D'oh! My -6 won't start..., Some help for the check writer please... Options

[smj]

So a month or two ago I went four or maybe six weeks without running the 3.0l SC motor in my 914-6. I had been firing it up every other weekend, but things happened.... Anyway, no joy regardless of where the hand throttle sits. Every now and again it taunts me by sounding as if it fired on one revolution.

The motor is carbed, not fuel injected. Plenty of juice in the battery, the starter motor is happy to turn, there's gas in the tank. I know I need fuel, air, and spark -- the question is how to check that these things are getting to where they need to go. I feel a thrumming in the engine bay fuel lines when the key is in the right position, and I can hear the fuel pump running.

How do I confirm that I'm getting a pulse to the spark plugs without a clamp-type electrical meter?

Links to tutorials would be welcome. I did try a couple of searches before posting, but the keywords I used must've been way too broad...

Thanks,
--Steve.

[Eric_Shea]

Clay... you forgot to say "Carbs suck, that's why I have MFI!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Steve, when an engine like that sits you may need to get fuel into the bowls again. Run the pump, then pump the gas pedal as mentioned before. Sometimes 10-15 pumps on the pedal before it knows what you're trying to do. That's the first and simple approach.

Then follow Clays, "look down the carb" route.

Then follow Clays"check your spark" method but your comment regarding the taunting means to me, you've got some spark... maybe not enough fuel.

[ClayPerrine]

Clay... you forgot to say "Carbs suck, that's why I have MFI!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

DAMN!!! I knew I forgot to post something...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


Actually, the MFI is worse for cold starting. Open the throttle to about half, hold it with the hand throttle, and crank the motor. Then crank the motor some more. Then crank the motor some more and it will finally cough and spit it's way to life. Then sit there for a minute until all 6 start to hit and it smooths out.

As the engine warms up, slowly lower the hand throttle to keep the engine speed around 2K. Then after about 3 or 4 minutes, you will get a smooth idle.


But after it's warmed up.... WOOOHOOO!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)