1949 Hudson hard to start when cold - why?

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
1949 Hudson Commodore - car cranks when cold but does not start. A quick shot of starting fluid and the car always starts. Thought it was fuel delivery - so replaced mechanical pump, then installed a 6V Electric Fuel Pump. Gas is on in-line see thru filter now, but still will not start until i use the starting fluid. Once it starts, it runs great - acceleration is good. After it has started, will re-start no problem, but let it still for a couple of hours and it's back to the starting fluid. Choke seems to be closed when cold - have to open it manually to squirt starting fluid in. If it's the accelerator pump in the carb, would it accelerate strongly once it fires? Any ideas?

Comments

  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    When you try to start it, does chank over at normal speed or is it sluggish?



    If it chanks over normally, you probability have an ignition problem. Check or replace the coil, condenser and points. A weak spark when cold could cause this problem. The starting fluid is more flammable then gas and a weak spark could ignite it and not the gas.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It cranks over normally, not sluggish. I will check the ignition and replace the coil initially and check the condenser and points. I had not thought of ignition, I was figuring it was not getting fuel. Thanks for the input!



    BST RGDS

    GARY


    mars55 wrote:
    When you try to start it, does chank over at normal speed or is it sluggish?



    If it chanks over normally, you probability have an ignition problem. Check or replace the coil, condenser and points. A weak spark when cold could cause this problem. The starting fluid is more flammable then gas and a weak spark could ignite it and not the gas.
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Don't mask a problem with electronics.



    Accelerator pump can be checked by opening choke and looking down in there as you pump it. You should get a good squirt.



    Make sure the choke is shut tight.



    Check the point gap and put in a new condensor, and check the coil as Mars55 suggested.



    A properly tuned 262 starts great when cold. I've started them on 1st rev with 6V at -20 deg.
  • ArtS
    ArtS Expert Adviser
    Had similar fuel delivery problem with sluggish cold starts. But I always got a fat blue spark that jumped from the coil secondary wire when grounded to the head so ignition seems OK. I have a theory that carbon buildup inside combustion chambers and/or intake runners may be stealing vaporized fuel thus requiring many pumps with the accelerator to get enough fuel into the cylinders to prime the spark. Had this kind of trouble on older Volvos (they run rich like Hudsons) and running some Chevron Techron usually improved things by cleaning up valve deposits. I don't know if this treatment would be safe with the Hudson motors and would wonder if more harm would come from loosened up debris gumming up rings or valve guides. I guess we just don't run our Hudsons long enough at highway speeds to clean out the combustion junk. Does this make any sense or am I running on empty? ArtS
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Looks like Uncle Josh was right - I checked the choke, it was not fully closed. I adjusted the choke and it fired right up. THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE! I will see if the car continues to fire right up with the adjusted choke, but it did today and with a battery that was down.



    Thanks Again

    BST RGDS

    GARY
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