Hi Folks! I've got a 55 series II and I have Trouble starting it when it sits for a couple of months. It has a new Optima yellow top battery and I've had a Cytek battery charger connected since parking it last October. In previous years I never had any problems. The starter and solenoid are new and it has a Pertronix electronic ignition System. When it's warm it starts right up. Even after a couple of days but anything longer than that and it runs the battery right down to 11.6volts. AND, that's after only three short attempts to start it. I'm currently running Penrite 20W - 50 oil. Changed to this oil just before winter / that was about ten miles ago. The temperature has been (is) right around freezing and has been for the last month or so. I have a slight rattling noise when the engine gets warm. Someone suggested it could be preignition and suggested I retard the timing. Currently the timing is spot on. Maybe somebody has an idea that would help me sort this out. I'm thinking it could be the battery because the charger works fine on another Optima battery that I have. BUT, maybe it's the oil... Or maybe the Pertronix set up. Maybe the new starter motor or solenoid is going bad... Ignition timing?? Sure would appreciate some help. Spring is still a long way off but I want to be ready. Many Thanks
Hy sepp, it could be that over time the fuel in the carburetor evaporates and the engine must be cranked a bit to replenish the fuel in the carburetor. Just out of curiosity what is your cold engine starting procedure?
Certainly sounds like the battery. Don't get much colder around here and the 6v sytem with it's 6 year old battery starts my all original appearing 216 just fine. As Bob pointed out, the carb will empty it it sits for a spell. But it should only take 15 or 20 seconds to get fuel back up to it. Good battery, good starter and good clean solid connections and you shouldn't have any problems starting a Stovebolt. I'm also running Shell Rotella-T 15w40 year round. My truck is garaged in the winter, but is driven when the roads are clear of ice and slush. Denny Graham Sandwich, IL
How old is your battery? I just changed mine after about 3 years. Thought it might be grounds or starter, but it was just the battery. Have it tested. And move on from there.
Mark
1951 Chevy 3100 Some days you get the bear. Some days the bear gets you.
Sounds like the battery to me as well. It could also be the charger. A friend of mine had that very trouble with an Optima battery and a bad charger. It ended up forcing him to buy a new battery and a new charger.
Last edited by 52Carl; 02/15/20154:19 AM.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
First I would get the battery checked on a load tester. Second that is too thick of oil for cold weather. Like Denny says the gas in the carb evaporates over time. Use the choke & pump the accel. till it starts. Its a good idea to pour a little gas down the throat of the carb before starting. Or spray some starting fluid in it. This will save a lot of wear & tear on the bat. & starter.
Last edited by Wrenchbender Ret.; 02/15/20154:53 PM.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super In the Gallery Forum
If my carburated vehicles sit longer than a couple weeks I'll pump the peddle 3 times, crank the engine over for about 5 seconds and then get out and give the carb. a shot of starting fluid. They fire every time using this method.
Ok, I ain’t no videographer, not enough light in the truck, camera on it's side, lousy sound, but this well at least show that a cold 216 that has been sitting for a couple of weeks in a cold garage with 15w40 Rotella-T starts just fine as soon as it get fuel to the carb. The is a 6 volt battery that has been in the truck for several years now:
That video reminds me of the Tunnel of Love at the carnival! All hands, a bright light going by, and then it's done- funs over! Sounds like the battery's really tired, or maybe that's just what yours always sounds like, I don't know. Reminds me of the old Robert Johnson song, Terraplane Blues, though. I find myself listening to this song a lot now that I've got the black bolt bomb. Lightens my spirit to think there are guys everywhere buried somewhere in their wiring under a dash or hood. (Hope you like the blues.) Sorry, not much help, I know.
"When I rest, I rust" 1951 3100 5 window w/ '56 235
showme, The video depicts perfectly, a very "robust" six volt starter with a fully charged 6 volt battery. It does not get any better than that, which is plenty enough to get her started. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Yep Carl, you got it right cuz you've been there. That's what a non-hot rodded Stovebolt with it's original 6v system, in a stone cold garage that hasn't turned in a couple of weeks, with 15W40 oil sounds like. Now that she has fuel up to the carb for the next few days a couple of turns of the engine and she'd pop right off. So, I'll go stink up the garage, and hopefully with a little more light since it's daylight now. Just looked at that Farm & Fleet 6v battery, it's dated 10/08. Actually starts better than my wife's Chrysler, Sebring.
Might comment on the 'blues'.... if I could understand what they were saying???? Never did get what the 'blues' was attempting to get across. The lyrics always seemed more monotonous than most of the so called 'rock', noise of today. Typical format: a single line repeated four times then a response. "my baby left me, my baby left me, my baby left me, my baby left me and my chin's dragin' on the ground" Then repeat it over and over again and again. I'm more partial to a song that actually has a story to it.
This is a reply to all who were kind enough to think about my post and especially those who sent a suggestion. Problem solved! Wasn't the battery or the charger or the oil or the fuel pump. It was just taking too long for gas to get to the carb. Thought about spraying some starter helper - but didn't. Figured the best way to see if everything was working as it should was to jump start it with a second battery in parallel. That's what I did and it took a while but once the gas got to the carb, it started right up. Shut it down and went back a couple of hours later. Started right away. I'll wait a few days and try it again but I think everything is OK. When I start it the next time and assuming the weather will be OK, I'll go for a ten mile ride and try to get to the bottom of the rattling noise in my engine at around 2500RPM. Listened today with a stethoscope and the tappets are making a lot of different noises. Some are much louder than others. Could be bent pushrods or a lifter / cam Problem. Compression and oil pressure are super (hot or cold) so I'm hoping it's a pushrod or valve adjustment. Thanks to All
It was a real poor video I know sepp, but the first one should have showed you that it should only take about 10-15 seconds of cranking to fill the fuel bowl. If it's taking longer, or long enough that drain down the battery you still got a problem.
Thanks DG, I agree with you that it should only take 10-15seconds but I suspect that this may depend on how long it's been sitting, I checked and it has been 5 months since it last ran. The carb was probably completely empty (dried out!). I can't do much more than a new carb, new battery, new fuel pump, new electronic ignition, etc. Even the oil is new. The good news is that she started when I jump started it. Took a while - maybe 20-30 secomds - but that proved to me that everything is working as it should. At least outside of the engine. I'm sure that when it gets driven regularly it will start right up every time. Tried it again this morning and it started like I had just shut it off. Made me feel real good! Now, I can begin thinking about the best way to find that darn rattling noise. It runs soo goood when I drive it. If I couldn't hear the noise I wouldn't think anything was wrong. I think my first step will be to check the pushrods and valve clearances. That's the only area where someone else did the work and maybe I should have checked it sooner. Have had the rattle noise since they adjusted the valves and replaced the rear main seal.....It still leaks but not as much as before. Thanks again. SB
All hands, a bright light going by, and then it's done- funs over! Sounds like the battery's really tired, or maybe that's just what yours always sounds like, I don't know. Reminds me of the old Robert Johnson song, Terraplane Blues, though. I find myself listening to this song a lot now that I've got the black bolt bomb. Lightens my spirit to think there are guys everywhere buried somewhere in their wiring under a dash or hood. (Hope you like the blues.)