No start after sitting for 3 months

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by 78Moonraker, Jun 16, 2020.

  1. Hello,

    Advice please.

    My '78 Moonraker was running fine. Full service last year. Would start, idle and run great.

    It has not moved for 3 months.
    It is constantly on a battery trickle charge.

    I can see fuel in the fuel filter which is inbetween the fuel pump and carb'.

    It just keeps turning over and will not start.
    I am not getting a spark.
    I am sure it is fuel starvation as yesterday it eventually started, ran for a minute or so and then just stopped.

    It will not start now, I have just tried it.
    In case of an air leak I removed the petrol cap to help air flow.

    Any advice on getting fuel to the carb' so I can get it running and fuel moving?

    Is there a trick or knack for times like this?

    Cheers
     
  2. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    If you're not getting a spark it isn't going to start....
     
    snotty, nobayinhell, Lasty and 3 others like this.
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Faulty ignition switch can turn it with no spark.
     
  4. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor

    Check for damp in the distributor cap etc, check your points gap , address as necessary

    have you a spark now ?
     
    Lasty likes this.
  5. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Stuck points ?

    Check for 12 volts on coil positive side (black wire from loom) with ignition on.
    Check its still there when cranking.
    Check the contact breaker side of coil is pulsing 12 volts as you crank. If you have points thats the green wire the distributor. If its pertronix its the black wire from the distributor.


    If you arent getting fuel in the carb, float valve might have stuck... running for a minute is about right for a float chamber worth of fuel.
    Or your fuel line is blocked.
     
  6. Thanks for the replies.

    It had a full service late last year. The points, plugs, distributor etc was changed and it started straight away and ran great.

    I has been fantastic upto 3 months ago when it has sat idle.

    I may have mis-led people but if I can get fuel into the carb' then it will start.

    I think it is just fuel starved.

    I can see after trying the ignition and it not starting that another look at the engine shows fuel has gone into the fuel filter.

    I just can't get it to start.

    I think it is just a fuel problem. I am thinking this because it started yesterday, ran for a minute, sounding perfect but then cut out.

    Has anyone poured fuel onto the carb' in situations like this.

    Any help is appreciated.
    Cheers
     
  7. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Is there fuel in the carb bowl?
     
  8. That, I don't know.

    How do I check for fuel there?
     
  9. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Take the air filter off and have a look.
     
  10. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Yes. Chuck a thimble full (or less) down each carb throat and start it up. :thumbsup:
     
  11. Single carb or twin? Bit of new fuel down the carb won't do to much harm. As always fuel and sparks don't mix well outside the engine. Be careful
     
  12. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Do you have a mechanical or electric fuel pump?
    An electric fuel pump may need a tap with a screwdriver handle to get it pumping again, or its electrical feed may have failed.


    In that case , fuel can feed slowly under gravity to the carburettor, allowing you to start it occasionally.

    If you take the fuel hose off the carburettor , place the end in a jamjar, disconnect the contact breaker wire from the coil and either turn on the ignition for an electric pump, or rotate the engine a couple of clockwise rotations for a mechanical pump, you should get either a flow of fuel (electric pump) or a squirt of fuel (mechanical pump).

    If you get fuel its the float valve in the carburettor most likely stuck or blocked with crud.



    If you dont see fuel flow then you have to work back to the tank, clamping fuel hose , pulling the end of the hose off the pump inlet, unclamping and then seeing if fuel runs out.

    You might find a fuel shutoff solenoid valve hiding along a chassis rail from the fuel tank to the engine bay. It might be stuck or its power has failed.


    It might have blocked with rusty sediment..

    Provided you can join bits of pipe together to get the end above the top of the tank, you could use a bicycle pump to blow gently down the fuel hose and see if unblocks.
     
  13. Just thought I would keep upto date the outcome of my starting issues.

    It turned out it was a simple fix.

    These engines are basic - air, fuel, ignition.

    I new the air in was good.

    I had a new coil, condenser, points, leads, plugs.

    So I thought it was the fuel. I could see fuel in the filter and thought that it was not getting to the carb'.

    The solution was just to replace the points. The new points must have been faulty. Changed points and the bus is running smooth as anything.

    PS. I have also moved the fuel filter as it was to the right of the condenser and left of the carb'. I always thought that it was dangerous as a leak would have fallen on a hot exhaust. It is no located underneath so that in case of a leak petrol will drop on the road and not in the engine and catch fire.
     
    Zed, Zoedanbus and F_Pantos like this.

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