Hot Starting

Malcolmmer

Malcolmmer

0
Hi All.
Recently I have been having trouble restarting after a run when engine is still warm. Van has been running well up till then. Obviously I have already done the usual, rerun fuel lines, insulated etc. It has been running with an electric pump since 2018 with no problem, I thought the problem was fuel related so have I replaced carb and even fitted a pressure regulator but still same problem. I am now thinking it might be ignition, I fitted an electronic distributor from Martin in 2022 and the van ran well with this. I have since heard that electronics do not like heat, so I am wondering if this is the problem. Has anybody else experienced this problem with electronic ignition. If so what is the best way forward, try another distributor, if so what make or go back to points. When I gave the van a run yesterday it ran well but seems to have got thirsty with fuel, if this is any indicator. Any thoughts would be appreciated as it is becoming very frustating not finding the problem

Cheers Malcolm.
 
Sorry to hear of your starting woes. In my experience the electronic units usually just fail starting with a misfire, It could be fuel vaporisation even though you've done most of the usual fixes, do you have a fuel filter somewhere in the engine bay? make sure it's clean, if so remove it to see what happens. Check the air filter - if it's blocked it will be choking the engine giving a rich mixture and causing the high fuel use. What carb are you running? if it's an SU top up the dash pot oil, if it's a Zenith or Webber check to see if the choke flap has stuck closed.
Hopefully one of these simple fixes will sort it.
 
Thanks Panky. It is running on a Weber 34ICH. Filter, Air filter all clean and I know the choke is opening ok. I had problems with the coil overheating and causing problems on my Reliant Kitten years ago and I am wondering if this could the trouble with the van. Do you know if the coil is a resistor type on our vans, I don't think it is, also do you know if it would be a 1.5 or 3.0 ohm coil with my Electronic Distributor.
Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.
 
Hmmmm, running out of ideas. I doubt it will be a ballast system with electronic ignition. I've fitted solid state coils with electronic ignition as a kit from the manufactures (Powerspark) in the past and have had no issues with them, that way there's very little chance of a coil loosing oil and overheating. Might be worth a try.
 
I had an issue with fuel vaporisation with mine last summer. I’m running a Weber 34ICH like yours. I have the fuel pipe rerouted in front of the radiator with an alloy type fuel filter half way and a mechanical pump in the usual place. I ended up insulating the fuel filter. That seemed to sort it.

I think when the van stops moving, after a few minutes the heat in front of the radiator builds up and I was getting vaporisation. So I’m not sure moving the pipe to the ‘cool side’ makes much difference.

Best of luck anyway. Otherwise a wet rag to cool things down, but not a solution!
 
Thank you both, I will keep trying different ideas and hopefully find the cause of the problem. Hoping to make it to Gaydon again this year so I need to get it sorted.
 
Not a real solution but try pouring cold water over the carb if you're stuck. Another thing to try if there's the possibility of a restricted jet in the carb is to rev the engine and place the palm of you hand over the top of the carb to 'super choke' it. This sometimes helps by pulling any debris through.
 
I also put a short wooden prop
next to the engine cover so I cold keep the cover open when I stopped at a motorway services or similar without fully opening it. Again it’s a work around for vaporisation issues but that worked - when I remembered.
 
Hot starting and poor economy are signs of a failing coil if your confident it’s not fuel vaporisation or very rich running
 
I thought it was fuel related at first but now I am certain it isn't. We have had a meter on it and it doesn,t seem to be running rich. I started to suspect electronic ignition/coil problems and now you have mentioned a faulty coil could be the cause of both reluctant hot starting and poor fuel economy it gives me something else to try. Thanks again all, will keep you posted.
 
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