Hard to start

[DeepC73]

The other night My float was stuck. Fuel was flowing from the vent tube. I removed it and cleaned the needle and seat. I put it back together and it ran fine. The next day I smelled gas. I opened the hood and there was a very very tiny bit of fuel spraying from the rubber hose doing into the fuel filter. I tightened the hose clamps and it was gone. No. More leak. The next day I tried to start it, but it wouldn’t start. I sprayed starting fluid in it and it fired up immediately. The same thing has been happening for three days. Once I get it running, it runs great and fires right up every time once I get it started. However, the first start of the day is annoying. Any ideas?

 

[DeepC73]

Anyone? Any ideas?

 

[Slowleak]

Make sure your accelerator pump is working. With the engine off, look down in the carb while moving the throttle lever. You should see a stream of gas squirt into the carb…
A bad pump diaphragm will make it had to start and may also cause gas to leak out of the weep hole.

 

[Doyle]

If the needle doesn't seat the gas will syphon out of the bowl in some cases. Makes for long cranking times till bowl refills.

 

[MikeCon]

My 2 barrel carb on my 73 with 302 starts right up but only if done right.Otherwise it will flood and become difficult to start.
Starting when cold- turn key on,depress gas pedal to floor and let up completely ONE time only. Anything more will flood. Should fire right up without touching pedal.

When warm do not touch gas pedal. Turn key and mine fires right up..Depressing pedal at all will flood it.

 

[MS73HD302]

Sounds like no pump shot from the accelerator pump. Does buck if you stab the gas running down the road?

 

[DeepC73]

Thank you everyone for the help. I finally got off duty and got some sleep. I woke up this morning determined to figure it out. It was indeed the accelerator pump. The cam had slid off and it wasn’t actuating at all. I was racking my brain over it. I definitely couldn’t have found it without you guys. On the bright side….I have a new fuel pump and the float bowl is spotless and fully rebuilt. Lol! SMDH!