10 replies to this topic

[karlos_junior]

1968 Riley Elf.

Hasn't been started for about 8 months. only fired over a few times in the last 3 years.

 

Car fires only if I spray some "engine start" in air filter. Runs for 5 seconds and chokes and dies.

Car has:

Fresh fuel - tested and flowing to both carbs (fresh clean fuel in floats)

Tested all 4 plugs / leads for weak spark. spark seems strong on all 4 (whitish blue spark)

Took plugs out, smell of fresh fuel

Tried for over 2 hours today. (danger of wife making a for sale sign!)

 

What else can / should I look at? I know for most this will be a simple thing. Any help gratefully accepted

Edited by karlos_junior, 31 August 2014 - 10:18 AM.

[lsto]

If it fires with easy start then the ignition side is not at fault, its gonna be down to the fuel side. If the carbs are fine then it could be a fuel pump issue or maybe you have an air leak on the carbs or manifold. All pipes connected and in good condition? Manifold gasket all complete and good condition? If all that is ok then maybe it is a carb issue.

[karlos_junior]

tested fuel pump. all good. All pipes in good order. tested flow thru all.

hopefully not a carb issue has i had them rebuilt (at the cost of a kidney and a testicle) set and running sweet before I was forced to park it up. Thank you tho. will give them a good going over

[petey81]

Check damper in the pot rises and falls as it should. And the needle seats correctly.

Edited by petey81, 31 August 2014 - 10:58 AM.

[Dusky]

Try using choke, and set the mixture to standard ( mixture screw 12 flats out)

[KernowCooper]

Pour a small amount of fuel in the carb intake and try and start then.

[karlos_junior]

Pour a small amount of fuel in the carb intake and try and start then.

Pouring over a diagram of my carb while at work: you dont mean the air intake do you? sorry to sound dumb

[dklawson]

Sort of.  Take the air filter off.  If original, there will be an elbow on the carb intake.  Pour the thimble of gas down the carb throat and start the engine.  It is likely to do exactly like it did with starter fluid... fire for a few moments and then the engine will die.  That means there is a fueling issue.  It is likely to be the carbs.  However, do not touch the mixture.  Also do not remove them and send them back to the builder.. not without trying a few simple cleaning steps.  

 

These should be HS2 carbs if original.  Remove the fuel hose from the bowl lid, then remove the three screws holding the float bowl lid in place.  Now lift the bowl lid off.  The bowl should be about 1/2 to 2/3 full of fuel.  If there is less fuel, the float valve is probably partially blocked or stuck partly closed.  If there is more fuel in the bowl than that the valve may stuck open or the float may be partially full of fuel.

 

Assuming the float is not full of fuel, use spray carb cleaner through the fuel hose connection on the bowl lid followed by compressed air.  Repeat several times.  Make sure the float moves freely.  With the float lid upside down, blow into the hose connection. The valve should be closed (no air coming out).  Now flip the valve over so the float hangs down.  Blow again into the hose connection.  Now air should come through.  Put this lid back, reconnect its fuel hose, then repeat this for the other bowl lid.  

 

If the problem persists there could be a blockage in the jet or in the plastic tube connecting the carb jet to the float bowl.  To address this, carefully remove the screws holding the carb suction chamber to the carb body.  Lift the suction chamber and piston straight up and carefully place them on their sides.  Use the plastic tube on a can of spray carb cleaner to blast carb cleaner down the carb jet and into the plastic tube.  Work the plastic tube up and down into the jet making sure you continually flush the jet with carb cleaner to remove gum and varnish.  Use some of the carb cleaner on a coarse cloth to clean the needle sticking out of the carb piston.  Move the piston up and down in the suction chamber.  With the screw in plastic cap removed, the piston should move up and down freely in the suction chamber.  Finally  refit the piston and suction chamber to the carb and top its dashpot with oil.

[karlos_junior]

thank you Doug. I will have to wait till this coming weekend and will come back to you with what was what. your advise has been very much appreciated by me in the past so thank you in advance

Edited by karlos_junior, 01 September 2014 - 06:32 AM.

[Rog46]

It certainly sounds like a fuel problem. Take the top off the float chambers. Are they full of fuel? If not look at the needle valves. If they are then piston damper or air leakage?

Edit . Oops I see doug has beat en me to it with vastly more detail.

Edited by Rog46, 01 September 2014 - 08:22 AM.

[karlos_junior]

Sorted. was crap in the float valves and needles. thank you Doug