Startup (and other) issue

[edwardc]

edwardc, I was hoping to run into you before you pulled yours out, I believe we are neighbors. I'm at White Rocks and I thought you had said you were at Oak Harbor. Perhaps next summer!

Steve

I still plan on being up there for a while, as I have some projects to work on. So maybe we can get together for lunch or something. PM me if you're planning on being at the yard.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Steve, exactly the opposite. Higher octane fuel burns slower, and is designed for high compression engines. At only 6.3:1 compression ratio, a lower octane fuel will perform better in the A-4. What is really missing from modern fuels is the lead that lubricated the valve stems/guides, which I believe is one reason MMI recommends some MMO in the fuel to account for that shortcoming of unleaded gas.

If your engine runs poorly on regular low octane gas you need to tune it up or otherwise figure out what the problem is.

TRUE GRIT

[alcodiesel]

Steve wrote: "I have never had a carbureted engine," -I guess I am getting old.

[tenders]

Steve wrote: "I have never had a carbureted engine," -I guess I am getting old.

Great news! You must NOT be getting old, because that’s not what Steve said.

What he said was, “I have never had a carbureted engine, with spark, fuel, and starting fluid, fail to cough, sputter, or make any indication of fire in the cylinder.”

So he HAS had carbureted engines. Therefore, you must not be getting old.

(Are you buying it?)

[sdemore]

All of my motorcycle engines are carbureted, as are my lawnmowers, generators, and the old motorhome with the 454. None of my cars have been carbureted in the last 20 years or so though...

[Ken Rockwell]

I think you're starving for gas, not flooded. I messed with the adjustment screw a little. I think it just makes the engine run hotter and burn more fuel. I couldn't even get a flame to shoot out, just black smoke. Stop using starting fluid. You'll break the chunks of metal in between the piston rings or snap a rod

[Ken Rockwell]

Try a spray bottle of gas. Just a little bit will work.

[sastanley]

Steve, if you can get carb'd motorcycles to run, this engine should be similar, and also can be susceptible to the same problems as motorcycles that don't run often (stale gas, gum/varnish in carbs, etc.)

My last carbureted car was an '85 Civic, which gave up the ghost about 1994. If I recall I got $1000 or so for it on trade-in.