Hard Starting Flathead:
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 968
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
Hard Starting Flathead:
My truck spins over and over before it starts up!It runs fine after it starts.I took the cap off distributor and lined the timing marks up and the points are not even close to opening?Is this normal?Is my timing off that bad or what else could be wrong?Like I said it runs great after it is running.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
I don't know about the points, but is almost sounds like it's taking a few seconds to pump fuel up to the carb to start the engine. Before you start it, take th eair cleaner off and open the throttle....Is gas being shot into the carb? If not then the fuel is probably falling back toward the tank.
If there is fuel spraying in then it's probably something else.
If there is fuel spraying in then it's probably something else.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
are the points adjusted right ? the cheap ones with the plastic rub blocks are bad about wearing out quick . if they aren't opening , there's the possibility that maybe , and i have had this happen on other brands , that the pin in the drive gear of the dizzy has let go and it isn't spinning .. bad coil ? i'd check that for sure too. i chased gremmies for a long time in mine , hard to start when warm , zonking out in traffic , etc. and it was the dain coil was bad . after that like julie said start checking the fuel system .
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
Likes: 1,046
From: NM
I think Julie is correct, if this is a situation that happens after an overnight rest. A lot of times this happens when the fuel all drains away from the carb bowl thru a ruptured power valve or one that is leaking at its gasket. If you take the carb off the engine, pull off the top cover section of the carb, and set it on the bench. watch over a period of a couple of hours whether a full bowl of fuel drains away (it will come out the bottom, so set it in a pan or something).
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 968
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
This start-up is after the engine is hot and been setting for about 15 minutes or so.Dumb question-is there anyway the distributor can be off a tooth.For some reason I can't seem to get the timing set where the truck runs and cranks good.I have dual exhaust on truck and when I put the timing where it suppose to be I get a funny popping sound out of the drivers side exhaust pipe and the idle is rough.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Gunbarrel, Co.
This start-up is after the engine is hot and been setting for about 15 minutes or so.Dumb question-is there anyway the distributor can be off a tooth.For some reason I can't seem to get the timing set where the truck runs and cranks good.I have dual exhaust on truck and when I put the timing where it suppose to be I get a funny popping sound out of the drivers side exhaust pipe and the idle is rough.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 968
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
I set the timing with a light !!!!!The truck runs good,but still have a rough idle and is hard to get started sometimes.It cut off with me one time starting off and I had to grind and grind to get it back running.I think the light is useless!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 968
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
After I actually set the timing with a light right on the money,now my truck is very hard to get started.I have to move the distributor clockwise a bunch before the idle smooths out and the motor cranks better.What could be wrong here?I thought once I used a light that everything would be better-wrong!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,283
Likes: 1,046
From: NM
Is your truck still 6v? If so, I would replace the condenser and see if that helps.
Next time it's being cranky, squirt a little gas down the carb, put the air cleaner back on, and try it. If it tries to fire up, it's a fuel problem. If not, it's ignition, either a condenser or coil problem most likely. Check the spark at the coil when it is being obstinate. See if the coil is hot.
Next time it's being cranky, squirt a little gas down the carb, put the air cleaner back on, and try it. If it tries to fire up, it's a fuel problem. If not, it's ignition, either a condenser or coil problem most likely. Check the spark at the coil when it is being obstinate. See if the coil is hot.