I'm rusty and the car has sat for 2 years- no start. SOLVED

[panicman]

Hi everyone, I've been away for a while. I have a '60 with an old 40hp that was running strong when I parked the car a couple years ago. It's been on a tender so it cranks over fine. Oil looks fine. The gas was obviously bad, dark piss yellow and didn't smell right. Emptied the tank, rebuilt the fuel tap, and put in new sock and braided fuel line. Car cranks merrily over without a pop. I pulled the air cleaner off and watched while the engine was cranked, and no fuel is coming up into the carb at all. I already ordered a carb rebuild kit, assuming I'd have to do that, but now I'm thinking maybe it's the pump? Both were rebuilt about 2500 miles ago, but that was probably 12 years ago. Do y'all think I should start with the carb, pump, or just do them both?

((Note- turned out that I botched the reassembly of the fuel tap. That led me down the path of doing the unplanned tube up that ensued))

[67rustavenger]

Welcome back.

Validate that you have fuel up to the inlet to the fuel pump.
If so, remove the fuel line from the carb and see if the pump is supplying fuel to the carb inlet.
If not, pour some fuel into the fuel line from the carb end and let it sit for a a minute or so.
Sometimes dormant fuel pumps lose their prime and need a little help getting fuel moving.

If you have some, a short squirt of carb cleaner into the open top of the carb doesn't hurt. Squirt, try to start the engine. If it pops, you have ignition, and just need fuel through the carb.
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[viiking]

A little trick I was taught as a young fellow was to stick your hand over the top of the carb and use the starter. This tends to provide a full vacuum to all the jets of the carb, cleaning them out and even sometimes is enough to re-prime the fuel pump.

Of course for those who are worried about a backfire, disconnect the coil lead.

Do this a couple of times, then remove your hand (obviously), reconnect the coil lead and try to start with or without starter fuel.

At some stage you will need to remove the carb top to see if there is any fuel in the bowl if it fails to start.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[panicman]

Thanks you guys- I will give these ideas a shot!
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1960 Beetle

[VW_Jimbo]

Maybe try a shot of starting fluid in the carb first. That way you know it has fuel. If it starts, keep on your current path. If it does not, go look at spark, engine timing, or compression.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[panicman]

No luck yet-

Tried injecting about 10cc of gas into the fuel pump from the carb side. Let it sit for awhile, and gave it a try- nada.

Tried the hand over the carb, cranking for :45 sec. No success. The carb is cold and dry still.

Ordering the fuel pump rebuild kit, pulling the carb tonight and I'll just chalk it up to basically overdue service against a backdrop of my neglect.

I don't have carb cleaner on hand to shoot down it. Just a new can of Berryman.
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1960 Beetle

[panicman]

In the waning moments of my evening, I pulled the carb and took the top off. The carb is remarkably clean and the needle valve was moving freely. I think my issue lays with the pump, and I can leave the carb alone for now.

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1960 Beetle

[iowegian]

Did you remember to put some fresh gasoline in the tank after you drained it?

[panicman]

I did!
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1960 Beetle

[Root_Werks]

Ethanol can really gum things up, especially if it sits for longer periods of time. Sounds like your getting things figured, don't forget:

Air - Pretty much have that
Fuel - Determined not getting any to the carb
Spark - Did you check for spark?

Two person job makes it easier, pull a plug wire and with a correct, spare spark plug, ground the plug and have someone crank over. Should see a spark.

That carb does look pretty clean. Doesn't mean those little galleys are not plugged though.
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When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[Eric&Barb]

Check for spark. Super easy to do with a spark spark plug.

Fill the float chamber of the carb with fuel. If you take a plastic fuel filter and cut it up into a fuel proof funnel that makes it so simple to add fuel when needed to the carb.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[vwsonmybrain]

Also make sure to check your points. Had a similar problem with a car that had been sitting for a few years and that was literally the only issue. Points had corroded enough due to moisture. Fired right up after cleaning them up.

[viiking]

[Eric&Barb]

[panicman]

Thank you all so much, I appreciate all the input! Now I'll start down the list and let everyone know what works.
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1960 Beetle

[panicman]

Since I had the carb out, I went ahead and filled the bowl with gas, and installed it. I turned the engine over for about a minute. It caught, then fell away, and then actually took off almost... enough to smell that "cooked" exhaust smell that comes after the engine has sat for a long time. Then nothing. I refilled the carb in place using a syringe, tried again, and it did "catch" once or twice, but never actually broke into a sustained idle. Pump rebuild kit should be here Saturday. I still need to check the points, and I also wonder about the coil.

Bosch 6v coils look to be harder to find. I am seeing alternatives (I'd plan to paint black anyway), but are they junk? United Pacific? Holstein? Beru? Standard?

I have my mothballed 36hp that I could "borrow" from while I wait for Bosch availability...
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1960 Beetle

[Root_Werks]

I would probably hold off throwing parts at the problem before solving each issue in turn first. You know you're not getting fuel into the carb, solve that first.

You also know you are getting some sort of spark because it tried to light off. I wouldn't swap any ignition parts yet.

Others have mentioned already, check your points. If they sat for a long period of time, could be they are corroded. Same with spark plugs.

Keep us posted!

-Dan
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When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[Eric&Barb]

[panicman]

Thanks! I also forgot to look at if fuel is getting to the pump. That probably should have been my first step.
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1960 Beetle

[Eric&Barb]