My 49 HG has been very hard to start all winter. After attempting to start it, I would get gas dripping out of the bottom drain hole of the carburetor (Marv/Scheb). I took the carb. apart, cleaned it and put it back on with the same result. I took the magneto (Wico X) off cleaned points, rotor and cap. I rotated the gears and have spark at the points. I installed new plugs and gaped them to .023. I opened the timing hole on the fly wheel and rotated the motor until the "SPK" mark aligned in the hole. I reinstalled the mag. aligning the rotor mark in the window for No. 1. Reconfirmed the firing order of 1-2-4-3. Attempted to start it, but it would not. I still have gas dripping out the bottom drain hole but only after attempting to start it. From that I assume the float needle is ok because it only drips after attempting to start it. Could I have leaks in the intake? I pulled plug no. 1 it didn't seam wet, (though it was getting dark and it was a bright shinny new plug). It did have spark. when I turned over the motor. I put some starting fluid down the cylinders and attempted to start it. I only got a backfire through the carb. Do I maybe have it timed 180 off.?
hi Paul ,try pulling plug on bottom of carb to drain and retry , worked on my flooded 2n Ford today. and I heated intake with butane torch. got me going .I see your in michigan ,me to orleans ,ever heard of it .. do you got much snow there? good luck on your HG
KAPOU
I concur. When it's real cold out I've had great success with a hot air gun heating the carb and manifold. You could probably verify that your timing is correct by verifying number 1 is coming up on compression stroke when you get spark out of #1 wire. Try pulling the #1 plug and feel for compression and observe #1 spark while cranking.
Thanks for the tips guys. The crawler sits out in a garage with a dirt floor and it seems to be very damp not to mention cold. I don't have any power in that garage so I'll have to use a torch to warm up the intake and carb.
Hotratz: I had the same thought but I ran out of day light yesterday to go any further. I enjoyed your video on Youtube, you do beautiful work!
Kapou: I haven't heard of Orleans but I've only lived in Michigan for the past six years. My wife grew up in Gaylord and after following me around the globe for many years I decided when I retired for the Corps I would follow her back to Michigan. I looked you up on the map and I see your in Ionia County. Do you have many crawlers down there? I read that you like to make sausage. What kinds do you make?. I make my own Italian, breaskfast, garlic and fresh kielbasa, I also cure pork and make proscuitto.
My 49 HG-68 was my Grand Fathers from North Eastern Pennsylvania. He bought to replace his team of horses back in the day. Harbor Springs is on the north side of Little Traverse Bay across the Bay from Petosky. We currently have about two feet of snow on the ground. The snowmobile trails and ski slopes are groomed to perfection. I read that
Thanks Again,
That manifold/carb pre-heating really does work. I tired to start my OC3 over and over to no avail even jumping it from car battery. Nothing but a flooded carb.
Then tried a propane torch pre-heating whole area - next day so as not to set carb on fire! Worked like a dream!
Well even though it was in the low teens today I braved the cold and worked on my HG. I did have the timing 180 degrees off. After timing it correctly I still had to crank it over a few times but it finally started up without having to heat the intake or carb. I wish I had electricity out in that shed so I could place a magnetic block heater on the intake prior to starting it up. That sounds like a neat trick. I noticed that I have an exhaust leak so I may have an intake leak as well. Could this be the reason I have the gas pooling in the carburetor when turning it over ? Maybe tomorrow I'll attempt to get the manifold off and replace the gasket. What has been easiest way for you guys to start your machines; full choke and low throttle?
Thanks
I think the gasoline pooling in the carb throat is pretty much normal. Other than your timing being off, part of the problem could be the quality of gasoline. Unless you go to an airport, it's almost impossible to buy good quality gasoline anymore. My Cletrac E, which usually starts in about 2 or 3 quarter turns in warm weather and maybe a few more in really cold weather, has been a bear to start lately. And it stumbles and misses all over the place. The fuel stinks, so I am pretty sure that is the problem. It's been in the tank about a year and a half. Never had a problem like that before with it.
Blake
cold starting trick when stopping engine close shut off revs stall engine by choke just make shure you have a good spark on mag