[Healeys] Starting a BJ8

[Michael Oritt]

A gear reduction starter spins our engines over a lot faster and they fire
off more easily.

Best--Michael Oritt

On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 10:26 AM, BJ8Healeys <sbyers at ec.rr.com> wrote:

> I live on the coast of the southern USA where winters are very mild.  My
> carbs and everything else are adjusted properly, but still my BJ8 is hard
> to start when it has been sitting for more than a few days -- even in the
> summer.  I have heard discussions before from people on the list about how
> their Healeys are hard to start, so I think it is a characteristic of the
> engine (assuming all adjustments are correct, of course).  The engine will
> start eventually, after multiple tries.  But if I just give both carbs a
> shot of starting fluid after filling the float bowls, then jump in, pull
> the choke full out, and turn the key he engine starts immediately, without
> all that grinding on the starter.  Starting fluid is cheap. Rebuilding the
> starter not so much.
>
>
>
> There is no accelerator pump on the SU carburetors to provide a rich
> mixture for starting, so "pumping" the accelerator pedal only opens and
> closes the throttle plates and does nothing to help the engine start.
>
>
>
> Steve Byers
>
> HBJ8L/36666
>
> BJ8 Registry
>
> AHCA Delegate at Large
>
> Havelock, NC
>
>
>
> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Simon
> Lachlan <simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>
> *Sent:* December 16, 2016 11:07 AM
> *To:* healeys at autox.team.net
> *Subject:* [Healeys] Starting a BJ8
>
>
>
> My nephew has just recently acquired a very nice BJ8 which he imported
> from the US to France. Some of you may recall being asked for and kindly
> giving advice re vendors and cars etc.
>
> Now, the car is safely tucked up in a garage in Paris and all is well......
>
> Except.....except – there’s always an “except” or a “but” isn’t there? –
> except, it doesn’t really like starting. It needed a new battery which we’d
> been told to expect but, even with that, it’s a little slow to fire up.
>
> 10+/- attempts my nephew said.
>
> Now, I’m in England; the car’s in France and my nephew would be the first
> to admit that he’s never been a mechanic or owned a car remotely like a
> 3000. So, it’s very likely that his technique needs polish!
>
> (The fuel pump works; fuel get to the carbs. The ignition seems good and
> will soon be better (in my own humble opinion) with a Pertronix EI and a
> “Flamethrower”(?) coil.
>
> Leaving aside any worries as to potential problems with fuel or spark for
> the moment:-
>
> How do you guys start your BJ8s???
>
> One pump? No pump? Choke and foot half down?
>
> What do you do if it fires then goes dead again?.....give it a little pump
> when it coughs, then ease off?
>
> Yes, we know that they’re all a bit different as are we, but I’m trying to
> establish a start point. (No pun intended!)
>
> Simon
>
>
>
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