cold-starting blues

[bignblue]

Calling all carb gurus!

My motorcraft 4350 was rebuilt about two months ago or so. I'm having lots of trouble getting the durn thing to start in the morning, and it's not even that cold here yet. What I've had to do for the past week is pour a touch of gas into the carb and start it that way, b/c it ain't starting no other way. I pump the pedal 3-5 times and hold it down as I turn the key: nothing. Also, I don't smell gas when I open the hood as I would if it were flooded. Any ideas?

One thing that may or may not matter: I'm running 20W-50...could that be too thick? I know I'm going to have to step down a notch for cold weather, but I'm trying to prevent oil leaks here. I still have to replace my valve cover gaskets! Fuel filter is new(-ish, about a year old / 18k miles).

[Millerluck]

Is the choke shutting when it's cold?
Put it to the floor,then check to see if the choke closed.

Pumpping it a few times is ok, but holding it down clears out the gas you just pumped in. When things get flooded holding it down lets in all the air it can to blow fuel out.



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88GW "Mississippi"
Black,
360,727,NP229
D44F/R,3.31gears,
Tracklok F/R,
Superwinch hubs,
4" Skyjacker springs all
the way round,
31x10.5x15 BFG AT's.
New TEAMRUSH UPGRADE
With MSD SUPER CONDUCTOR
wires and BLASTER TFI COIL

[Michael F]

Your accelerator pump may not be working when cold and not working very well when warm either. To check it next time you start it cold, hold open the choke and look into the primaries (front barrels) and open the throttle, you should see fuel being sprayed from the booster venturi in the middle of each barrel and you should be able to hear it to. If this happens about 4 or 5 pumps will empty the carb if you do not crank it. If it does spray fuel, one pump should do it if the choke is adjusted properly, it could be from about 3/16" to all the way closed. Dumping fuel into the carb could overcome a choke open to far just before flooding it! and if you have the pedal to the floor you defeat the choke!

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81 Cherokee Laredo WT
53,000 orig. miles
360/727/208/3.31/31x10.5AT
79 Cherokee Chief WT (snow plow)
360/400/QTw/LR/31x10.5
My family has 7 FSJ's!!!

[Michael F]

Oh I forgot to mention if the accelerator pump does not work the carb could be empty from sitting overnight or missing the accel. pump discharge checkball which you would have noticed it not having by now (it will fall flat on it's face when you hit the gas).

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81 Cherokee Laredo WT
53,000 orig. miles
360/727/208/3.31/31x10.5AT
79 Cherokee Chief WT (snow plow)
360/400/QTw/LR/31x10.5
My family has 7 FSJ's!!!

[bignblue]

warm temp operation is just dandy...no hesitation, smooth acceleration. About the only complaint I have is that I can't feel the secondaries open up! I've been waiting for that kick in the butt since I got the carb rebuilt but it hasn't been there yet.