Technical Starting

[AndrewRL]

As always, I'm after a bit of advice. I've searched here but not found quite the answer and checked everything I can think of.

Luigi seems to be running really well (probably best ever) but is really difficult to start from cold.

To start takes at least 7 or 8 really long churns before any sign of "catching" and another couple before fully firing.

No issue with battery - kept on trickle as only get to go for a drive every couple of weeks. Spins engine over well.

Tappets, timing, points, plugs, fuel, pump all seem fine judging by how the engine runs when started and I've checked them all recently.

Any suggestions on where the problem may be and where you'd start?

Does this sound like issues with the starter motor? If so, can it be removed/replaced with engine in situ?

I'm hoping it is something fairly simple (and cheap!) but I am at a bit of a loss as to what is causing this.

Many thanks as always.

 

[the hobbler]

The starter CAN be removed with the engine 'in-situ' BUT don't forget to disconnect the battery first! How fast is the starter churning the engine over? With the 'choke' fully 'on' it shouldn't take that long to fire up. What have you set the tappets to?

 

[AndrewRL]

Not sure exactly how fast but it is fairly constant through all the attempts until firing (and seems consistent with what I remember when it fired on 2nd pull not so long ago).

Yes "choke" on and I double checked that the cable hasn't come loose/disconnected.

Tappets as per Haynes (.15mm when cold?)

Yes - if I do need to do anything with the starter I will disconnect the battery. I learned that lesson when trying to "feel" for something at the back before :-(

 

[lazylobster]

Does the car still have the mechancial fuel pump? If I don't drive mine for a period, it takes a lot of turning over for the pump to prime and get the fuel into the carb. I did this over winter for an Instagram post, how long will it take to start. It was 15 seconds.

But if you drove it yesterday and went to start it today, but it took a long time, then that is a different story.


R

 

[fiat500]

To start takes at least 7 or 8 really long churns before any sign of "catching" and another couple before fully firing.


.

After being left for a few days, if it is completely "dead" for many turns of the starter, but eventually kicks into life quite promptly...my experience is that it's completely normal and as lazylobster says, it's just taking time pumping fuel through.

If it seems that gradually it gets to the point of starting, effectively, it "warms up" and then gradually comes to life, there may be more going on.

All being well, an unmodified engine will start just as easily as a modern car, even if it has standard ignition and slightly old fuel.

When my first engine started to misbehave like that over several months of deterioration, it eventually turned out to be valve-seat damage. I had started to think that poor starting was normal. It might be worth having a leak-down test done.

 

[Veloman518]

Doesn't sound like a starter issue, but to answer your question they can be pulled out fairly easily (I had to pull mine half a dozen times to sort out an issue). Battery disconnect is a must as there are exposed terminals you will absolutely ground out during the process.