1962 Fuelie

[Ray C.]

I have a friend that owns a 1962 Fuelie. He started the 62 for the first time this season and it started wright up and idled fine . He slowly increased the rpms using the linkage and the engine suddenly raced to high RPMs and shut down. He can not get the engine to restart. What would cause the FI engine to race to high RPMs and then shut down.

Thanks for any information!
Ray

[Jim L.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

That certainly isn't a typical failure for any FI unit/engine.

A racing engine makes me think of a broken throttle return spring. How high did the engine race? Did a return spring break?

As far as the inability to re-start the engine, there really isn't enough information to diagnose this problem. Does the engine have spark? Is your friend sure the FI unit is getting fuel?

Jim

[Dan D.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

Ray, the only thing about this that makes any sense to me is this: If the engine was initially running rich, as in cold with the choke still on, and then it runs low on fuel, creating a lean mixture, then the engine can rev some until it runs totally out of fuel and then quits. So for a car that has been sleeping for some time, it is possible that new fuel delivery is not making its way to the fuel meter, which explains why it quit and will not re-fire. And this is a classic problem with cars that sit, especially with Ethanol fuel.

If me, i would start troubleshooting the fuel system first. See if fuel is making its way to the fuel meter. Hope this helps. -Dan-

[John D.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

Ray, At Spring Carlisle my pal FI Art sold a ton of drive cables. You see we all have to shape up and realize we cannot let our cars sit from Oct to May like in old days. Check to see if the drive cable broke now that the car won't start at all.
The ethanol glues the units together big time. Gums them up to no end. The ethanol and also any old gas makes the pumps seize or gum up. Luckily the drive cable breaks so as to not damage the pump and or distributor.

With the FI on the car try this. Disconnect one of the copper nozzle lines connect to a nozzle. Have someone crank the engine to see if any gas is coming out in a nice stream.
Is the fuel in the tank fresh or has it been in the tank since last fall. Is so drain it 100% and add some good fresh fuel.
Things on the FI that could be causing the problem. Hi-pressure pump gummed up. Spill valve (accelerator pump in a carb) is sticking. Check valve in the spider (copper line assembly that Rochester Products called fuel distributor) is sticking.
If the unit has a siphon breaker solenoid the piston in it could be sticking. Nozzles could be clogged.
The spill valve screen could be clogged up. Needle and seat for the float could be sticking. But you did say that the engine started at idled for a tad. hmmmm
But it won't accelerate and dies.
Check to make sure the electric choke is working also. Butterfly could be closed. Don't forget to check the ignition.
ethanol in the USA has a very short shelf life and it's only going to get worse. Doesn't matter if you have a carb car or an FI car or a power mower. After three or four months the fuel starts to separate and deteriate.
Google: Pure-Gas.org.. Click on your state for a list of stations that sell pure gas. The octane rating is also given. My state of PA has 39 such stations although the majority of them are low octane. Check the boat docks for some pure gas also. Or use some 100LL or good racing fuel.
Story: My generator for my vendor trailer hates being stored from Nov till the first of April with ethanol. The thing will refuse to start.
This year I put 100LL in the Honda generator. I was shocked when it started up immediately!!! Whew. JD

[Ray C.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

Thanks for all the responses!

I do not have many of the specifics to the problem. It is a friend of mine that owns the 62 and asked me to find information about what may have caused this problem. The first thought that entered my mind was a missing or broken accelerator return spring, but he stated it was fine and working fine. I should find out additional information this weekend and may have to take a road trip to his location to check it for my self.

Thanks again for the information!

Ray

[Terry D.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

Why isn't your friend a member? Then he could ask for the information!

[Ray C.]

Re: 1962 Fuelie

He is a member, but computer skills are very limited!

Ray