Carb.,starting problems 69 40-help needed!!

[jsuthey]

Hi all,been trying to get my 40 started up for the first time in about 8 or 9 years! Man it was close to starting,but would only turn over and just not start.Tryed pouring a little gas down the carb.But I did notice when I pumped the accel.linkage on the carb. itself(no cable yet) I could see the fuel spraying into carb.I bypassed the gas tank and was using my little 2.5 gal gas can with fresh gas.So it was getting gas there,but then I noticed gas seeping out near the bottom of the carb.through the same bolt the accel.linkage is on(opposit side-front)not good(I can post up a pic.of where it is leaking.).Whats wrong there?
Also did not get a chance to check for spark because after a few times of trying to start,it just started clicking no start at all.There was a wierd little sound when I turned the key to acc.don't know what that was.But now nothing-bummed out! What did I do?

The batt.is a new red top optima,put new spark plugs in,new dist.cap/rotor-no points/condenser yet was going to put those in when I set the timing after I got it running.Going to clean up all my grounds and try and start over,any ideas I have been searching alot found some good info.but i still don't know what to do.I have done all this work myself(thats the prob. there!) so far so I guess I will keep at it.
Thanks,John

 

[jsuthey]

The carb.is a 71(rebuilt by a fellow mudder),and the engine is also a 71 F,everthing else is stock.I did notice that the dist.that came with the 71 eng.has the little dial on it, as my 69 eng. dist.did not have this.

 

[68LC]

jsuthey-
from the "clicking" noise you describe, I'd guess either your battery is dead, or your cables/terminals are not doing their job. Or both. Clean the terminals, check your cables, maybe hook up some jumper cables and try again. Once it gets cranking, try and check for spark. Guess on the fuel leak? throttle shaft? base gasket? Can't really pin it down from your description. Good Luck.

 

[Pin_Head]

If you poured gas in the carb and it wouldn't fire, it is time to start looking for a spark. You need fuel, air compression and a timely spark for it to fire.

 

[DenverCruiser]

Your starter is most likely dead. That was my problem. Search threads I made lateley as I have a '69 as well and just started her up after sitting for almost 4 years.

 

[Freeman]

Good info here. I had issues with my rig doing the same thing with the starter clicking....ended up being the battery and the shoddy cables.

I agree with the spark issue. Try the old take one plug out and put it against the neg side of your battery (or some ground ) and see if you have heat.

 

[fj hunter]

point too ...

first thing i do after the old man has been sitting is to clean the points, and re-gap if necessary.

i dont make a gid deal of exzactness on this, i take a piece of 600 paper, and fold it in half and ... oh dont do this with the key on, or the battery connected. ... dont ask why that is important, just disconnect them... fold in half, now have two sided paper, at about 15 thous. open points and put between and go back and forth and try all the other stuff the guys mentioned too.

best to your efforts.

 

[jsuthey]

Thanks for all the replys,just got home from work and it's great to see the good folks on mud have been very helpful.Gonna' try working on it sometime this weekend.It could be the starter,it had been sitting on the old eng.I can look up or search on how to test it.I will also test the battery.Prob pick up some new cables as well,I was not able to get the neg.on real tight.Check/clean all connections.

Sometimes the hard part is finding time to work on it between family,work& rest!

Thanks,John

 

[jsuthey]

Hey guys I have spark! I also had a bad connection on the + cable going to the starter(so the starter is good).I got a backfire out of the carb.! and thats it no start.Still turning over but no start.How do I mess with the timing with the engine not running?

Thanks,John

 

[Pin_Head]

Static time it with the engine off first:

Put the engine at 7 degrees BTDC for cylinder #1 by manually turning the engine until the pointer is at the BB and the rotor is pointing to the spark plug wire for #1 (and not #6)
Then retard the distributor 20-30 degrees, put a test light or volt meter on the distributor wire (or coil - lug, same thing), then turn the distributor CCW until the light goes on or voltage jumps up.

This will be close enough for it to start and run. Then you can adjust it while it is running.

 

[jsuthey]

Thanks pinhead,taking notes and doing tons of reading(searching).Will report back soon- John