the 12 volt boost.
You may be able to achieve the same by pulling. The '52 I had wasn't road worthy enough to pull so I opted for the 12 volt boost.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
Check to see if the dizzy rotor is turning when you crank it (fiber cam gear failure?).
If the plugs are dry it doesn't sound like you are really getting fuel.
A squirt of light oil in each cylinder (maybe Marvel Mystery Oil or similar) and cranking it over with the plugs out may help. The 12v trick Bob mentioned is not a bad idea, either.
If the plugs are dry it doesn't sound like you are really getting fuel.
A squirt of light oil in each cylinder (maybe Marvel Mystery Oil or similar) and cranking it over with the plugs out may help. The 12v trick Bob mentioned is not a bad idea, either.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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sorry for the confusion on "pull it".guess drag would have been a better term.doesn't sound like a dist gear because he said he was geting spark to the plugs and if gear was bad that would not be happening.well until a compression test is taken you will be left wondering. good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: La Mesa (East San Diego)
If you have a strong spark with the timing set correctly, and you are getting fuel into the cylinder and you have COMPRESSION, it should start. Could be your compression is marginal and after sitting, there isn't enough oil to help with the compression. Try removing all the spark plugs, squirting a little oil in each cylinder and turning it over for about 10 seconds with the starter to get things circulating. Then put the plugs back in and try it again.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
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make sure no critters got down carb to intake, or up exhaust blocking air movement. sounds like valves are stuck in guides, use marvel in BOTH gas and oil, put some in a spray bottle,( about 2 oz) and spray down carb then let soak for an hour or so before starting. also, remove plugs and put 1 oz in each cylinder and let that soak. this should loosen up engine enough to get running. good luck. pete
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From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
I would guess timing...I find it hard to believe that you lost compression on all cylinders??? You should at least get the odd pop or stumble outta it. Pull the dipstick while someone cranks the engine and see if there is excess crank case pressure (likely not) if there is then I guess its bypassing due to compression leak.
You had the distributor apart to change points, rotor and cap. You must have the correct parts because you say you are getting spark. Trouble is, maybe you are sparking on the exhaust stroke rather than the ignition stroke and you are out on the timing? If the truck was running fine when last parked you may have started with a fuel issue and created a timing issue during the diagnosis and random part replacement process....I'm no pro mechanic, it's just my $0.02
You had the distributor apart to change points, rotor and cap. You must have the correct parts because you say you are getting spark. Trouble is, maybe you are sparking on the exhaust stroke rather than the ignition stroke and you are out on the timing? If the truck was running fine when last parked you may have started with a fuel issue and created a timing issue during the diagnosis and random part replacement process....I'm no pro mechanic, it's just my $0.02