VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Starting trick?

My '34 Coupe now turns over easy enough to start the engine with just the 6 volt battery. But I am still trying to learn what combination of choke, throttle, and accelerator pumping I need to use to get it to start. I have tried different choke and throttle settings, not pumping the accelerator (before starting) up to several pumps and it still is reluctant to start.

But if I pull the top off the air cleaner and spray a very, very small amount of starting fluid, it then starts immediately. I'm guessing if I sprayed a bit of gasoline it would also start. So it seems to me that pumping the accelerator before turning the engine over should do the same thing. But it doesn't look like much fuel gets to the bowl when I do that.

Would you share your "starting methods". I assume the old Chevy's would all start about the same (maybe not?). Any suggestions are welcome. By the way, it does start easy when the engine is warm to hot.

I pump my throttle 4-5 times,pull the choke about 2/3 of the way out,pull the throttle out a little,then crank.Once the engine fires I push the choke in a little and let it run for about 1 minute like that.Then push the choke all the way in and push the throttle button all the way in.It will probably run a little rough until you get some heat in the engine,after that it should run fine.Can you see fuel in the filter glass?If that is full,maybe the accelerator pump in the carb is not working correctly.Also remove the air cleaner and pull the choke all the way out.Now visually check and see that it works correctly(closes)and then push it all the way in and make sure it opens all the way.

Most old cars have a personality of there own. I have one that likes the choke and another that will flood with the choke. One likes a few pumps on the gas pedal and one that doesn't. You just have to find out what it likes.

There really isnt any tricks to'em if the engine is mechanically in tune and everything is just SO. But i will grant that every engine does have a diferent personality. One can be a bit more touchy than the other. So on and so forth. The important thing is to inspect the possibility's of WHY the engine might be like it is and repair it if possible to be repaired. Make sure everythings clean, make sure clearances are set and adjustments are properly made. The accelerator pump plays crucial parts to how the carburator lets the engine respond aswell.

The only car i own is a '32 chevy and it starts and runs always the same. A few pumps, full choke, spark advanced, manifold heat knob pulled (on cold days) a little pull on the throttle knob to clear it's throat, a few cranks and she's running. Push the knobs back in and let'er warm up.

OilSpot Did you not mean to say retard the spark? It would be a shame if a bendix got bent due to an advanced distributor on starting.

Guys, thanks for your replies. Your thoughts have reinforced what I thought before - that I just need to learn what works.

I'm almost positive everything is set and adjusted correctly on the engine including the rebuilt carburetor (by Doyle Stokes) and new fuel pump, etc. It does run great after starting and restarts easily. And it now does start much better than earlier as I am now driving it to get the rebuild broken in.

Yes it would. I cant never get the advance/Retard thing down in writing.