Gas tank replaced, now it won't start

mstover

mstover

Member
I just finished my work on cleaning the gas tank, which I'm very proud of. I have everything back together and now and the darn thing won't start. Doesn't seem like it's getting any gas. Before I removed the tank, I thought the float in the carb was stuck open because gas was spilling out. Could the float now be stuck shut? The carb was just installed in January. I appreciate your thoughts!
- Mike
 
Well, where do we start? Yes, a float can be stuck shut. Generally a few raps on the side of the carburetor bowl will cause it to unstick. Depending on the carburetor, there should be a drain plug on the bottom of the bowl. Can you loosen it and see if the bowl is full of fuel. Maybe loosening the bowl from the body will cause the fuel to start flowing.
 
Check the whole line back from the carb. Maybe the line got plugged from something that came loose after you put the tank back in. Did you blow all of them out before final assembly ??? What about the sediment bowl, can you test gas flow thu that ??
 
I would suggest opening the fuel line at the carburetor and see if you get a fuel flow to it.
Then either work backwards towards the tank or forward through the carburetor to get fuel through.
 
I am not even going to touch the " Got Gas in the tank" No not me. But I reckon everyone else pretty much cover the situation. Good luck
 
Sometimes you can get an "air lock" in the gas filter bowl or in the line from the filter to the carb. Check the filter to be sure it is full of gas then loosen (do not need to take line completely loose) the gas line at the carb and watch to see if gas runs out. Do this with the gas valve turned on.
 
I'm surprised no one mentioned simply spraying carb cleaner into the air intake of the carb and seeing if she starts. This would immediately tell you if its a fuel problem or not.
 
I think you mean starter fluid. Never heard of starting something on carb cleaner. I also thought of gas in the tank. Also how and what did you do to clean the tank. I have seen the tank sealer clog up holes before.
 
No I mean carb cleaner. Carb cleaner is *very* flammable and most guys have it on hand while starting fluid most don't. A few squirts of carb cleaner and she'll fire right up if all else is ok.

Either carb cleaner or starting fluid will work.
 
Thanks for all the help. I got rid of most of the rust in the tank by sloshing around a bunch of nuts and lock washers. Being metal, it was easy to remove them from the tank. I then used an acid etching agent and coated the interior with a sealer. I've disconnected the fuel line at the carb and have good flow that far. The engine sputtered once, but nothing hence. Think I'll check for a spark before disassembling the carb.
- Mike
 
To take the gas tank out, you likely disconnected the ignition cable at the distributor. Check that you didn't run the cable back into the distributor body too far when you reassembled it. You might be shorting out the lower plate.
 
Did you put on a new gas cap? maybe its not vented take it off and see if it runs
 
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