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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Can't get the engine running on my '50 8BA

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Can't get the engine running on my '50 8BA -- page: 1 2     hitman912 12-25-2009 @ 11:25 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 5 Joined: Dec 2009 Well today I tried to get it started for my Christmas present to myself and it just wouldn't. It had been sitting for about two years, but the owner said it ran when garaged. He's an honest guy, everything else has been true. So I rebuilt the carb, got a new battery, new plugs, drained the old fuel and oil, put new fuel and oil, new oil filter, and a new fuel filter. Everything else looks good, although I'm worried about the fuel pump because I didn't see anything go through the filter. The engine cranks, but no gas was getting there. So I put a little in the carb and it wanted to start....I heard the pipes for a second but then nothing. Is there something I should be doing? My dad said put more gas in the tank and/or recharge the battery before seeing if I need a new fuel pump. Thanks. carguy 12-25-2009 @ 5:32 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 167 Joined: Oct 2009 I chased this starting problem quite a while before I finally got it sorted out. My problem was that I wasn't getting fuel to the carb. My 3rd new fuel pump finally solved the problem. Since you got it to fire by putting fuel down the carb I am assuming that you do have a decent spark. I would try, after getting your battery fully charged, to again slowly pour fuel into the top of the carb and try to keep it running by doing this for at least 10 seconds. This process seems, for me, to be best accomplished with 2 people. The idea of getting it to run for a while is to get fuel from the tsnk to the pump - better done with the engine running than just cranking. Smarter folks than I will hopefully have other suggestions. Good luck & Merry Christmas anyway. 51f1 12-26-2009 @ 6:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 573 Joined: Oct 2009 I'd remove the plugs and crank it. That'll get oil to everything without too much load on the bearings. If your pump isn't working by that time, I'd repair or replace it, assuming that the line from the tank is clear. You can remove both lines from the pump and put your finger over the pump inlet and/or outlet to see if it is producing any vacuum or pressure, while cranking, of course. If it is, you might have a clogged line from the tank to the pump. Disconnect the fuel line at the tank and pump and blow some air through it. Make sure the tank outlet is not plugged. Richard Pauls39 12-26-2009 @ 8:18 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 81 Joined: Oct 2009 Take the top off the fuel pump and fill it with fresh gas. Install a new gasket when you replace the top. I would also check the float level in the carb and besure the needle valve is not sticking st the inlet. Be darn carful with all that gasoline. Fire has a way of makig a bad day a whole lot worse! Keep an extinguisher handy while you are doing all this. supereal 12-26-2009 @ 9:48 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Most cars that have sat for that long have a lot of junk in the gas tank from evaporated gas, etc. The pickup tube may be plugged. Unhook the line from the fuel pump at the carb, and place the end in a container. Inject compressed air into the fuel tank, using a rag as a gasket. You should see a steady stream of fuel in the container. If not, try blowing air from the front to the tank to see if it will clear any blockage. I'd replace the fuel pump, anyway, as it is likely the diaphragm is broken and/or the valves no long seat. All old cars need an accessible inline fuel filter to catch debris. TomO 12-26-2009 @ 10:54 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 Your 50 should have a sediment bowl on the fuel pump. This bowl should fill with gas when cranking the engine. It should take about 60 seconds of cranking in 15 second bursts with 1 minute between bursts to fill the sediment bowl and the carburetor. I would hook a vacuum gauge to the input of the flex line and crank the engine. You should have at least 10 inches of vacuum and it should not fall to zero in less than one minute. If you do not have the correct vacuum, move the gauge to the input of the fuel pump and try again. If there is still not the correct vacuum, replace the sediment bowl gasket with a new alcohol resistant gasket and try again. If this does not fix the problem replace the fuel pump. C&G and NAPA both sell good pumps. Correct vacuum here and not at the input of the flex line means the line is bad. If you have correct vacuum and are still not getting gas, your problem could be a plugged pick up, plugged gas line or a gas line that is loose at the tank connection. Tom 35ford 12-26-2009 @ 1:54 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 63 Joined: Oct 2009 I have had this problem. Now I leave the nuts off the fuel pump stand and turn the engine until the pump or Push rod is at the highest point and then connect the fuel line to the inlet and put the outlet into a container (Carb line) and push the stand and pump down several times which should prime the pump and also verify that it is clear and working. saves battery and wondering what is or is not working in the fuel system. Just my suggestion! Works for me. kc hitman912 12-26-2009 @ 5:22 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 5 Joined: Dec 2009 Thanks a lot for the repsonses guys. I will try some of these remedies tomorrow and post back. 37RAGTOPMAN 12-27-2009 @ 8:18 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1958 Joined: Oct 2009 hi if you had a plastic outboard motor gas tank, you could use the squeeze bulb on the line that goes to the carb and see if it will pull the fuel though the fuel pump and the tank, and see what the fuel looks like,you will have to disconnect it from the plastic tank for testing purposes,and have some spare 1/4 rubber gas hose, have a clear bottle so you can see the gas,examine it closely, this device is a great thing to have around, you could also use the plastic tank to hold 5 gals of gas so you could find out exactly what your problem lies so you could repair the problem,by not using the cars gas tank and fuel lines,,just yet, once you get it running you can make certain repairs to make it run with the cars fuel system, these tanks are availible places like CABELA'S for around $35.00 and it might be the best money you ever spent, IF YOU WANTED to see if it runs with the fuel pump carb. etc,,hook a metal fuel line in the inlet of the fuel pump and clamp a rubber line to that and put the tank next to the car for testing,and a line going to the plastic tank,this way you are not using the cars fuel tank, just to see whats the problem, with out replacing everything, try to zero in whats the problem let hear how you made out,,,,hope this helps, 37RAGTOPMAN supereal 12-27-2009 @ 9:38 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 I'd pull the top off the carb first, to verify that there is liquid in the bowl. Second, to determine what that liquid actually is. It could be good fuel or contaminated water, etc, from the tank. If there is no liquid, then work back as earlier advised to see where the problem is. We see lots of bad fuel today. Some has diesel in in, some has water, and the line is frozen. If the carb, itself, hasn't been removed and properly cleaned, it is doubtful you will get the thing started. We always try a couple of squirts down the carb to see if the engine will catch. If it doesn't try, you have more than a fuel problem.

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