How to start a Stag on chokestarting a car with choke

[sujitroy]

Found this on the zenith website. Full article here.

http://zenithcarb.co.uk/zencdsecd2/?___store=zenith

I've always pumped on the accelerator a few times while trying to start the Stag on choke. Been doing this for the passed 19 years on the Stag and did the same for about 5 years with a Toledo. Not sure if a Toledo used a ZS carb, but a Triumph

Learn something new every day.

Sujit


STARTING FROM COLD

When the choke control on the instrument panel is pulled out, it operates a lever at the side of the carburetter; this rotates
a disc 7 in the starting device in which a series of holes of different diameters are drilled. In the full rich position, all holes will be
in communication with the starter circuit and provide the richest mixture.

Petrol is drawn from the float chamber via a vertical drilling adjacent to the central main feed channels, through the starting device
and into the throttle body between the air valve and the throttle plate. Simultaneously, the cam 8 on the starter lever will open the
throttle beyond the normal idle position, according to the setting of the fast-idle stop screw 9, to provide a fast-idle speed to prevent
stalling when the engine is cold.

As the dash-board control on the instrument panel is gradually released, fewer and/or smaller holes will provide the petrol feed
from the float chamber, thereby progressively weakening the mixture strength to a point where the control is pushed fully home.
Mixture strength is then governed by the factory setting of the main orifice and idle speed determined by the setting of the throttle
stop screw.

NOTE: The accelerator pedal should not be depressed when starting from cold.

[DJT]

Depress the accelerator pedal to relieve tension on the fast idle cam. Pull out the choke to max. Release the accelerator pedal. Turn the ignition key and start engine. When it fires, push the choke in halfway. Drive off and push the choke right in as soon as it will run smoothly without it.

[trunt]

Pumping the pedal was used on old solex or Webber type carbs to squirt some fuel into the carb. The zenith and SU do not need that.

as DJT said Depressing the pedal whilst pulling the choke is a good idea though to reduce the strain on the components.

[StagJonno]

Also, wait for the fuel pump to stop ticking before cranking the engine. Half-full float chambers = no start.

Jonno

[Ian P]

All good and correct answers in the above 3 posts
Ian

[Scar]

Depress the accelerator pedal to relieve tension on the fast idle cam. Pull out the choke to max. Release the accelerator pedal. Turn the ignition key and start engine. When it fires, push the choke in halfway. Drive off and push the choke right in as soon as it will run smoothly without it.

I also find it necessary to blip the throttle a little to get the revs to settle down after starting on full choke, otherwise it happily sits there roaring away at 2000rpm+

[stagmark]

I have also heard of the above suggestions (accelerator in when pulling choke out/pushing choke in as quickly as possibly/waiting for the ticking to stop before cranking). Generally all works well.

Now, I have had a few issues over the past few months whereby the old girl is proving a ‘bit’ stubborn to start (the last one on the run up to Silverstone classic - where I had to leave her behind!). I do the normal prep, and try to start, but basically it turns over great, but no start. Either after a while I try and again and success, but occasionally can take days (with battery charging inbetween in case the power was going too low as well).

Once it it has started it will start again on the button for a week or so after. Maybe it’s just complaining because I am not using it enough!

It feels to me there isn’t any fuel there when I’m having the issue (flowing back maybe?), but could be wrong?

Any thoughts or suggestions guys?
Cheers

[Scar]

Have you run it low on fuel recently? Could have sucked up some crud from the bottom of the fuel tank and clogged your fuel filter. Quick enough to take it off and give it a shake and see if you see any rusty bits floating around.

[stagmark]

That is probably my worth a look, thanks. Would that have the effect of being a madam to start if being left for, let’s say, a couple of weeks. And then starting on the button once running, and running absolutely fine?
thanks for your help

[sujitroy]

Stagmark, I think you will get more replies to your problem if you start and new thread.

When I got my first got my Stag 19 years back, I was unable to pull out the choke. I called the PO and she said to floor the accelerator and then pull on it. Still do it this way after these years.


Sujit