Cold start problem?

[JJ-Frank89]

Hello fellow clubsters,

I have a 1.9 petrol.
I have it stored away while I work on it at the weekends.
Every saturday morning I give it a start up but this is what happens:

Doesn't fire but is turning over.
Stop after 10 seconds, feel like I'm going to flood it.
Try again, after a few seconds engines splutters making some pretty awful sounds.
Stop again , don't want to flood it... more so.
Try it again after 30 seconds. Finally starts up.
But have to keep the revs around 4-5k otherwise just cuts dead.
Leave at this rev for about a minute then release the throttle and it idles ok.
After a minute it idles absolutely A-ok and no problems after that.

Is this just cold affecting it?
Could be fuel but then it wouldn't idle fine afterwards??

[Ralf85]

Are you setting the automatic choke by depressing the throttle and taking your foot off before starting? Is it working? I find I do need to raise the carb tickover slightly for the cold weather and then adjust it down in the Springwhen its warmer.

Patrick

[eatcustard]

How old is your petrol?

It goes off after 2-3 months

[JJ-Frank89]

Thanks for your replies

I did both over the weekend and it seems to have improved! Petrol has been sitting there since November so I threw in a 5ltr can of spanking new combustible liquid and gave the throttle a good push to the floor before turning the key. It did start up quicker and only cut out once before it idled nicely. The cold I imagine wasn't much of a help either and it is starting to warm up slightly now so that was a possible contributor.

How would you go about raising/lowering the carb tickover? Is there a screw somewhere on the carb I need to adjust?

[Ralf85]

Thanks for your replies

I did both over the weekend and it seems to have improved! Petrol has been sitting there since November so I threw in a 5ltr can of spanking new combustible liquid and gave the throttle a good push to the floor before turning the key. It did start up quicker and only cut out once before it idled nicely. The cold I imagine wasn't much of a help either and it is starting to warm up slightly now so that was a possible contributor.

How would you go about raising/lowering the carb tickover? Is there a screw somewhere on the carb I need to adjust?

On mine there are two countersunk screws on the left hand side of the carb, one above the other. A small one which should be left alone as is the jet adjusting screw and a larger one which adjusts the tickover. Once the engine is warmed up you use a large screwdrive to adjust the speed of the engine. I find about a quater of a turn of the adjusting screw works for me. Once the air temperature warms up in the Spring I adjust it back again.

Patrick

[Ian Hulley]

On a Pierburg there's a long screw poking out directly facing you, some have a small wheel on them so I'm told, mine doesn't. Turn it clockwise to raise the tickover, I'd recommend only doing this once the engine's thoroughly warmed up though or you'll end up dropping it back down again as it'll be too high.

Ian

[Ralf85]

On mine there are two countersunk screws on the left hand side of the carb, one above the other. A small one which should be left alone as is the jet adjusting screw and a larger one which adjusts the tickover. Once the engine is warmed up you use a large screwdrive to adjust the speed of the engine. I find about a quater of a turn of the adjusting screw works for me. Once the air temperature warms up in the Spring I adjust it back again.

Patrick

Thank you Ian. Sorry I meant the fuel mixture screw as above not tickover. I did try adjusting the tickover screw but found that the engine still cut out just as the auto choke switched off.

Patrick

[JJ-Frank89]

Thanks guys,

I'm not back at it till Friday so I'll tinker with me screws and let you know how it goes.

Cheers again!

[Ian Hulley]

How would you go about raising/lowering the carb tickover? Is there a screw somewhere on the carb I need to adjust?

Don't 'tinker' adjust the single tick over adjustment screw, the other screws are for the mixture.

[JJ-Frank89]

Note taken Mr Hulley, thanks.

[JJ-Frank89]

I started it this afternoon after a quick push on the throttle before turning the ignition and it started like a dream. I will probably keep the screws where they are for now but thanks for the valuable information that I will no doubt remember for next winter!

[Mickyfin]

Some great info here, I never knew about having to activate the choke by depressing the pedal first before starting. I will try this when I start the engine tomorrow whilst cold.

My tick over is hesitating, and Im lead to believe its choke related. I was searching for help with regards to increasing the tick over, and came across this thread.

Can anyone point out on the photo below where abouts my adjustment is for the idle? Thanks in advance.

[kevtherev]

your carb has got some wrong bits on...

but here's the idle speed ajuster

[Mickyfin]

Cheers Kev for that, could you let me know which parts you think are the wrong parts please.?

As to your photo, its hard to tell what I'm looking at mate.

Here's another photo with pancake removed. Im seriously considering removing the carb, stripping it down, and giving it a bloody good clean, but as I have never done it before, Im a bit weary.

[kevtherev]

As to your photo, its hard to tell what I'm looking at mate.

your looking at the long white thing with the slot at the end... thats the adjuster... it's enormous .