Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Includes fuel system, cooling system and exhaust.

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Jivetalkn
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Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by Jivetalkn »

Hi guys

Our EK (standard 138) has trouble starting if left for over a week. Longer we leave it, the harder it is to start. I hadn't started her for about 3 weeks, and tried yesterday - basically it seems like it isn't getting any fuel. I tried for about tenminutes and it just wouldn't start. I poured about half a cup worth of fuel down the carby and it fired straight up. I left it for about 5 hours and it started up first time again.

Any ideas on how to fix this? I'm guessing its probably from fuel leaking out somewhere?

Cheers
Pete
RobinGi
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Location: Boronia Melbourne

Re: Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by RobinGi »

had the same problem with mine, Harv had some good suggestions
http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtop ... 25&t=17649

i had two carbies sitting on newspaper on the bench and checked the bowl level after a week and both were pretty much empty
no stains on the news paper or any indication of leaks anywhere that i can find on the body ( after a good clean), gave up and decided to procrastinate on somthing else
at the moment i'm doing what your doing and putting a bit of fuel in the card to get it going.
Blacky
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Re: Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by Blacky »

My ute is the same, the fuel must evaporate out of the carbs or something, you need to have a good battery.
I started with nothing and still have most of it left.


Foundation member #61 of FB/EK Holden club of W.A.
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Harv
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Re: Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by Harv »

the fuel must evaporate out of the carbs
Aye, they do evaporate. Some worse than others. Atmo-vented fuel bowl + modern light front-end fuel = harder to start after a while. Good battery, car stored in garage (out of heat), or fuel poured down throat all help. Mine runs every day for a month, then sits for a month. Can count on a 20s crank time until the fuel bowl refills.

Cheers,
Harv
327 Chev EK wagon, original EK ute for Number 1 Daughter, an FB sedan meth monster project and a BB/MD grey motored FED.
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Devilrod
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Re: Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by Devilrod »

Both my cars do the same, although the electric pump in the roadster sure makes it easier to prime it before firing.

As for he EK just gotta be patient.
Speed and Style........... One day I'll get the speed bit.
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Jivetalkn
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Re: Trouble starting when left for a week or longer

Post by Jivetalkn »

Thanks for all the replies guys - great info to know.

I will keep some fuel handy - now just to teach the wife how to take the air cleaner off and pour the fuel down the carby when she wants to go for a drive!

8) :thumbsup:
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