Starting problems

[TonyWalker]

Hello everyone
I have tried to get my Series 3 Elan (1967) started a few times this year but failed. The last time it ran was last October. Today I had some time so tried a few things.
First I charged the battery well.
I removed each plug and found that I have a good spark at each plug.
I also purchased some Easy start, took off the air box, and sprayed it into each of the trumpets. The engine came to life for about 3 seconds and then stopped.
This tells me it is a fuel problem.
Does anyone think the non-starting could be due to stale fuel, or should I think about stripping and cleaning out the carbs. The fuel pump seems to be working fine.
Importantly nothing really changed from one year ago when it used to start fine. That's why I was wondering about stale fuel.
Any thoughts for the best way forward?
Replies much appreciated
Tony

[69S4]

My first guess is that it's not so much stale fuel in the tank as heavy fuel residues in the float bowls. The lighter parts evaporate off preferentially and what remains becomes harder to vaporise. Empty the carbs out, refill them with fresh fuel from the tank and try again. I have a number of motorcycles with the same issue and that's the fix. My Elan is on Strombergs and they seem to be less prone to this.

[Sadbrewer]

Petrol can turn into jelly in the bowls...if it's firing on easy start there is not a lot wrong..you have a spark, if good petrol gets into the cylinders it should run.

[TonyWalker]

Hi All
Thanks for the replies.
I emptied the float chambers and refreshed with new fuel. There was no 'jelly' but the old petrol within did seem a little odd.
Whilst doing this I did notice that the accelerator pumps seemed to be stuck in closed position so I freed them up.
The car now starts at least.
However, it only starts with some choke.
It then idles okay with a slight bit of choke but as soon as I touch the accelerator pedal it really struggles with backfiring etc. Also, higher choke causes backfiring.
I am happy that it now starts at least.
I am a little confused though as I haven't touched anything and the last time (one year ago) it ran okay with no backfiring etc. It didn't run too badly - although it was never perfect.
I have been thinking about getting the DCOE 40 18s refurbished (or trying to do it myself), but lots of folk on here recommend buying Weber 40 151's instead.
Any thoughts on the problems above and/or the idea of the new/refurbished carbs?
Many thoughts much appreciated
Tony

[gjz30075]

Not quite answering your latest question, but you're close to having it running. There's probably
gummed up petrol in all the orifices, ie, jets, galleries, etc. Remove the main 'stack' and idle
jets and shoot some carb cleaner through them. It's the 'down and dirty' next step toward getting
it running.

That said, I've had two sets of 151s (new) for a couple of engines and both sets were nearly perfect
right out of the box. This is not guaranteed, however. It's possible you can have Steve Lyle's
issues, too, highlighted in the last several pages of this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=52563

[billwill]

I have had similar problems as I have not been using my S3.

I find thatr it takes MUCH MORE than one single attempt at using an easy start gas. I have to repeat the process several times with maximum choke and dabbing on the accelerator pedal a lot, to get it going.

Your running for 3 seconds was only part of the fix. Repeat that a number of times, until you get the engine running, then allow it to warm up fully before switching off. It should be OK after that.

[TonyWalker]

Thanks Bill and Greg,
Bill - it does now run with a little choke but once I do anything else like tweak the accelerator it pops and splutters loads and usually dies. I suspect that the jets are probably clogged like Greg says.
I need to wait a week or so before I get time to look again, but I am thinking to take the carbs off and give them a good clean out and replace gaskets o-rings etc while at it. Obviously I will soak the jets etc in cleaner as part of this. I will leave the butterfly mechanisms and bearings as they are a little more fiddly.
Hopefully this might cure the problem.
I am even thinking to buy an ultrasonic bath to clean them with - it might be useful for other stuff too
Any other thoughts appreciated.
Cheers
Tony

[pharriso]

Thanks Bill and Greg,
Bill - it does now run with a little choke but once I do anything else like tweak the accelerator it pops and splutters loads and usually dies. I suspect that the jets are probably clogged like Greg says.
I need to wait a week or so before I get time to look again, but I am thinking to take the carbs off and give them a good clean out and replace gaskets o-rings etc while at it. Obviously I will soak the jets etc in cleaner as part of this. I will leave the butterfly mechanisms and bearings as they are a little more fiddly.
Hopefully this might cure the problem.
I am even thinking to buy an ultrasonic bath to clean them with - it might be useful for other stuff too
Any other thoughts appreciated.
Cheers
Tony

Sounds like a good plan. There are some good videos on Youtube showing how to rebuild & clean DCOE40s.

[2cams70]

Before you start ripping into the carburettors themselves suggest you check for air leaks around them. For example one of the mounting o rings may have gone hard and failed whilst the car wasn’t being used.