Engine won't keep running

jdpalmer

Senior Member
Starts strong and quits in few seconds. Ive checked all electrical gas supply, changed Carbs. checked timing several times, changed distributer.. It will keep running when it's about to die by pulling choke but after two or three pulls it backfires and dies. help either I'm getting too old for this or can't remember what to try next HA!
 
Kinda sounds like a poor fuel supply. Check that you have a good fuel flow for at least a couple minutes. If you do then I'm wrong and you need to look at something else. But, if it is a poor flow issue then start with removing the fuel cap.
 
Pull the cap, pull the screen and look in the tank with a flashlight at the outlet hole in bottom of the tank.
 
If you can not get above idle speed it may be an intake gasket leak. Have someone spray carb cleaner around the manifold to block area while trying to crank. If it starts see if it will run at a higher RPM.

John















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If it ran awhile and then stopped I would check the gas cap vent,,,Worth checking anyway. Loosen the cap and start it and see if it keeps running??? Chap
 
You are describing a gas flow problem. Rust in tanks around the petcock can be deceptive with these vintage gems. Rust has a tendency to sflow to the gas line when the engine needs fuel, and then settle back when the engine dies Just as a simple test, disconnect the gas line at the carburetor end, then with air, blow in the tank to possibly clear rust particles away from the gas line and tank fitting, then reconnect everything and try starting the car. If this is the situation, and the car starts and runs longer, then you either need to install a small standpipe in the tank or do some kind of rust removal from the tank. I venture others can help with how to do that. This little test is EZ to do and will eliminate or identify the issue.
 
Number one, isolate fuel supply vs spark. Lift a spark plug strap and watch the spark while its running, should stay strong and steady. If that's ok, then pull fuel line off of carb, should be a nice steady stream. Make sure you don't push the line in too far. May need to pull bottom off of carb and clean. Also use a gas torch with no flame, direct around manifold gasket, engine will surge if it sucks in the gas through a leaking gasket.
 
Thanks folks for all suggestions and I had checked all those things and was getting ready to see if I had leak at intake manifold. Friend loaned me a rebuilt carb put it on a fit run great . I had tried two that had run before but I reckon so owe them bad with both.
 
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