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Thread: She's just not starting

  1. #1

    Default

    Hello,

    I suppose I should de-lurk first: I'm Michael, live in NH and MA, I'm 22 and bought an M725 as a project last December. I'm a novice so you'll have to bear with me.

    It ran and started fine at first, and started right up in Feb when I pulled it out of a month of storage. Since that time, I've fired it up about once a week and it has been harder to start every single time. Now it just doesn't start at all. The engine cranks and cranks and just doesn't want to catch. Spraying starter fluid into the carb doesn't make much of a difference. Fuel filter is full of gas and fuel pump is squirting out fuel. Spark plug arcs when removed, and spark plugs were relatively clean when I pulled them. Didn't really see any gas on them after trying to turn the engine over, though. Managed to bump start right away (that was an adventure!) and I rode all over town without a problem, except for some backfiring when accelerating in 2nd. That never happened before. Idled fine though, but didn't want to start up again after I let the engine cool.

    Everything stock. 24V. Fuel filter, carb and starter have all been rebuilt. Distributor is fairly new. Spark plugs and cables are new.

    Any thoughts? Anyone from NH or MA?

    Unrelated: what shocks do y'all recommend?

    Thanks for hearing me out.

  2. #2

    Default She's just not starting

    i still havent put my shocks on. i cant tell to much difference.

    if you have air,spark and fuel it has to run.

    you need to tell us what engine/ignition you have. ill try and help

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Giddings, Texas
    Posts
    7,729

    Default

    Spark plugs!

    Idling and lots of cold starts are bad on plugs. Especially if the engine never gets warmed up. A lot of bad plugs will show a spark with no pressure applied against them. That is why plug testers use air pressure and a little chamber to simulate actual combustion conditions. Used plugs that work great at 0 pressure will often do nothing above 80 psi. On vehicles that I know I'm just going to start, move ten feet, kill and then do it again in a few weeks, I pull out the good plugs and just stick in something that will make it start. Then When I am done painting or whatever to the vehicle, I put back in the good plugs and drive the hell out of it.

    I have always understood the shocks to be kind of a un needed fashion statement for these trucks. The job of a shock is to control the rebound of the springs. As pointed out by our math and grammar major, Bumpr, when our springs flex more than an inch, the vehicle has exceeded its max payload. That means that the springs aren't flexing much at all in an unloaded truck. So, if you want a smoother ride, I would suggest you lower your tires air pressure and save your shock money for something else. Like new spark plugs.
    Remember if you didn't build it you can't call it yours.

    6.2 powered M715, 5 M1009's, M416, 2 M101's, 2 M105's, 3 M35's, M1007 6.5 turbo Suburban project called Cowdog.

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCz...HGkBCfhXZ5iuaw

  4. Default

    I'm guessing that "Everything Stock."means it's a 230 Tornado.
    When you say "Bump Start" do you mean Jump Start? Like from another electrical source? or did you roll start it? My first guess would be weak batteries,where you are getting fire,but weak. Have you ever done a compression check on the engine. You can have air,spark and fuel,and with low compression not get combustion. I would check the timing(dynamic)if you can bump start(?) it again.-Just some thoughts.
    1969 M715

  5. #5

    Default

    hmmm. i missed that. i fought coil and condensors, till i gave up in mine

  6. #6

    Default

    I did a lot of long runs: by "weekly starting" I didn't mean fire it up and let it die. Bump starting meant roll-starting it, not jumping. Roll-starting it worked fine. It's the original 230 OHC Tornado with stock carb, pump, distributor etc. The spark plugs are fairly new.

    It cranks fine. Is it possible the batteries (old!) are strong enough to crank the engine fast but can't provide sufficient spark?

    I was asking about shocks since the body kinda bounces up and down as I drive.

  7. Default Misc.Parts I am Looking for!

    Did you GAP the plugs properly? I'm just asking,no offense
    1969 M715

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NorthEast Texas
    Posts
    261

    Default

    How fresh is the fuel? Today's fuel goes bad a lot more quickly than it used to. In fact it leaves a residue like clay mud in the fuel lines and carb if it sits too long.

  9. #9

    Default No thoughts on J 20 scavenging?

    Check your batteries....Sounds like to me that they have enough to crank, but not enough for good spark...but when you roll it your not cranking the engine by starter so you have good spark to the plugs...Also check your ground...make sure you have a good ground as that will play hell with your system if you don't. Put a battery tester on each battery by them selvs and check them (disconnect them from each other and the system.) Also check your terminals....Lastly how does the volt gage look? Is it in the green? You may be wearing down the batteries and not charging them back up....When trouble shooting alsways start at the simplest and work your way to the hardest.
    Zone holster maker

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    parsons Kansas
    Posts
    476

    Default

    look down the throat of the carb and see if when you open the throttle lever there is a stream of gas shooting out. if not that could be your problem, the excellerator pump isnt workin thus not giving you an initial squirt of fuel to start it with. probably not your problem since youve already tryed starting fluid but alot of possibilities exist. you might also check fire for strength and see if it will jump a gap of about an 1/8" at the plug end while cranking it over. if not it could be from low battery voltage ( discharged or bad battery) weak coil, not enough voltage at coil while cranking, short in dist ( not too likely), cap or rotor or wire problem. check fire on more than one wire. look for carbon tracking lines inside cap and burnt spots too. Good luck and hope you get er fixed.
    67 M725, 67 M715, 68 M715

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