Help needed.

[pitponyman]

I have an 1987 Hymer motorhome. It has a 2.3 petrol (carb) engine. It starts easily but only runs for 30 secs or so. Thought it might be fuel supply si rigged up a gravity fuel supply. Made no difference. Where do I start?

 

[wireman]

My immediate suspicion is a fuel blockage in the carb's inlet pipe or the valve in the float chamber.
To where did you connect your gravity supply, was it directly to the carb?
Can you identify the carb type, a photo might help somebody identify it?
Does it re-start straight away or is a wait involved?

 

[Vamps]

Not helpful sorry, but so nice to see a post than mentions the word 'Carb' .....

 

[EmilysDad]

..... but so nice to see a post than mentions the word 'Carb' .....

Shouldn't you be eating them Mike?

 

[cleverdicky]

Sounds like the needle valve might be sticking closed. (attached to the float)
Whip the head off the carb and have a look to check the float is free and not sticking.

 

[pitponyman]

Sick Hymer

I connected the fuel supply directly to the carb. Ok I now have a starting point. Thanks all you greater minds. I suspected fuel as I bought it as a non runner. The last owners had overheating probs in July. Local garage said head gasket. There is a bill for removal of engine, strip, sort head and rebuild/refit. Apparently its been a bit sick ever since and ended up as it is now. A different mobile mechanic had a look told them it needed a new carb quoted £800 and drove off into the sunset. Nice people gave up and advertised it. Along I came. As a pensioner I don't have a lot of money to spend and have forgotten a lot of my car repairs over the years. So stiff in me body I struggle a bit but quite like the challenge.
I will get to the carb and see what I see. At least it a carb and not electronically controlled wizardry. Thanks lads.

 

[brandwooddixon]

I would suspect that 30 seconds is longer than it would run for with just float chamber fuel.
Any idea what carburetter it is?
As wireman, can you restart it immediately after it stops or must you wait for a minute or so?

What sort of head does your gravity, fuel feed have?

As well as fuel starvation it may be worth checking whether it is overfuelling, say with a stuck choke flap. On full choke the engine won't idle for long when warm. Take out the plugs and have a look, are they wet?

 

[wireman]

It might be a Pierberg electronically controlled wizardry carb.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Don't those have a temperature thermister to control fuel mixture?
Cheap and simple fix if it is.

 

[pitponyman]

Took off the air filter. Started from stone cold easily. runs well, revs up and ticks over ok. Just goes a bit rough and stops after 30 seconds or so. Won't restart. leave for 10 mins, starts but stops again possibly a bit sooner. Tried to restart it on easi start sprayed into the carb air intake. Won't start? ? ? ? ?

 

[pitponyman]

Whats a temperature thermister? Where is it?

 

[pitponyman]

There is so little space I can't yet see. Looks like a nightmare to take it off the motor, there pipes and wires everywhere. Last resort I think. Wiki says Stromberg CD150. but this looks like a downdraft carb.

 

[pitponyman]

It won;t restart very soon I guess 5 or 10 mins.
Can't see what the carb is. Its a downdraft with several wires and pipes to it.
Only about 6 inches from a pop bottle down to the carb. As it has a flow & return fuel pump system I didn't think it would need much.
From stone cold it starts well revs ok and idles. It's not choking to death. Goes a little rough (missing) and stops.

 

[Frontstep]

Can you remove a spark plug ?
I think its likely to be black and sooty, if it is sounds like a choke sticking problem to me.
A few pictures would be helpfull if you could to identify things.

 

[pitponyman]

Have some phone pics and a video. Runs for 27 seconds. How can I upload them?

 

[pitponyman]

Uoloading video. (Sorry had phone upside down). to You tube link is;
http://youtu.be/rvZrRAPYlI8

 

[pitponyman]

Pictures of carb

Pics of carb

 

[Frontstep]

How are the plugs ?

 

[pitponyman]

Spark plugs

The [lugs are a nice brown colour. Do I remember that a faulty condensor can give this type of fault? I presume this is pre electronic ignition and has points etc.

 

[Frontstep]

Good, are all the pipes to the carb in good order if they are I suggest a strip down and clean.