Brian, your first post shows you are in the right state of mind. You have a hard start condition. You do not want to start guessing or changing things like timing until you do some tests or you will create two or three problems that you didn't have when you started.
1. You first have to determine what system has a fault. Fuel, ignition, spark, timing, compression,vacuum.....
2. If you "had it running" last year it's probably not timing, you may have to put it back where is was, but not yet. May not be a spark problem either. We'll see.
3. Your symptoms seem like fuel pump, so first thing is after trying to start and it won't start or it dies, is to try keeping it running by squirting some gas down carb before it dies and see if you can gently keep it running. If not look down carb and push on throttle and see if you see a squirt of gas as you operate throttle. If none of that gives a clue or results, do a pump test.
4. Pump test: take off center tower plug wire on distributor. Take off carb supply hose/tubing at carb inlet. Put hose/tube into a clear bottle. Use helper or remote start button or hand operate foot start to crank motor and watch to see a good steady pulse of gas start to fill the bottle. Crank for 15 seconds. Use a clock or timer.
5. Report all test findings.
I wouldn't move forward til we see these results.
Last edited by bartamos; 04/19/2025 8:57 PM. Reason: added "hand operate foot start"
