Starting an FJ55 after sitting for 3+ Years...

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lowtideride

lowtideride

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Sep 29, 2003
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Location
The Sunshine State
1974 FJ55 with an F.5 w/4speed

Alright the pig I acquired a few months ago I finally got around to piecing the motor back together (PO removed most things).

To start I put some oil in the cylinders and turned the motor over by hand(then let set for a few days). I replaced the fuel filter, plug wires and spark plugs. They cap and rotor probably need replaced but the ones that I ordered did not fit, so they will be replaced later.

I am getting fuel at the carb, the linkage is stiff and the throttle is sticking. I'm sure it needs a rebuild but I thought it would have at least ran poorly. Fuel is low in the sight window.

I ran new positive and negative leads also. I ordered a Factory Service Manual after it gets here I will tackle the carb rebuild.

Is there anything else I should be checking?

Thanks,
-Al:beer:
 
Take off the valve cover and rotate the engine by hand...watch your valves to see if they all move up and down. Might as well check the valve gaps while you're in there.
 
Pighead said:
Take off the valve cover and rotate the engine by hand...watch your valves to see if they all move up and down. Might as well check the valve gaps while you're in there.
Click to expand...

Will do..

It did "try" to start a few times but never fully got going.
 
Starting a car and trouble shooting same requires a check list.

Battery - is it charged and connected properly
Starter - does it work, is solenoid working, is it connected properly
Spark - you need to test to see if you have any, and you need to know if you are anywhere near proper timing
Plugs - are they fouled, are they wet, are they properly gapped, are they properly tightened to speck or loose?
Wires - Are they in decent shape?
Cap and rotor - Is it dry, is there scortching, can you sand down all the leads to temporarily make better contact. Should you tune up/repalce?
Points - Are they properly set? Are they dry?
Fuel - is fuel line delivering to carb, and is carb delivering to engine. Check the choke, and see if bypassing with starter fluid helps.
Engine - is there compression, are there vacuum leaks in the hoses?
Air Filter - is it clogged?

My order is off, as you need to go from simple and easy to hard, starting with battery, then fuel and oxygen flow, then spark, etc...
 
I am getting a blue spark when I ground out number 1 spark plug wire. I am wondering if the carb is so out of whack it's not allowing it to start. I even dumped a little gas down the carb to try and help things out.
 
lowtideride said:
I am getting a blue spark when I ground out number 1 spark plug wire. I am wondering if the carb is so out of whack it's not allowing it to start. I even dumped a little gas down the carb to try and help things out.
Click to expand...

Get engine starter fluid.

Check that carb is putting out fuel into manifold.

If 3+ years then may need to rebuild carb as full of varnish.

Don't forget to use choke as the engine is cold.
 
You can fill the float bowl through the slanty vent tubes that stick up into the carb throat. Any gas you accidentally spill down the carb can only help.
Jumper wires from the battery to the coil.
Loosen the dizzy clamp so you can adjust the dizzy timing while cranking.
Use a remote starter thingy so you can adjust timing while cranking.

Ige had a 40 sitting in her driveway when I arrived in Co...had been sitting outside for 10 years or more. Just for fun I started it up one day, using the above. there's a video on the you-tube somewhere...
 
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