[Healeys] Starting a BJ8

[ruvino at ripnet.com]

I solved most of my starting problems by installing a high speed starter.

From: BJ8Healeys 
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 10:26 AM
To: healeys at autox.team.net 
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Starting a BJ8

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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