Starting in colder weather - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Austin C10 · 12-17-2005, 02:33 PM

I'm pretty new to carburated engines. Its in the 40s here in Austin, nothing unreasonable.

I usually start my recently purchased 1972 C10 by pressing the gas in all the way, letting it out slowly, then cranking it. The first time I crank, it the engine coughs like its gonna keep going, so I stop cranking, but it dies out immediately. Should I give it gas right away?

The second time I crank it, the battery just wears down. Should I give it gas while cranking it the second time?

Maybe my battery's just not up to the task. I'm gonna test it this afternoon.

Thanks

Mongo · 12-17-2005, 02:54 PM

I give a two or three quick pumps ofthe gas then lightly press down as I turn the key. It fires right up. I offten have ot feather the throtle a little to keep her gong. after about 2min she runs on her own.

classicchev · 12-17-2005, 03:11 PM

Its always cold up here, sounds like you need to adjust your choke. If properly adjusted, 1 pump and it should fire and run on its own. depending on the carb you have, depends on how much trouble you will have adjusting.

Edelbrock and Quads are the easiest, Holleys are a little more of a challange for the cold weather up here in the COLD north, but once they are adjusted, they work great.

Austin C10 · 12-17-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicchev

If properly adjusted, 1 pump and it should fire and run on its own. depending on the carb you have, depends on how much trouble you will have adjusting.

Good tips all the way around. I plan on looking into the choke also. When you say one pump and it runs on its own, do you mean that after I pump it once, take my foot off crank and it ought to fire up if the choke is properly adjusted?

classicchev · 12-17-2005, 03:33 PM

There are many variables to a good start. Battery, Plugs, wires, quality of spark, last time run, quality of carb ETC ETC. Usually with the Edelbrock, MSD box, 1 pump to set the choke and give some fuel, and she starts. This depends one the temperature, If its really cold -30 C (F????) May take a little more cranking. I doubt it gets that cold in Texas.

Should be a simple adjustment, If its a electric choke, loosen the screws on the choke and give it a turn clockwise and slowley open up the trhrottle and see if the flaps close, if they dont, turn a little more until they do. Remember to turn the key on, choke needs power. .Oh yah, do this with a cold non running engine.

shelby987 · 12-17-2005, 04:05 PM

I had a similar problem with my truck, have yet to tear into the carb, but my temp. solution is to pull out the choke, tap the gas, let it fire (and then die), after that, I found that very quick, very slight taps on the gas with the key turned will get the engine to start, I continue tapping until I can get the engine into the higher rpms (1,500~2,000), hold it there, and let it warm up for a couple of mins....yeah, its not perfect, but its a heck of a lot better than running back and forth with a can of starting fluid in 10 degree weather!

shelby987 · 12-17-2005, 04:06 PM

oh wait, just re-read that, you are in texas.....tell your truck 40 degrees isn't cold, and if it doesn't start you will ship it up here to the rust belt with its other bad brothers and sisters!

should fire up without a problem....if it knows whats good for it!

**Stocker** · 12-17-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicchev

There are many variables to a good start. Battery, Plugs, wires, quality of spark, last time run, quality of carb ETC ETC.

I press & release the throttle one time only, just enough to set the choke (you can hear it click). then it fires right up -- good for temps in the teens. Sometimes it'll start, then stumble & die. If it does, I crank it again without touching the throttle at all -- it then keeps running at fast idle.

classicchev · 12-17-2005, 06:46 PM

you guys dont know what cold is!! Then you put a wind with it.. BBRRRRRR

71chevylongbed · 12-17-2005, 06:58 PM

sounds like choke. its been getting under 10 degrees F here and when i go to start my truck in the morning i only have to push the pedal to the floor once to set the choke and it fires right off and stays running on its own

71-longbed · 12-17-2005, 10:18 PM

i agree with stocker ...thats what i do ...

sometimes i need to massage the pedal alittle after its started ... not always though

Its was down to 20 last night

12-17-2005, 02:33 PM	#1
Austin C10 1972 C10 Cheyenne LWB Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 41	Starting in colder weather I'm pretty new to carburated engines. Its in the 40s here in Austin, nothing unreasonable. I usually start my recently purchased 1972 C10 by pressing the gas in all the way, letting it out slowly, then cranking it. The first time I crank, it the engine coughs like its gonna keep going, so I stop cranking, but it dies out immediately. Should I give it gas right away? The second time I crank it, the battery just wears down. Should I give it gas while cranking it the second time? Maybe my battery's just not up to the task. I'm gonna test it this afternoon. Thanks

12-17-2005, 02:54 PM	#2
Mongo YES_____NO Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Somewhere in the vicinity of betelgeuse Posts: 7,351	Re: Starting in colder weather I give a two or three quick pumps ofthe gas then lightly press down as I turn the key. It fires right up. I offten have ot feather the throtle a little to keep her gong. after about 2min she runs on her own. __________________ People many not remember what you said or what you did, but they will remember the way you made them feel. - unknown Cause, remember: no matter where you go... there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai 1984 Help support the board

12-17-2005, 03:11 PM	#3
classicchev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 1,936	Re: Starting in colder weather Its always cold up here, sounds like you need to adjust your choke. If properly adjusted, 1 pump and it should fire and run on its own. depending on the carb you have, depends on how much trouble you will have adjusting. Edelbrock and Quads are the easiest, Holleys are a little more of a challange for the cold weather up here in the COLD north, but once they are adjusted, they work great. __________________ 67- 72 Parts collecter

12-17-2005, 03:33 PM	#5
classicchev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 1,936	Re: Starting in colder weather There are many variables to a good start. Battery, Plugs, wires, quality of spark, last time run, quality of carb ETC ETC. Usually with the Edelbrock, MSD box, 1 pump to set the choke and give some fuel, and she starts. This depends one the temperature, If its really cold -30 C (F????) May take a little more cranking. I doubt it gets that cold in Texas. Should be a simple adjustment, If its a electric choke, loosen the screws on the choke and give it a turn clockwise and slowley open up the trhrottle and see if the flaps close, if they dont, turn a little more until they do. Remember to turn the key on, choke needs power. .Oh yah, do this with a cold non running engine. __________________ 67- 72 Parts collecter

12-17-2005, 04:05 PM	#6
shelby987 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Just outside Durham, NC Posts: 894	Re: Starting in colder weather I had a similar problem with my truck, have yet to tear into the carb, but my temp. solution is to pull out the choke, tap the gas, let it fire (and then die), after that, I found that very quick, very slight taps on the gas with the key turned will get the engine to start, I continue tapping until I can get the engine into the higher rpms (1,500~2,000), hold it there, and let it warm up for a couple of mins....yeah, its not perfect, but its a heck of a lot better than running back and forth with a can of starting fluid in 10 degree weather! __________________ 1969 SS 350 Camaro Sold 2008 1970 3/4T K20, stock height with 33's, 250 I6, 3 on the tree, and locked front and rear 4.10's 1980 Chevy Malibu 2 dr Sold 2007 1993 Olds. Cutlass Ciera Wagon Traded 2006 2003 Saturn L200 w/5pd. D/D My list spans 5 decades with One common thread.....GM!

12-17-2005, 04:06 PM	#7
shelby987 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Just outside Durham, NC Posts: 894	Re: Starting in colder weather oh wait, just re-read that, you are in texas.....tell your truck 40 degrees isn't cold, and if it doesn't start you will ship it up here to the rust belt with its other bad brothers and sisters! should fire up without a problem....if it knows whats good for it! __________________ 1969 SS 350 Camaro Sold 2008 1970 3/4T K20, stock height with 33's, 250 I6, 3 on the tree, and locked front and rear 4.10's 1980 Chevy Malibu 2 dr Sold 2007 1993 Olds. Cutlass Ciera Wagon Traded 2006 2003 Saturn L200 w/5pd. D/D My list spans 5 decades with One common thread.....GM!

12-17-2005, 06:46 PM	#9
classicchev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 1,936	Re: Starting in colder weather you guys dont know what cold is!! Then you put a wind with it.. BBRRRRRR __________________ 67- 72 Parts collecter

12-17-2005, 06:58 PM	#10
71chevylongbed Got Horsepower? Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: IDAHO Posts: 406	Re: Starting in colder weather sounds like choke. its been getting under 10 degrees F here and when i go to start my truck in the morning i only have to push the pedal to the floor once to set the choke and it fires right off and stays running on its own __________________ 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins, 4 inch lift, 35" Toyo MT's on Ultra wheels, P-Pump Conversion, AFE intake, Fass, 5 inch exhaust, Pyro,Boost,and Fuel pressure guages, and a whole bunch of other stuff "The Money Pit" SOLD-71 Chevy C10 long bed- 2/4 drop-- 350,th400, Edelbrock performer RPM intake,Edelbrock 600 CFM carb,Crower 240 cam,port and polish,Dynomax headers,HEI ignition,dual 2.5 inch exhaust with Flowmaster 50 series mufflers

12-17-2005, 10:18 PM	#11
71-longbed Its Magically Delicious Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oregon Posts: 2,398	Re: Starting in colder weather i agree with stocker ...thats what i do ... sometimes i need to massage the pedal alittle after its started ... not always though Its was down to 20 last night __________________ 71 C10 LWB 350sbc -TH350 12 bolt 3.42 Posi Of all my favorite things to do, The utmost is to have a brew. My love grows for my foamy friend, with each thirst-quenching elbow bend. Beer so frosty, smooth, and cold it's paradise pure liquid gold. Yes beer means many things to me that's all for now cus I gotta pee.



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