> >It starts (for a few seconds) when I squirt easy start (ether) down the
carbs
> >but otherwise won't easily start.
> >Would carb problems cause this?
> >Is there a site with tech info re overhauling the SU carbs on my 62 TR4.
> >PS Fuel is getting to the carbs.
Hi Jim - I just went through what sounds like the same thing - TR3A with
SU's. Car had sat for years, and would only run for a few seconds on ether.
Even though it looked like fuel was getting to the carbs, would not run on
its own.
Here's what I did, and now it runs (started up for the first time yesterday!
Red letter day for me).
Drained the tank, flushed with a little clean gas, blew out the lines with
air, cleaned the fuel screen in the fuel pump ( mine has an electric
aftermarket one), soaked the pump and fittings in solvent and cleaned.
(There had been gas sitting in it that had become gummy/tarry throughout the
fuel system). Pulled the float bowls off, soaked, cleaned and used carb
cleaner on the needle valves in the float bowls until they would open/close
as they should, adjusted the float levels.
In the meantime, every time I had a chance, I sprayed aerosol carb cleaner
onto the needle/jet, into the opening where the float bowls attached, and on
the linkages. Adjusted choke cable to make sure it lowered/raised the jet
assembly.
Put the bowls back on, made sure all the linkages moved, checked to make
sure there was lots of fuel pumping to the float bowl connection, crossed my
fingers, and it started right up! Problem seems to have been due to the old
gas /sediment / gummy stuff clogging up the lines, sticking the needle
valves, and clogging the jets. I also put an extra generic in-line fuel
filter until I can get the tank boiled out.
Some of the advice I received while trying to get it to run:
- if it fires on ether, it's probably not an electrical problem, almost
certainly a fuel problem
- if the carbs aren't leaking, don't take them apart (when I was
considering rebuilding the carbs to help get it running)
- you can't tune carbs if it won't run... if it won't run (as mentioned in a
recent post), it's either fuel or electrical.
- replace the float bowl needle valves with Grosse Jets (I didn't do this
'cause I got mine working)
- stuck float bowl valves or clogged jets are common with cars that have
been dormant
Good luck! HTH
Cameron Joyce
'59 TR3A (rolling, now running! stopping soon.)
'54 TR2 (resting, not rolling)
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