40 won't start

[tojons]

Rig sat in the garage all winter. Pulled it out yesterday and fired it up. Didn't run great but let it idle for 15 minutes or so. Then it stalled. Cranked and cranked, and would fire up but sputterred and stalled. Then nothing. Cranks and cranks and doesn't fire.

I changed the fuel filter, had one sitting around. Still nothing. Starter turns but won't fire. It seems to turn a tad slower than usual and makes more noise.

Any ideas on what might be going on ? Gonna go pull the plugs and make sure I've got a spark. I would assume the electrical system is fine as it did start yesterday. Almost sounds like a fuel problem to me - it did sit for a while.

I put some fresh gas in but still getting nothing.

 

[tojons]

2F by the way - has an HEI / DUI ignition and distributor.

 

[tojons]

Tried all day. Nothing more than the starter turning...

Pulled the plugs, tested the coil, magnetic pickup coil, replaced the control module, tested the hot lead to the distributor - all OK.

Had her towed to my local professional grease monkey.

Bummer of a day. First time she's ever been towed anywhere...

 

[number057]

Did you tried putting some fuel after you remove the filter on the top of the carb and crank it?

 

[tojons]

Yeah, tried a little starter fluid - that usually does the trick after it's been sitting.

Not today.

 

[65swb45]

To quote Dusty 66, "What did you change last?"

Since starter fluid has been known to make a dead horse move, spark seems more likely. And given you've changed from the stock system, yet more likely.

I would have dropped the old dizzy back in for a quick test before towing it to a mechanic who will presumably end up doing something similar.

Best

Mark A.

 

[tojons]

It was spark related, as I eventually surmised as well. I did a number of tests on the ignition and it seemed within tolerance - if not just a hair low.

Turned out to be a bad rotor and coil...

All systems back to normal.