Gas Priming Carb For Cold Starts

[55 Fargo]

Beauty of my method is no need to open the hood and remove the air filter.

Absolutely, and with a new source of energy, hope it odes just that..

[Dave72dt]

Maybe I'm missing something but wouldn't a couple pumps on the gas pedal before hitting the starter do the same thing.  Accelerater pump should be injecting some raw fuel into the same place pouring it down from the top does.

[Young Ed]

Maybe I'm missing something but wouldn't a couple pumps on the gas pedal before hitting the starter do the same thing.  Accelerater pump should be injecting some raw fuel into the same place pouring it down from the top does.

 

Dave the issue is after sitting the gas can evaporate. So the accel pump has nothing to pump until the fuel pump refills the carb. Personally my car and truck sit from nov-april and have always restarted without pooring gas down the carb or jump starting. We've had other cars in poorer condition that did require this.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes...IF there was fuel in the bowl to pump..

[Don Coatney]

How it works.

 

 

pump the gas pedal,pump,pump,pump, pump, pump,engage the starter for about 3-4 revoloutions. then

 

 

pump,pump,pump,pump, pump, pump,engage the starter for about 3-4 revoloutions. then

 

 

pump,pump,pump,pump, pump, pump,engage the starter for about 3-4 revoloutions. then

 

 

pump,pump,pump,pump, pump, pump,engage the starter for about 3-4 revoloutions. then

 

at the first sign of life give it a couple more pumps and light it off. Works every time for me.

[Dave72dt]

Understand that if no fuel in the bowl, but can't see the need after only a few days and definitely shouldn't need to on a daily basis.  Maybe Ive been fortunate.   The only engine I've ever had to prime has been in the lawn mower after sitting all winter.

[Dave72dt]

Don, your method must be giving the fuel pump the opportunity to get some gas in the carb for the accelerator pump to work with.

[Don Coatney]

Don, your method must be giving the fuel pump the opportunity to get some gas in the carb for the accelerator pump to work with.

 

 

That is correct. Plus gives the oil pump a chance to build pressure prior to starting the engine.

[T120]

...Kinda like tickling the Amal  

Edited February 26, 2013 by Ralph D25cpe

[Don Coatney]

I have tickled an Amal or two in my time.

[T120]

Don, If I remember correctly,it was you who first mentioned the comparison...

[busycoupe]

Last year I was having to prime the carb after the car sat for a week or more.  I had a new battery, so the motor cranked strongly, it just wouldn't prime the carb on its own.  If I started it every four or five days it was not a problem, only longer periods of sitting caused it to need prime.  Finally, I noticed a small drip of gas coming from the fuel line near the rear wheel after returning from a ride.    I replaced the entire line and found another spot that weeped where the line was attached to the frame where it crosses under the front engine pulleys.  Neither of these leaks were enough to drip on the garage floor.  After replacing the line I have had no trouble starting the engine.  If the car has sat for 2 or 3 weeks I use Don's method to prime the carb, Otherwise it starts easily.  ... Check your fuel line.

Dave

[55 Fargo]

A bit of an update, tried new fully charged 6 volt battery, that belongs to a friend on 47 Chrysler, employing the DC Vintage Mopar starting procedure.

The engine cranked faster, but needed a number of cranks and stops before it started, slightly better than my battery.

 

Tonight after work, used 1 ounce of gas poured into the carb, cranked engine, instant start, running smooth immediately.

So what the "H", is going on, where and what is the issue.

My fuel lines look great, I should know I installed them new 5 years ago, carb was rebuilt, new ignition parts etc. Fuel pump has not been touched.

There is fuel in the glass bowl filter, but obviously not getting sucked into the carb while cold cranking, until i has been cranked a number of times.

This is not a big deal, but would like to resolve the issue, or find out what may be in need of attention....

[55 Fargo]

I do not like to prime a carb because of the flashback aspects.  One thing to remember is that you should not use starting fluid down the carb .  The reason is that if for some reason you have not been able to get the car to fire over the truing of the engine now pulls the starting fluid into the cylinders. The unfired started fluid then coats and then runs down the cylinder walls and slowly removes the oil film and protection.

 

So If you do not get it started then the next time you try now have no oil protection on the cylinder walls on the first try.  Not good for the engine.

 

I prefer to have the electric pump prime the fuel line and then when I see fuel in the filter then I crank over the engine and then it fires.

Do not push the pedal to the floor prior to priming the engine pullthe choke out a 1/4 then prime with electric pump. Then turn on the iginition switch to fire the engine.

This works great for me.

 

Rich Hartung

How do you find hot weather hot engine starts with an electric fuel pump, compared to mechanical? This would be a 6 volt set-up of course...

[Niel Hoback]

   Before you try to a cold start again, take off the air cleaner, open the choke and look down the carb throat while you oen the throttle a couple of times. Watch for a good shot of gas each time you open the throttle.  You may have a carb full of gas, but its not getting in the manifold if you have a weak accelerator pump.  Just a guess. 

[Don Coatney]

What is it that you do not understand. When your car is not started for several days in hot or cold weather the gasolene in the carburetor evaporates. To replace it you have 3 choices.

 

Install an electric fuel pump. Remove the air cleaner and dump some raw gas into the top of the carb. Or spin the engine over with the starter until the fuel pump fills the carburetor. Many folks push the starter button and grind away until the engine starts or the battery goes flat. Those that do this will also note that the engine spins slower and slower until the battery goes flat. I spin the starter in short bursts. I find that thes method allowes the starter motor to not overheat and draw higher current. Also allows the oil pump to pre lube the rotation parts. It may take 7-8 short bursts with the starter motor to fill the carb but this works for me. I also pump the foot feed during these short bursts. I should also mention that I rarely use my choke as with 2 carburetors I dont need it except to set the high idle cam once the engine fires. I run it on high idle for a couple of minutes until it is warmed up enough to idle smothly without it. 

 

The choice is yours as all three of these options work. So do what you are comfortable with. 

[JIPJOBXX]

Ditto here on my Dodge as if it sits for a few weeks I haft to prime the engine other than that it starts right up! I wonder if anyone has experimented with taking an old air filter and drilling a hole in it so that you could just squirt a little gas directly into the carburetor throat? Of course have a plug on top to put back in place after the engine starts up.  Its not to much of a hassle to run the wing nut oft and remove the air filter but it would be nice just to leave it in place and open up a port to pore gas into the carburetor.  Maybe I can find an old filter and try this out?  Jon

[55 Fargo]

What is it that you do not understand. When your car is not started for several days in hot or cold weather the gasolene in the carburetor evaporates. To replace it you have 3 choices.

 

Install an electric fuel pump. Remove the air cleaner and dump some raw gas into the top of the carb. Or spin the engine over with the starter until the fuel pump fills the carburetor. Many folks push the starter button and grind away until the engine starts or the battery goes flat. Those that do this will also note that the engine spins slower and slower until the battery goes flat. I spin the starter in short bursts. I find that thes method allowes the starter motor to not overheat and draw higher current. Also allows the oil pump to pre lube the rotation parts. It may take 7-8 short bursts with the starter motor to fill the carb but this works for me. I also pump the foot feed during these short bursts. I should also mention that I rarely use my choke as with 2 carburetors I dont need it except to set the high idle cam once the engine fires. I run it on high idle for a couple of minutes until it is warmed up enough to idle smothly without it. 

 

The choice is yours as all three of these options work. So do what you are comfortable with. 

Yup, not a problem, but still like your idea, just did not work as well in my situation, no big deal.

But with my 12 volt set-up on the 55 Fargo, I pull the choke, and it fires up instantly, even if it has not been started for days, starts as easy as my modern fuel injected,computerized vehicles

[55 Fargo]

Ditto here on my Dodge as if it sits for a few weeks I haft to prime the engine other than that it starts right up! I wonder if anyone has experimented with taking an old air filter and drilling a hole in it so that you could just squirt a little gas directly into the carburetor throat? Of course have a plug on top to put back in place after the engine starts up.  Its not to much of a hassle to run the wing nut oft and remove the air filter but it would be nice just to leave it in place and open up a port to pore gas into the carburetor.  Maybe I can find an old filter and try this out?  Jon

Sure this could work, but so would an electric fuel pump, at least for priming and back-up.

Why not try Don Coatneys idea, heck try it, and let us know if it works for you....