Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by Joe Santana On 2011/2/14 14:58:29

STARTING PROBLEM After everything was hooked up... new fuel lines, new oil lines, new water lines, I was ready to re-start the engine. My son had come over a few weeks ago and we managed to get the engine running, but it wasn't great. I replaced the points and the fuel filter and the above connections. Yesterday I tried to re-start the engine.

It wouldn't start until opened the choke. Then it started and ran smoother as it warmed up. I ran it for 20 minutes. No leaks anywhere. Then I idled it way down and it stayed lit to a point where you could, as they say, count the fan blades.

I would just adjust the weather setting on the choke so it wouldn't close all the way, but the weather is cold right now in the garage. It seems that choke should be closed all the way shut when the engine is cold. Problem is, it won't start that way. I had the needle valves set as prescribed in the owner's manual. I could change those.

My heat control valve is new and I think set up right. The counter balance at the end of the arm on the rear of the lower exhaust manifold start up high and moves down midway as the engine warms.

So I'm wondering. If an engine won't start with the choke closed as it should when the weather is cold, what's the problem?