Twin Webers - are they crap in cold?

[peet]

Pig to start my Westy yesterday but went out in it after a bump start all day no probs. Went to the chilly garage today - Killed first battery - onto second now and still sign of starting. It was fine until this cold patch so whats causing that? Is electrical or webers usually as obviously  I have no choke! Peed me off a bit today wanted to go out...!

[alexander72]

mine is fine in the cold keep battery on trickle charge mind - powervamp 20 racing battery   what engine is yours mate?

[Norman Verona]

Peet, it takes a bit of practice starting Webers without the cold start (choke). Try 3 full presses of the throttle and then gently open throttle as you press the starter. Next time try 4 presses and so on until you find the number required to start the easiest.

 

Then just tickle it for a few minutes at about 1500 to 2000 RPM to warm it up. When it stops popping back it's warmed enough to drive. This normally takes 30 - 90 seconds.

[6carjon]

Hi Pete. My twin Weber's start fine (not on my westie) in the cold with a couple of pumps of throttle first then turn it over. It takes a few prods as they warm up but apart from that they are OK. I can't answer how to fix it, but they should work fine. Cheers jon

[Captain Colonial]

There's a technique to starting it with twin Webbers:

 

> Turn key to On position

> Allow 3-5 seconds for fuel pump to prime carbs

> Depress accelerator fully and release three times

> Start engine and feather throttle for about 60 seconds until idle settles

> If it tries to catch but doesn't start, try one more accelerator pump and retry start

 

You may have to adjust number of pumps (2.5 is usually right for mine).

 

People have already replied above, but if you hop in and just try the ignition without priming the carbs and a few pumps, you'll never get it started.

[peet]

I shall give them all a go. So far its almost as if there's no fuel or ignition so starting to do the usual air, fuel, squeeze bangs check over simple but it's so bl**** annoying - bit of sun and i'm fiddling when I wanted to drive! I wish my garage was heated or had electric.

[funky munky]

Peet,

 

as the guys have said, I have twin 45's depress throttle 3 times and then fire up , they pop and spit a bit but settle after about a minute.

[peet]

Pushed her into the sun, left a bit blipped twice and she fired up! Found plenty of dodgy wiring tho for future fiddling while waiting!

[SootySport]

With Carb cars we all find our own suitable starting procedure, especially in the winter.  The longer a car is left un driven in winter, the harder it is to start.   You're back to basics now Peet, no ECU and fuel injection to sort out the starting.   This is how motoring was in the "Old Days" 

[peet]

Hehe I remember them with my parents mk2 cortinas, escorts and my own mg midget! Painful starting back then..
My mum would give me a lift to school provided I gave her cortina estate a bump start every morning!

[peet]

First time today two blips and a 3rd slow!! Thanks! Woohoo!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Yeah, I'm old enough, just, to still remember the winter dawn chorus of British made cars churning away on their starters, occasionally hiccoughing before coughing and spluttering into life.

 

Then, those first few "jiggle the choke" miles, gradually easing it in. Along with knowing comments from my dad as he'd point out the other motorists that had forgotten and left their chokes out.

[M444TTB]

I remember one of my parents cars having a choke. It was a C-reg Metro they bought new (traded for a mk3 Astra in '96!) and I think the choke lock never worked so my Mum had a peg to put round it to hold it in! I briefly had a Nova 1.2 as a runaround that had a choke. I didn't really understand what to do with it! Feel like I'm better off without one in my Westfield. Just letting it idle for 30 seconds before giving it some throttle to clear it's throat seems best.

[Norman Verona]

Amazes me how long ago it was we all had chokes on our cars. Some were automatic but those always gave trouble.

 

Mind you some didn't understand what they were for. Sold a new Datsun Cherry to an elderly lady in the late 70s and she came back complaining it wasn't running "nicely". I noticed her handbag hanging in the fully extended choke cable. She thought it was "awfully clever" for the manufacturer to design a handbag holder for her.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

For what it's worth, mine takes 10-12 pumps! An fewer and I cannot get it to go. As Scott said, though, let the pump fill the float chambers first. I spin mine with no throttle until it starts to speed up the cranking due to firing, then gently feed in throttle until the starter can be released. It's a thief defeat mechanism!