Sat for a while, now it wont start

[mtrdrms]

Well not all that long, only about a month but its been real cold. I went out to start the old 40 and it will turn over like a champ but it wont run. No sputter or kick or nothing. So I put a little gas in the carb and it fired right up and died. Im guessing the fuel pump gave up the ghost but could it be anything else? How would I diagnose the pump itself? It ran good about a month ago.

Thanks

Andy

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Could be just a bit if ice in the fuel system somewhere. Old fuel pumps can take a while to get fue up to the carb, you may have to hand-feed it for a while to get it primed up. John

 

[smedly6672]

I just went through the same thing on one that sat for a year or so. Make sure the carb is working as well. Mine had some ice on the back of it where the pull knob wire moves it and it wasn't moving. Inkpot was on the right track, if you can get it going it should work itself out.

 

[mtrdrms]

Good ideas but...its about 50 degrees out today. Also I just pulled the soft line off the carb and cranked the engine and no fuel came out. It should squirt all over right?

 

[Fast Eddy]

Good ideas but...its about 50 degrees out today. Also I just pulled the soft line off the carb and cranked the engine and no fuel came out. It should squirt all over right?

You're sure there's fuel in the tank? Mine takes a good part of a minute of cranking to get fuel up there.

 

[mtrdrms]

Just put 2 gallons into it. I guess fuel pumps just crap out huh? It looks old. The filter looks clean (its one of those clear plastic ones).

 

[Fast Eddy]

Just put 2 gallons into it. I guess fuel pumps just crap out huh? It looks old. The filter looks clean (its one of those clear plastic ones).

I have never, personally had a mech fuel pump fail on me. It must happen though.

If you disconnect at the fuel pump inlet or outlet does gas come out? Seems like it should from gravity. What about at the filter? Blow some air back up into the tank then drain some of the 2 gallons into a can and see if there's a bunch of rust.

 

[rsbcruiser]

fuel pump

Hey Andy, you might want to check your oil level, had a 63 Chrysler with the block mount fuel pump, it "made oil", the fuel pump leaked into the oil pan, probably cleaned the thing up in there but gasoline probably isn't the best lube.

 

[bsmith123]

pump

Could try pouring into the carb while someone cranks it if you could get it running a little the pump may start pulling. Electric pumps are pretty cheap if FJ pumps take a while to get--no idea on availablity.

 

[norville]

try popping off the fuel line near the carb at the clear filter and blowing into the line. That woked for me when I had a 40.

I thought my pump was bad but it ended up be either junk in the tank or an air pocket in the line, happened to me once then I couldnt get it to happen again. Clear filter will show that fuel pump is working. Maybe the sock filter in tank is collapsed?

Try blowing first.


bob

 

[antFJ]

thought my pump went bad too.. but i ran an electric pump for a bit with the engine off until there was gas in the bowl of the carb. I unhooked it and the engine ran fine after that... the mech pump just needed to be primed i guess.

 

[Teebag]

If an old pump stands for a while with no fuel in it the diaphram will most likely perish, had it happen to me, replaced the pump, runs fine again.

 

[mtrdrms]

Well I removed all the lines and cleaned them out and put it back together and still nothing. Is there a way to just troubleshoot the pump itself? I dont want to buy a new one if I just have a feed issue from the tank.

 

[attackchef]

try the fuel filter

 

[incogrhino]

Pick up a cheap electric inline pump and swap it inline.If it runs that will tell ya it's the mech. pump.

 

[mtrdrms]

try the fuel filter

Funny thing about the stock fuel filter, I pulled it off and its empty. I dont mean empty with gas I mean theres nothing in it - I can see right through it from inlet to outlet.

 

[Teebag]

Remove it and test it, block each of the pipes, and push the lever - if it is shot you will get little resistance on both in and outlet.

 

[mtrdrms]

Remove it and test it, block each of the pipes, and push the lever - if it is shot you will get little resistance on both in and outlet.

Yeah I did and no resistance whatsoever. So who's got the cheapest stock fuel pumps?

 

[77cruiser]

Sorry to drum up an oldie. I now have the same problem I took the front end body parts off my truck in december to get some body work done and tried to start it yesterday and It will not fire up but it will crank. I had the battery checked and charged, starter is new, there looks to be fuel in the carb window. Its about at the 1/2 way line. Fuel pump does not look like its ever been replaced. Carb was rebuilt a year and a half ago and fuel filter was changed then.
I am thinking fuel pump but thought I would reach out for some opinions.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Try a couple of squirts of Hot Shot in the carb before you start it up. If it is turning over, then the problem is fuel or spark. If it doesn't try to fire up on the ether, then pull off a spark plug boot and ground it out so you can watch for a spark when it is turning over. Does your choke work? John