The Ford Barn

Kelly Burns · 05-01-2025, 10:09 AM

As far as I can tell, and have been told, my '47 59AB, is factory correct. If I start it everyday or every other day, all I have to do is pull the choke out about 1/4 inch, pump the gas about 5 times and it starts right up. If it sits much longer, I have to pour some gas in the carb, and pump the gas while trying to get it to start. It has even taken as much cranking as to run the battery down. I will also say it is richer than 3 feet up a bull's backside!

I'm not a flathead guy, and at a loss as to what could be the cause of this problem. Could it be the carb, the fuel pump? Is it gravity draining back to the tank?

I appreciate the advice!

Vics Stuff · 05-01-2025, 10:23 AM

Your fuel pump is loosing its prime and draining back to the tank. I would look into your fuel pump.
Vic

rockfla · 05-01-2025, 10:27 AM

Send your carburetor to CharlieNY and let him work his magic on it for you as well. I send a signed check for him with my stuff and he emails me and lets me know what the deal is and its on it way back ready to run!!!! YOU might even send your fuel pump as well and let him do that too.....cheap insurance and you will be thrilled with the results

Charlie Schwendler
5845 Cole Road
Orchard Park NY 14127

47topless · 05-01-2025, 10:32 AM

Right on Vic.
Make your life easier and install an electric fuel pump back near your fuel tank. It may not be," correct", but it sure works great. You can turn it off once the manual fuel pump regains its prime.

34fordy · 05-01-2025, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfla

Send your carburetor to CharlieNY and let him work his magic on it for you as well. I send a signed check for him with my stuff and he emails me and lets me know what the deal is and its on it way back ready to run!!!! YOU might even send your fuel pump as well and let him do that too.....cheap insurance and you will be thrilled with the results

Charlie Schwendler
5845 Cole Road
Orchard Park NY 14127

Yes for sure. He will put your stuff on his test engine and all you need to do is install it and you are good to GO!

rockfla · 05-01-2025, 11:52 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My bet is.......once Charlie does your carburetor and fuel pump and you install them nice and tightly, that will eliminate the need for post #4 - with no intended offense to 47Topless

JayChicago · 05-01-2025, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly Burns

If I start it everyday or every other day, all I have to do is pull the choke out about 1/4 inch, pump the gas about 5 times and it starts right up.

Then again, you may just need to change your starting technique.

1/4 inch choke pull is totally insufficient. Pull choke fully closed until engine fires, then immediately adjust choke to where engine is happy.

After sitting for a time, gas in carb evaporates so pumping the pedal doesn't do anything. Need to crank a while to refill the carb. Full choke will help.

You should have a glass bowl fuel pump. Do you see it full of gasoline? If so, you have gas to the fuel pump, just needs to push some to fill the carb.

1942deluxe · 05-01-2025, 12:56 PM

Kelly, I have Charlie carbs, fuel pumps and distributors on my 42,46, and 48 cars. The 48 was always a hard starter if it sat even priming it with the backup electric fuel pump. One day fighting it I physically checked to see if the choke was working and it wasn't. Ended up having to do some adjustment on the choke cable assembly. I think it was Mike Kubarth that mentioned to leave the choke out when the car is not running. I did that and it seems to slow down the evaporation. I have turned it over with the ignition switch off to pump some fuel to the carburetor and then turn the switch on and it fires. On cold start I pull the choke all the way out, one pump of the gas pedal and once running push the choke in to where the engine smooths out. There's a sweet spot in that procedure which you'll figure out after a while.

Kelly Burns · 05-01-2025, 01:37 PM

I'm not opposed to sending one or both to him, I can for sure see value in having someone experienced do the carb, but isn't the fuel pump easily rebuilt?

super flat · 05-01-2025, 01:45 PM

Just pull your choke out all the way and after it starts adjust it. the choke is for STARTING Gary

Kurt in NJ · 05-01-2025, 02:15 PM

If the power valve diaphragm is leaking it can drain he fuel bowl and make the engine run rich too

Tim Ayers · 05-01-2025, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly Burns

I'm not opposed to sending one or both to him, I can for sure see value in having someone experienced do the carb, but isn't the fuel pump easily rebuilt?

You can do the fuel pump, sure. Make sure you get ethanol safe diaphragm material. A nice thing about having Charlie do it is he sets them up and checks that they are only putting on 2.5 lbs of pressure.

If you can pressure check them after rebuilding and adjust if too low or too high, go for it for sure.

rockfla · 05-01-2025, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

You can do the fuel pump, sure. Make sure you get ethanol safe diaphragm material. A nice thing about having Charlie do it is he sets them up and checks that they are only putting on 2.5 lbs of pressure.

If you can pressure check them after rebuilding and adjust if too low or too high, go for it for sure.

Tim X2.......OH and make sure it has good clean passages

Flathead Fever · 05-01-2025, 02:43 PM

I don't see any reason to send the carb out to rebuild it when you can do it yourself. I rebuilt carbs as a professional mechanic for 30-years. These early carbs are as simple as a carb can get. The main thing is to spray into every orifice and make sure all the ports are clear, the float is set correctly, and the air fuel is adjusted properly. When they were new, they were started and used every day, so they never had the chance for the carb to dry out.

Let the car sit for a few days and don't try to start it. The first thing you want to do is pull the air cleaner and look down the carb and see that the accelerator pump is spraying fuel. That will tell you if the fuel evaporated out of it or maybe the accelerator pump is bad and it's not spraying. Do not turn the ignition on or disable the engine so it will not start. Then I'd pull the line off of the carb and put into a glass jar and crank it to see how long it would take to fill up the carb cranking it. Do it outside and be very careful not to burn your car to ground while testing fuel issues. If it takes a while to pump fuel into the jar than I'd start looking at something related to the pump. I see a lot of the fuel pump stands that are warped "a lot" at the bases where they bolt to the intake. That warpage cuts down on the amount of travel the fuel pump has and might be why its has to crank so long to fill up the carb. Make sure the rubber hoses are new between the engine and the tank. I use fuel injection hose because it will last a long-long time.

farmertom · 05-01-2025, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayChicago

Then again, you may just need to change your starting technique.

1/4 inch choke pull is totally insufficient. Pull choke fully closed until engine fires, then immediately adjust choke to where engine is happy.

After sitting for a time, gas in carb evaporates so pumping the pedal doesn't do anything. Need to crank a while to refill the carb. Full choke will help.

You should have a glass bowl fuel pump. Do you see it full of gasoline? If so, you have gas to the fuel pump, just needs to push some to fill the carb.

agreed Jay, i use half pull on choke and 1 or two pumps on the pedal.when i get back from a drive after shutting off ign. i pull choke all the way out might slow evaporation of fuel in bowl. i believe nit was Kube that suggested this. seems to work for me,unless it sets for a week or two then i hit the elec.fuelpump a few seconds . Tom. 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000009999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999 ,

farmertom · 05-01-2025, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayChicago

Then again, you may just need to change your starting technique.

1/4 inch choke pull is totally insufficient. Pull choke fully closed until engine fires, then immediately adjust choke to where engine is happy.

After sitting for a time, gas in carb evaporates so pumping the pedal doesn't do anything. Need to crank a while to refill the carb. Full choke will help.

You should have a glass bowl fuel pump. Do you see it full of gasoline? If so, you have gas to the fuel pump, just needs to push some to fill the carb.

agree with Jay, use half choke,and depress gas pedal once or twice when she starts push choke in till she runs smooth.wheni return from a drive in the garage after shutting down i will pull choke out fully to reduce fuel bowl evap. i believe it was Kube that suggested that. Tom.

farmertom · 05-01-2025, 11:23 PM

don't know what happened on post #15. Tom.

richard crow · 05-02-2025, 02:21 AM

post number has it right. elect. pump with a on off switch when the car sits just turn it on for a short time .todays fuels are the cause of this. when you shut the cae after use its hot causing the fuel to evverote.put the elect. pump on you will be glad you did

Kube · 05-02-2025, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfla

My bet is.......once Charlie does your carburetor and fuel pump and you install them nice and tightly, that will eliminate the need for post #4 - with no intended offense to 47Topless

I have had dozens of flatheads and not once found the need for an electric pump. With a PROPERLY rebuilt carburetor and pump, there is simply no need.

Charlie gets my vote. Good guy that does very good work at a reasonable price.

Kube · 05-02-2025, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard crow

post number has it right. elect. pump with a on off switch when the car sits just turn it on for a short time .todays fuels are the cause of this. when you shut the cae after use its hot causing the fuel to evverote.put the elect. pump on you will be glad you did

I use "today's fuels" and have zero issues.

05-01-2025, 10:23 AM	#2
Vics Stuff Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 433	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Your fuel pump is loosing its prime and draining back to the tank. I would look into your fuel pump. Vic

05-01-2025, 10:27 AM	#3
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 4,804	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Send your carburetor to CharlieNY and let him work his magic on it for you as well. I send a signed check for him with my stuff and he emails me and lets me know what the deal is and its on it way back ready to run!!!! YOU might even send your fuel pump as well and let him do that too.....cheap insurance and you will be thrilled with the results Charlie Schwendler 5845 Cole Road Orchard Park NY 14127

05-01-2025, 11:52 AM	#6
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 4,804	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My bet is.......once Charlie does your carburetor and fuel pump and you install them nice and tightly, that will eliminate the need for post #4 - with no intended offense to 47Topless

05-01-2025, 12:56 PM	#8
1942deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albion, PA Posts: 985	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Kelly, I have Charlie carbs, fuel pumps and distributors on my 42,46, and 48 cars. The 48 was always a hard starter if it sat even priming it with the backup electric fuel pump. One day fighting it I physically checked to see if the choke was working and it wasn't. Ended up having to do some adjustment on the choke cable assembly. I think it was Mike Kubarth that mentioned to leave the choke out when the car is not running. I did that and it seems to slow down the evaporation. I have turned it over with the ignition switch off to pump some fuel to the carburetor and then turn the switch on and it fires. On cold start I pull the choke all the way out, one pump of the gas pedal and once running push the choke in to where the engine smooths out. There's a sweet spot in that procedure which you'll figure out after a while. Last edited by 1942deluxe; 05-01-2025 at 01:13 PM.

05-01-2025, 01:37 PM	#9
Kelly Burns Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Owensboro, KY Posts: 40	Re: 59AB hard start, some days I'm not opposed to sending one or both to him, I can for sure see value in having someone experienced do the carb, but isn't the fuel pump easily rebuilt? __________________ *Kelly Burns*

05-01-2025, 10:09 AM	#1
Kelly Burns Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Owensboro, KY Posts: 40	59AB hard start, some days As far as I can tell, and have been told, my '47 59AB, is factory correct. If I start it everyday or every other day, all I have to do is pull the choke out about 1/4 inch, pump the gas about 5 times and it starts right up. If it sits much longer, I have to pour some gas in the carb, and pump the gas while trying to get it to start. It has even taken as much cranking as to run the battery down. I will also say it is richer than 3 feet up a bull's backside! I'm not a flathead guy, and at a loss as to what could be the cause of this problem. Could it be the carb, the fuel pump? Is it gravity draining back to the tank? I appreciate the advice! __________________ *Kelly Burns*

05-01-2025, 10:32 AM	#4
47topless Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 463	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Right on Vic. Make your life easier and install an electric fuel pump back near your fuel tank. It may not be," correct", but it sure works great. You can turn it off once the manual fuel pump regains its prime.

05-01-2025, 01:45 PM	#10
super flat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: west bend wi Posts: 319	Re: 59AB hard start, some days Just pull your choke out all the way and after it starts adjust it. the choke is for STARTING Gary __________________ I am usually relatively happy------Gary

05-01-2025, 02:15 PM	#11
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,553	Re: 59AB hard start, some days If the power valve diaphragm is leaking it can drain he fuel bowl and make the engine run rich too

05-01-2025, 02:43 PM	#14
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,358	Re: 59AB hard start, some days I don't see any reason to send the carb out to rebuild it when you can do it yourself. I rebuilt carbs as a professional mechanic for 30-years. These early carbs are as simple as a carb can get. The main thing is to spray into every orifice and make sure all the ports are clear, the float is set correctly, and the air fuel is adjusted properly. When they were new, they were started and used every day, so they never had the chance for the carb to dry out. Let the car sit for a few days and don't try to start it. The first thing you want to do is pull the air cleaner and look down the carb and see that the accelerator pump is spraying fuel. That will tell you if the fuel evaporated out of it or maybe the accelerator pump is bad and it's not spraying. Do not turn the ignition on or disable the engine so it will not start. Then I'd pull the line off of the carb and put into a glass jar and crank it to see how long it would take to fill up the carb cranking it. Do it outside and be very careful not to burn your car to ground while testing fuel issues. If it takes a while to pump fuel into the jar than I'd start looking at something related to the pump. I see a lot of the fuel pump stands that are warped "a lot" at the bases where they bolt to the intake. That warpage cuts down on the amount of travel the fuel pump has and might be why its has to crank so long to fill up the carb. Make sure the rubber hoses are new between the engine and the tank. I use fuel injection hose because it will last a long-long time. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 05-01-2025 at 02:51 PM.

05-01-2025, 11:23 PM	#17
farmertom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: iowa Posts: 257	Re: 59AB hard start, some days don't know what happened on post #15. Tom.

05-02-2025, 02:21 AM	#18
richard crow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,863	Re: 59AB hard start, some days post number has it right. elect. pump with a on off switch when the car sits just turn it on for a short time .todays fuels are the cause of this. when you shut the cae after use its hot causing the fuel to evverote.put the elect. pump on you will be glad you did