edelbrock hard start when cold sounds like no fuel

[saylor]

O wise and venerable forum -

why is my edelbrock this way?

I have to ether up to start it. once it starts, everything is great. acceleration, sitting at a light idle, corners, punch, etc, etc.

but it wont start, just cranking and cranking.

no choke used its about 6000 degrees outside right now.

5psi on fuel gauge.

if I shoot it with ether it fires right up.

once it has run a minute or so, I can shut it off and start it right up.

its just the cold fresh startup.

please help me not kill my starter.

thanks!

Your Pal -

- saylor

 

[stubs300]

How long does it sit between starting's, 5 days to a week or more? This will cause the problems you describe without a booster pump to re-prime the system.

 

[saylor]

ok right on exactly. like it sits all week. then I prime it with the electric fuel pump. it used to start with the 2bbl I had, but with this edelbrock it wont fire. it says I have 5psi fuel pressure.

when I move the throttle should I see a shot of gas in the carb?

I do not see it currently.

 

[65sporty]

Yes, when looking in carb you should be able to see the fuel the accelerator pump squirts out when you open the throttle.

 

[furyus 67]

It took me a minute to get my edlebrock to fire nicely on a cold start up. After its warm it's turn key, after cold it was a *****. What I finally ended up doing was 5 pumps then hold it and fires right up. Seems a bit much in the pumps but it works! I had a 74 yr old Mopar guy tell me today " As far as I'm concerned there's only 2 carbs, a quadrajet or a thermoquad". He said eff the eddies,carters and hollys lol!!

 

[68plymouth383]

Well I hate to break it to him... but the thermoquad are made by carter...

It took me a minute to get my edlebrock to fire nicely on a cold start up. After its warm it's turn key, after cold it was a *****. What I finally ended up doing was 5 pumps then hold it and fires right up. Seems a bit much in the pumps but it works! I had a 74 yr old Mopar guy tell me today " As far as I'm concerned there's only 2 carbs, a quadrajet or a thermoquad". He said eff the eddies,carters and hollys lol!!

 

[detmatt]

I stab the pedal once to set the choke and it almost starts the moment I touch the key when cold.

 

[Ripinator]

O wise and venerable forum -

why is my edelbrock this way?

I have to ether up to start it. once it starts, everything is great. acceleration, sitting at a light idle, corners, punch, etc, etc.

but it wont start, just cranking and cranking.

no choke used its about 6000 degrees outside right now.

5psi on fuel gauge.

if I shoot it with ether it fires right up.

once it has run a minute or so, I can shut it off and start it right up.

its just the cold fresh startup.

please help me not kill my starter.

thanks!

Your Pal -

- saylor

You say you are not using the choke ? You need the choke, even if its hot outside. The engine itself is still cold.

 

[furyus 67]

My Eddie gets me down the road, but I'm the last guy that'll argue with experience like that! Watching him fiddle with the carbs is awesome.

 

[66Newyorker]

Check the accelerator pump circuit. If you don't see fuel coming out the 2 squirters at the top of the carburetor then it may be clogged. If the carburetor has been allowed to set and all the fuel has dried up the check ball in the accelerator circuit could be stuck not allowing fuel to the pump. With ethanol being added to our fuels it will gum up the internals of a carburetor and dry up the leather used on some accelerator pump plungers. On my car I still pump the accelerator pedal at least twice when I start the car even in 6000 degree weather in South Louisiana. May even have to crank it a little and hit the accelerator pedal a couple more times. Every car will be a little different.

 

[saylor]

Check the accelerator pump circuit. If you don't see fuel coming out the 2 squirters at the top of the carburetor then it may be clogged. If the carburetor has been allowed to set and all the fuel has dried up the check ball in the accelerator circuit could be stuck not allowing fuel to the pump. With ethanol being added to our fuels it will gum up the internals of a carburetor and dry up the leather used on some accelerator pump plungers. On my car I still pump the accelerator pedal at least twice when I start the car even in 6000 degree weather in South Louisiana. May even have to crank it a little and hit the accelerator pedal a couple more times. Every car will be a little different.

now were talkin. this is a used carb that sat for an unknown period of time. Q: my car runs once started. Would your suggestion still apply knowing this? or it shouldnt run at all if clogged?

i guess im fixin to take apart an edelbrock...

i have another carb i could swap, but it came from the same place, with the same history. used. unknown.

thanks for the advice - lemmie know what you think.

- saylor

 

[saylor]

You say you are not using the choke ? You need the choke, even if its hot outside. The engine itself is still cold.

i hear what you are saying. most of the time i didnt need it, but my experience was on the old 2bbl... i need to change mindset

 

[Ripinator]

i hear what you are saying. most of the time i didnt need it, but my experience was on the old 2bbl... i need to change mindset

I don't know, but I bet the choke on yer 2-barrel was working. . .

 

[67Monaco]

I'd you don't see a squirt with fuel in it when cold, I'd replace the accelerator pump. I had one that was leather. it shrunk from lack of use and wouldn't squirt until it absorbed some fuel. I put the neoprene pump in and haven't had an issue.


Carter AFB Accelerator Pumps

 

[66Newyorker]

The accelerator pump works every time the throttle is operated cold or hot. When you pump the accelerator pedal when cold it does 2 things. You set the choke and add raw fuel to the intake which richens the mixture for easier starting. When you slowly accelerate to speed up in traffic a smaller amount will be put into the intake and when you hit the accelerator hard to pass someone a full stream of fuel is put into the intake to richen mixture and hopefully eliminate stumbling. If you find that you need to work on the accelerator pump circuit, when you open the carburetor make sure you check the check ball in the accelerator circuit. It acts like a one way valve. Check the exploded view of your carburetor.

 

[66Newyorker]

To expand on your question. A carburetor has 3 major circuits that fuel travels through. Idle circuit which supplies fuel during idle, normal run or cruise which supplies fuel through what is called venture affect, the throttle is open and the accelerator pump circuit which supplies larger amounts of raw fuel to richen air fuel ratio for cold starts and when accelerating the help with stumble. Hope this helps.

 

[saylor]

I ordered me up a new accelerator pump I think p/n# edl 1470 ? and also a gasket kit. the gaskets don't leak now but if im bustin off the top of this thing to work on it then it gets a new gasket.

should be here tomorrow.

after some reading, I expect that when I have it open on the operating table, im gonna find a wad of goo clogging things up.

I get no pump shot at all that I can see.

will follow up latre.

- saylor

 

[Wollfen]

Have a look with a flashlight and make doubly sure on the gas shot when actuating the accelerator. I and many others are sure to be very interested in the results on this. I have issues too, while very different from yours, I am thinking is probably down to the accelerator pump too.

 

[66Newyorker]

Saylor when you get into your carburetor you should find harden deposits that will require the use of a scribe or pick of some sort to remove. If you try carburetor cleaner or some other type of cleaner the deposits will not even soften. May take some work to get clogged passages open. One other tip would try a fine hard wire or an torch tip cleaning set.

 

[saylor]

excellent advice. i hope to put up some pics while in progress. the stuff left summitracing and is headed my way.

P.S. i also bought a new choke cable i will hook the choke back up.