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Hard Start...Idle Mixture or Timing?

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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 09:51 AM
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Default Hard Start...Idle Mixture or Timing?

Could Idle Mixture being too lean (i.e. Q-Jet screws not turned out far enough) cause a little harder than normal start?

...or maybe timing too far advanced? Thoughts?
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 11:49 AM
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starting issues are usually ignition you'd only notice lean condition when its running... hope this helps
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by 71redskin
starting issues are usually ignition you'd only notice lean condition when its running... hope this helps
So timing then? Would advanced timing make it slightly harder to fire up?
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 02:07 PM
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choke functioning correctly? Vacume leaks?
Timing too far advanced will make it hesitate before starting. Set it up with a timing light
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:08 PM
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I think more information is needed.

What type of hard starting are you having.
Is this from a cold engine or a hot engine.
Is it cranking over for a long period of time befoe starting.
Do you have to continually pump the pedal to get gas to the carb before it starts.
Does the motor slowly turn over with what seems like 1 second pauses before it finally gets going.

It could be timing in some cases, fuel deliver problems in others.


kdf
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:18 PM
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SEE RESPONSES INLINE

Originally Posted by kdf1986
I think more information is needed.

Is this from a cold engine or a hot engine. COLD START
Is it cranking over for a long period of time before starting. 6 SECONDS
Do you have to continually pump the pedal to get gas to the carb before it starts. YES - AND CARB IS REBUILT RECENTLY
Does the motor slowly turn over with what seems like 1 second pauses before it finally gets going. NO - when it fires it fires

kdf
The car starts perfectly when hot.
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:25 PM
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If it starts harder when the engine is cold, I would consider the carb to be part of the problem.

Start with the simple stuff like the fuel filter. I read an article in my Holley magazine about this being a problem with fuel delivery.

There should also be some type of adjustment or float bowl setting to insure that there is enough gas in the carb to facilitate starting. If not, then pumping the gas pedal to push enough gas from the fuel pump to the carb would cause hard starting until there was enough fuel available to start the car.

Other than this quick answer, I am waiting to see what other replies come from a cold start condition.

kdf
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by kdf1986
If it starts harder when the engine is cold, I would consider the carb to be part of the problem.

Start with the simple stuff like the fuel filter. I read an article in my Holley magazine about this being a problem with fuel delivery.

There should also be some type of adjustment or float bowl setting to insure that there is enough gas in the carb to facilitate starting. If not, then pumping the gas pedal to push enough gas from the fuel pump to the carb would cause hard starting until there was enough fuel available to start the car.

Other than this quick answer, I am waiting to see what other replies come from a cold start condition.

kdf
I wonder if my bowl is emptying out over night and there is not enough fuel to start until the engine cranks a few times?
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:47 PM
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Retard your timing a couple of degrees, if this fixes it, then that's probably your problem. If your q-jet hasn't been rebuilt in a long time, it may be leaking the fuel out of the bowl.
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by kdf1986
I read an article in my Holley magazine about this being a problem with fuel delivery.
Holley has a magazine?

Thanks,
Joe
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Kalway
Retard your timing a couple of degrees, if this fixes it, then that's probably your problem. If your q-jet hasn't been rebuilt in a long time, it may be leaking the fuel out of the bowl.
It has been rebuilt just recently - what would cause the fuel leakage from the bowl assuming that is the issue?
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Eric79-L48
It has been rebuilt just recently - what would cause the fuel leakage from the bowl assuming that is the issue?
Generally fuel leakage is only a problem on old and tired q-jets. If yours is pretty fresh that shouldn't be a problem. If you suspect it is, one day, after it sitting overnight, take the airhorn off the top and see if the bowl is low/empty. I forget what causes leakage usually, since I've never had the issue and can only go off of second hand knowledge.

The majority of parts on my engine are new so I haven't had to deal with leaky stuff in awhile.
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 68coupe
Holley has a magazine?

Thanks,
Joe
Well, not a magazine like a monthly periodical, but one of those books you buy at the auto parts store. How to Rebuild Your Holley Carb. Its about 150 pages of photos and information on what the different parts are, and how to rebuild carbs.

Some other books were:
How to rebuild your small block chevy.
Joh Lingenflter on monifying small block chevy engines
Rochester Carburetors.

So I dont know if you call this a book, or a magazine.

kdf
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Kalway
Generally fuel leakage is only a problem on old and tired q-jets. If yours is pretty fresh that shouldn't be a problem. If you suspect it is, one day, after it sitting overnight, take the airhorn off the top and see if the bowl is low/empty. I forget what causes leakage usually, since I've never had the issue and can only go off of second hand knowledge.

The majority of parts on my engine are new so I haven't had to deal with leaky stuff in awhile.

There was something written that a suckback condition may exist where the fuel is drawn back into the fuel pump, and it will siphon the gas out of the bowls if the jets or rods ( I forgot exactly what) were not seated correctly. This would cause the bowls to be empty the next day.

I will see if I can find that section and write it up as a possibility.

kdf
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Old Mar 1, 2006 | 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Kalway
Retard your timing a couple of degrees, if this fixes it, then that's probably your problem.
The timing adjustment may have fixed the problem. Earlier today I backed the timing down a few degrees - then about 4 hours later the car fired right up. Barely turned the key - which incidently is how it behaved before I messed with the timing in the first place. Maybe I had her a little too advanced. Anyway, I will know better in the morning after sitting all night. Thanks for all the help!!
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Old Mar 2, 2006 | 12:06 AM
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Hello,
Glad to hear that you were able to fix this. So you adjusted the timing and then had problems starting? It sounds like going back to the last known good position then fixed the problem.


But then again it was only 4 hours. I guess waiting until tomorrow morning will really be the test.

kdf
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Old Mar 2, 2006 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by kdf1986
There was something written that a suckback condition may exist where the fuel is drawn back into the fuel pump, and it will siphon the gas out of the bowls if the jets or rods ( I forgot exactly what) were not seated correctly. This would cause the bowls to be empty the next day.

I will see if I can find that section and write it up as a possibility.

kdf
AHA found it. It was not in my Holley book, but in a paper written by Lars.


Bad fuel pump. If you have a fuel pump with a slightly leaky check valve in it, the fuel standing in the column between the pump and the carb will drain back down through the pump after engine shutdown. Since the needle/seat in the Q-Jet is in the bottom of the float bowl, this drain-back action will actually siphon the fuel right out of the carb float bowl. I have seen many brand new fuel pumps with leaky check valves in them.


kdf
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