Intermittent Starting Issues

[Tooth Fairy]

When I try to start my 40 sometimes it fires instantly and other times it won't.

I think I've got a bad ignition switch.


It appears to be totally random, but, if I wiggle the key about, oh, 20-30 times from the off to on positions it'll usually fire right up.

I've got fuel. Checked that.

I've got spark. Checked that, at least, I can't get it to repeat not having any spark.

I do have an MSD6T box, MSD Blaster coil and a Mallory magnetic dizzy. I don't think any of these are the problems as they have all tested out good.


Anyone else have similar problems.

 

[ian]

A multimeter should help rule the ignition switch out.

 

[fj40mayo]

starter solenoid??

 

[Rice]

... or if you don't have a multimeter hotwire the ignition (by-pass the key) and perform several starts to see if you found the trouble.

You're not talking about a sluggish starter, right? Just turns over with no fire?

You made no mention of temperature so I'm guessing this isn't an issue of the carb hot soaking or vapor lock.

Rice

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Rice,
No vapor lock, in fact it is usually when it hasn't been run in awhile. Whether it's been 6 hours or two weeks.
Not a sluggish starter at all. It rips fast enough to flood it real good.

Ian,
I haven't tried the multimeter, but, I pulled the switch apart to see if it had dirty contacts and no such luck. I did find out that if you put it back together wrong it behaves really weird.

Mayo,
I bypassed the switch once and everything worked fine. Thought that was it, hopped in and hit the key and it fired right up. That's the thing, it's random and that's the part that pee's me off.

 

[TexomaFJ40]

Could depend on how much fuel is in the carb. Otherwise the engine has to turn over a couple of times for the fuel to reach the carb. Doesn't sound like an electrical problem if the starter motor is turning over when you turn the key. The motor should engage instantly when the key is moved to the start position.

You may also have a bad key/set if there is too much time to contact the starter motor.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Fixed It!

Alright this is really embarrassing to admit, but, I got this thing figgered out finally.

After about what I honestly think has been around a year of trying to get it to fire consistently it's back on the road. It was at the point where I would'nt even drive it anymore {if it would start} because I did'nt trust it to fire back up again.

A good friend told me he thought I had a grounding issue after rebuilding the front end after hitting a deer and changing the fenders out to some Metal Tech units.

It was sorta related...

I switched batteries at some point and I forgot to tighten the terminals. :whoops:

I just was'nt getting enough voltage through the weak connections I had.

Now I'm gonna go drive the crap out of it!

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Nevermind. Now the fawker won't start at all.






It's still for sale.

 

[IDave]

$5.50

 

[BADMOON]

I just went through this. Turned out to be the starter solenoid. Good luck, I know how frustrating it is.