weird Starting problem (Solved, I hope...)

[Whuntmore]

I hope one of you have an idea what this is...

Starting her up is a real bugger.   Once she's running, starting her after a few hours ok, but if I leave her more then one day, it's next to impossible to get her started.  She will turn over no problem, and she'll sputter a bit here and there, like every 3rd cycle over.  it pretty much will run the battery down, then I have to boost it, to keep turning her over till she will finally catch and start running.  then she's fine.

Fuel filter is new, new wires, new solenoid, new plugs, carb rebuilt.

outside temps don't seem to matter (yet, 'cause we've had cold weather so far) because once I have her started, I can leave her for a few to several hours, and she'll start again.  But getting her to start that first time is a real PITA.  

Even though I rebuilt the carb, I took it into a shop, and they set it up so she goes pretty good now.  The choke on it doesn't have the screws to adjust it, they are rivets.

Anyone know what that is?  Choke?  Carb still not set up quite right?

[Eagleearl]

Sounds like the gas is draining out or evaporating and you need to pump gas up to the carb before it will start. When it sits a while and you think it would have a problem pull the air cleaner cover off and pump the accelerator linkage while holding the choke open and watch to see if it is pumping a good stream of gas into the engine. If not the gas may be getting low in the float bowl.

[Whuntmore]

ok, what would make the gas drain?  a loose fitting?  the carb plates not 'tight' enough?  I put all new gaskets on her.

That's funny that you should say that, because when we first started her up, Pat poured gas straight into the carb, and she fired up.  The last time I tried to start her, we did the same thing.  That sounds like the issue now that I think of it.

So, instead of having a bottle of gas ready everytime I have to start her, what should I do to remedy this?

[AMC of Houston]

I'd say either the fuel pump, or a crack in one of the rubber fuel hoses at the pump or at the gas tank (will just suck air if the hose(s) is/are cracked).   Both are cheap fixes.

[Whuntmore]

would the fuel pump still work during those other times I described? 

I mean even after it's been off for hours?  Do any of you think I should take the carb off and tighten the plates a bit?

I'll go thru the hoses, and just replace them, I might just replace the pump also.

[AMC of Houston]

yeah.  If the fuel pump is "weak", it won't pick up fuel until the engine actually starts and the RPM's are up enough to overcome the "weakness" of the pump.   I've had 3 AMC cars lately with such an issue; and a new pump fixed them all.   Also be sure the little nipple on the fuel filter is in the "12-oclock" position.

Good luck.

[Whuntmore]

I'll do that.  Thx guys!

[Whuntmore]

Ok, so I've replaced the fuel pump, and yup, you could smell the fuel in the oil.  So we changed out the pump, and changed the oil.  Seems to start much better now.  I let it sit for about 4 days, then I tried to start it. 

1st try, she caught on the 3rd time over.  Not too bad.

I think the carb is still running a bit rich, but it still runs pretty decently.  Thx everyone.

[amc78concord]

Glad to hear you got it fixed.  I was going to say it was the fuel pump as well... One time I ran my Eagle out of gas, and it was not fun trying to get it restarted. Gotta get all of the fuel running through all of the fuel line again.  Which comes by cranking and cranking and cranking for the mechanical fuel pump.  So that's what I was gonna say it was too...but glad u got it fixed 

[Draekon]

I've been having a very similar problem, so it looks like I'll be replacing my fuel pump soon.

At least its an easy one to replace!

[Whuntmore]

Ok, now that we have temps over freezing, I'm still having issues.  Now they're different...

It's still a mutha to get started, even in late spring temps.

Now she's prone to bog out and stall even after she's warmed up.  I have one idea to the possible problem:

I filled up at a gas station (about $35 worth) that put it over half.  Then I'm driving up the highway, and all of a sudden, she starts banging away, sputtering, and stalling.  I had to carefully give it a tiny bit of petal to get it home.

It can even do this idleing.  I thought I had gotten some water in with my gas.  So I got some gasline anti-freeze, and poured this crap down the tank.  Took her for a drive and she seemed fine.

I go to start it today (sunny plus 13 C - or 55 F) and she's doing it again.  It stalled several times.  It will diesel, choke, sputter, and then sometimes it'll die, or sometimes it will come back and idle again if I take my foot off.

Carb has been rebuilt (not sure how well), some new lines (not all) it has a new fuel pump, and what looks like a fairly newer filter.

Carb is a non-feedback. 

Anyone got any ideas??  I can't even drive her.

[IowaEagle]

Is the tank vent working properly?

[Whuntmore]

I don't know, how do I check that?

[LaGuardia]

Try to look at it from a different point of view...

I had some trouble with similar symptoms, and fuel was not the problem. I just found out that some wires on the dist cap were loose (and some others were loose on the plug side). I fiddled around a bit with the contacts to make sure they were clean and tight, and the problem disappeared.

Too easy ? Give it a try anyway...

[Whuntmore]

Try to look at it from a different point of view...

I had some trouble with similar symptoms, and fuel was not the problem. I just found out that some wires on the dist cap were loose (and some others were loose on the plug side). I fiddled around a bit with the contacts to make sure they were clean and tight, and the problem disappeared.

Too easy ? Give it a try anyway...

You mean The spark plug wires?  I just had them replaced, but at this point I'm willing to try anything.