cold starting

Nick167

Member
Any tips to help cold start a 8n side mount distributor if I don't run it every day takes almost 15 minutes to start any ideas?
 
15m to start?

start at the top.

how does spark look..

if spar is good, will it immediately pop on start fluid. ( if yes.. you have fuel delivery issues ).

if spark is good and you think fuel is ok.. check compression.. might be a hair low till it turns over enough to warm the cyls, and get some oil slung on the rings and walls.

ps. never hurts to know where you are at on timing.. though if it runs ok thru all rpm ranges once you get it started.. timing is at least very close.
 
My 50 side mount would start cold very easily, but only if the choke was pulled after the first couple of revolutions on the motor. Then only for a second or two, after starting it would take a little feathering of the choke to keep it running. Any choke before the starter turned the motor over resulted in flooding. This of course was after I got the ignition up to snuff, points, plugs, etc. Only needed the choke it if it was cold, below about 40 or so. I've read somewhere on this site that all of them have their own "special" regimen to follow. Oh, BTW, it was 12V.
 
Nick.......ummm 15-mins? sheesh!!!......try loosening yer gas cap. Sounds like VACUUM LOCK. Many times yer gastank dome vent is blocked by mud-daubers. Unfortunately the dome vent is NOT reachable from the gas tank flap. Ittz up front by the radiator. They sell a "breathing" gas cap fer the NAA and 601's which is a whole lot cheeper and eazier than dropping the gastank.......breathing Dell
 
As others have said, 15 minutes means you have something besides cold weather going on.
Aside from that, what part of the country, ie, how cold is cold?
Any half fast tuned engine should start at 30º.
At 0º it better be tuned top notch.
At -30º you'd better wear gloves to keep your thumb from sticking to the start button.
An inline heater in your lower radiator hose will do wonders to help start a cold engine.
A couple hours on the heater will start it like it's July.
Pushing the clutch while you push the button keeps the starter from having to turn the transmission mainshaft - and everything behind it - in heavy cold oil.
Lighter engine oil helps a lot - 5W30, etc.
Lastly, a 12V conversion is a big help for cold weather starting, especially if the tractor sits someplace where you can't plug it in.
 
It has to crank over good, have good spark and fuel.

Which of those is missing?

Do you use the choke and is it closing all the way?
 

Thanks everyone it is a six volt it has good spark and runs well once its running I put new rings and one new sleeve in this summer so it should have good compression. I usually pull the choke out once and push it back in and it would start before it started doing this
 
Try souNdguy's starting fluid suggestion and/or pull the air
breather tube off and use the palm of your hand to choke it.
You should feel good suction on your palm and quite likely
get a little gas on your hand. Does it start that way?
 
is the little 'door' and its spring on the choke plate ok?

go thru your tune-up specs and fuel system again.
Anything over about 20 degrees or so and it should start easily.
less than 20, or far less than 20, ya might have to coax it a little.

In your case, it doesn't sound like your engine is tired.
Sometimes when they are, Royce's hand trick will get them going.
Had a good running AC, with everything set right, but tired.
cranking would get no response at all...nothing, taking the thru the hood air cleaner cap off and putting my palm over it momentarily when cranking, and it would fire up instantly
 

Tried loosening the gas cap but that didn't help will try starting fluid and check the choke didn't get long to look at it today
 
I think all answers are close to the normal start up. My '52 six volt like this morning @ 32 degrees....start to spin, pull choke for a second, soon as fire up like said before enough tickle of choke to get some what of a warm up. If this is not the case with yours something is a little out of whack.
 

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