8N hard starting when warm

banjodunn · Apr 22, 2009

G'day it sounds to me that you have got a fuel prob especially if you can smell fuel when you go to start it hot give it full throttle the same as if you had a car that had flooded it sounds like you might want to give it a carb rebuild as mentioned earlier as said not a hard job just remember to check float level so the needle and seat work correctly that is where i would be starting anyway. Best of luck and keep us informed

Jon

Soundguy · Apr 22, 2009

When she dies.. or won't start hot, pull a plug wire.. check for spark.. if ya got spark, then pull plug in bottom of carb and check for fuel.

large fuel line won't 'over-fuel' her.. that's what the float / needle is for.

soundguy

Clelle · Apr 22, 2009

I will fire her up when I get home from work today and make sure it heats up, then I will pull the wires and check her out, also when I go to restart I shouldnt have to choke at all right?? because it is warm and the choke makes the mixture more rich right? Carbs are slightly new to me because everything I have ever worked on have an ECU and just need a lil diff tune on them to make them really run. Also this distributor stuff is a bit new as well. I like the old stuff I am just not used to the old tech.

carpenter383 · Apr 22, 2009

No don't choke when hot. Besides the things mentioned before. (which were all likely causes) if it is flooding try opening the throttle all the way up while cranking the engine. (until it starts then back it off) If it starts easier then it probably is flooding. Also you could advance the ignition timing a little. The can do wonders for an engine. It will kind of cover up low compression issues. Just be carefull, you don't want to advance it too much or it will detonate (spark knock) which is BAD. Also if it's hard to crank when hot after you advance the timing then you prolly went a little too far.

Soundguy · Apr 22, 2009

To the OP.. these old fords sometimes like choke no matter what.. depends on the specific machine.

I have some that never use choke.. and some that will spin over all day and never pop till you hit choke..give it a taste and then they run like a r@ped ape.

soundguy

Clelle · Apr 23, 2009

Well it did take a little bit for me to get her to fire this evening, but she finally did. So I ran her a bit to get her warmed up, then I pulled her back into the shop and shut her down. Right as I did that I noticed a gurgle noise from the fuel tank ( do not know if that is significant information or not.) It again was very hard to start, in fact I could not get it to light. It would turn over a few turns and the exhaust would burp like it was gonna fire but never did. So i pulled the boots on the spark plugs and put a screw driver in the boot and saw that it had spark on all 4 cylinders. So I would think that spark is not the issue. It also smelled very rich as it was trying to start so I think that it is just dumping fuel in to the motor and flooding it. What do you boys think am I on the right track??

carpenter383 · Apr 23, 2009

Clelle said:
Well it did take a little bit for me to get her to fire this evening, but she finally did. So I ran her a bit to get her warmed up, then I pulled her back into the shop and shut her down. Right as I did that I noticed a gurgle noise from the fuel tank ( do not know if that is significant information or not.) It again was very hard to start, in fact I could not get it to light. It would turn over a few turns and the exhaust would burp like it was gonna fire but never did. So i pulled the boots on the spark plugs and put a screw driver in the boot and saw that it had spark on all 4 cylinders. So I would think that spark is not the issue. It also smelled very rich as it was trying to start so I think that it is just dumping fuel in to the motor and flooding it. What do you boys think am I on the right track??

Did you try holding the throttle wide open while cranking as I mentioned before? If it is flooding from the needle and seat not holding the fuel back you could put a shut off valve in the line for a temporary fix. What color was the spark? It should be blue not orange. When it is running and warm does it miss out or anything? Does it idle good?

banjodunn · Apr 23, 2009

G'day it definately sounds like it is flooding to me when you get it hot turn the fuel tap off and let it run til it starts to stumble then shut it off then turn the fuel tap on and try to start if it starts up alot easier there is your prob either bad needle and seat or wrong float level. Dont think of it as old tech the principles are still the same!! Good luck

Jon

Soundguy · Apr 23, 2009

carpenter383 said:
Did If it is flooding from the needle and seat not holding the fuel back you could put a shut off valve in the line for a temporary fix.

That's funny!..and wrong...

A shutoff inline to keep it from flooding when running is a pretty BAD piece of advice. You'd constantly have to reach down there and open the valve to let the carb bowl refill every minute or so.. !DOH! ( slapping head sound )

The needle / seat simply need to be cleaned or R&R if they are not sealing and allowing her to run over... that or adjust the floa height.. or make sure it is not heavy.. etc.

besides there is ALREADY a cutoff valve inline with the carb up at the tank.. don't help much for the flooding does it?

soundguy

Patches · Apr 23, 2009

You guys' are all giving sound advise, but I still think, were it me and a 60 year old engine I knew very little about, with a hot start problem, I'd have to convince myself the engine is in sound enough condition to start when hot.I've played with old stuff that had as little as 40psi compression that would start cold, but you couldn't get them started hot unless you towed them. A compression check is order, I believe,before you start chasing ghosts