I have an issue with my 124 Sedan. It has a 1438 OHV with a Weber DHSA carb and automatic transmission. Hot or cold I have a hard time starting this car. It cranks forever before it finally gets fuel, at least I think that is the issue. If I shoot starting fluid in the carb it will fire, but die after the fluid is gone.
When cold, I pull the choke and keep cranking till it fires. Once it starts it keeps running and runs well once it warms up. If I take it to the parts store and go in for a few minutes, it starts right up when I come back with no choke needed. If I drive to lunch and let it sit for 30 minutes or so I have to go through the cranking again. Choke or no choke doesn't seem to matter at this point. It feels like it takes longer to start in this situation than when it is 100% cold. That is how it "feels" in the moment, not a scientific observation.
I added a check valve to the fuel line a couple days ago to see if it would help. I put it in the line in the engine bay between the hard line from the tank and the fuel pump. It didn't help at all as far as I can tell. What else should I look at?
Other info just FYI: When I first got the car it had a bad fuel pump. I replaced the pump, then the car ran badly and wouldn't idle. I got a rebuild kit and have taken the carb apart, cleaned all the passages, sealed the leaky return tube, cleaned out the jets and replaced gaskets and a diaphragm or two. This got the car running pretty well and I can even set an idle now. As I said earlier, it runs pretty darn good once it is started and fully warms up.
When cold, I pull the choke and keep cranking till it fires. Once it starts it keeps running and runs well once it warms up. If I take it to the parts store and go in for a few minutes, it starts right up when I come back with no choke needed. If I drive to lunch and let it sit for 30 minutes or so I have to go through the cranking again. Choke or no choke doesn't seem to matter at this point. It feels like it takes longer to start in this situation than when it is 100% cold. That is how it "feels" in the moment, not a scientific observation.
I added a check valve to the fuel line a couple days ago to see if it would help. I put it in the line in the engine bay between the hard line from the tank and the fuel pump. It didn't help at all as far as I can tell. What else should I look at?
Other info just FYI: When I first got the car it had a bad fuel pump. I replaced the pump, then the car ran badly and wouldn't idle. I got a rebuild kit and have taken the carb apart, cleaned all the passages, sealed the leaky return tube, cleaned out the jets and replaced gaskets and a diaphragm or two. This got the car running pretty well and I can even set an idle now. As I said earlier, it runs pretty darn good once it is started and fully warms up.