Samurai hard to start after is sits overnight

[calsam]

I have a 1.3 motor with a new carb.  After my Sami sits for over 10 hours or so it is hard to start.  If I spray some starter fluid it will start right up.  So I know it is not getting fuel at start up.  I changed the fuel filter so I know that is not the problem.  If I just let it sit a couple of hours of less after driving it starts right up without using starter fluid.  Does anyone know what me problem may be? 

[ebewley]

New Weber carb?

-Eric

[calsam]

a stock carb.  Could it be a fuel pump?

[ebewley]

a stock carb.  Could it be a fuel pump?

Possibly... If the check valve on the fuel pump is weak, then fuel could siphon back out of the float bowl.

-Eric

[calsam]

Thanks Eric.  How could I check the the valve on the fuel pump to see if it weak?

[ebewley]

Thanks Eric.  How could I check the the valve on the fuel pump to see if it weak?

Well.... I'd get your rig running and then turn it off, remove the feed line from the fuel pump at the carburator and see if there is gas there. Should be... Next, reconnect and start the vehicle again then turn it off. Wait the amount of time you have been waiting to observe the problem. disconnect the fuel line and see if there is any fuel there. If there is, something else is wrong. If there is not, probably a bad fuel pump.

Anyone else have some ideas?

-Eric

[zukimoo]

the fuel is going back into the tank and the line is getting dry. Could be a leak in one fuel line.

My 1981 LJ 80 will not start when it sits for over 5 days. It took me about 30 minutes of cranking to suck the fuel into the carb. I installed a primer bulb on the fuel line from the boat store. When it sits there I just open the hood and pump the primer until the fuel starts to pump into the carb. Alot of times I'll take off the line going into the top of the carb. It gives me a chance to see  the fuel. Once it fires up it's good to go. I swapped out the fuel pump for another and changed all the fuel lines with no luck.

[fordem]

First - I am not familiar with the stock carb on the Sami - BUT - based on general carburettor experience, it should NOT be possible to siphon gas back past the float needle.

I have completely removed the fuel tank on my Swift and then a week later started it up on what was still in the float bowl

I would consider a leak somewhere on the carburettor to be a greater probability - how do you reach the main jet(s) to remove them?  Are there two little brass caps that screw into the side of the float bowl that have to be removed to reach the jets?  Are these caps tight?

[ebewley]

First - I am not familiar with the stock carb on the Sami - BUT - based on general carburettor experience, it should NOT be possible to siphon gas back past the float needle.

I have completely removed the fuel tank on my Swift and then a week later started it up on what was still in the float bowl

I would consider a leak somewhere on the carburettor to be a greater probability - how do you reach the main jet(s) to remove them?  Are there two little brass caps that screw into the side of the float bowl that have to be removed to reach the jets?  Are these caps tight?

Yeah, that's a good point.... Thanks for chiming in!

-Eric

[calsam]

Thanks for the tips I am going to look for leaks.  I have not been seeing anything puddling up underneath so maybe it is a small leak.  I am also going to check the floats.  I put in a call to the guy that I bought the carb from at J and J carburator i am going to pick his brain a little and see what he says. 

[fordem]

If it is leaking - and I think it is - you're not going to see a puddle, you'd be lucky to even see a "stain".

First we're talking maybe half a cup of fuel in the float bowl, and when the engine is off, and the fuel pump stops, that it, the most that can leak out is what ever is in the bowl plus whatever is in the line between the pump and the carb - not very much, and probably not enough to be seen.

Second - this is a very slow leak - not big enough to drain that "half a cup" in the space of a few hours - it's going to be a slow one drop at a time type leak.

Why do I think it's leaking?  Because I've had this problem myself - not on a Sami, but on a classic Mini with an HS-2 SU carburettor - on which the jet connects to the bottom of the float bowl with a little flex hose, and a rubber washer behind a gland nut, and when that rubber washer leaks, you don't see the leak, you just know that you have trouble starting.

By the way - an electric fuel pump will get rid of the problem - when you switch the ignition on the pump will fill the line and the float bowl even before you crank the engine.  It doesn't fix the problem, but it hides the symptom.

I took a look at the parts manual - you didn't mention what year you have, so I picked at random - the '86-88 Samurai carburettor has two "drain plugs" on the side which have to be removed to reach the main jets - run the engine and switch off and then run your fingers over the plugs, see if there is any "dampness" - make sure those plugs are tight.