Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) How to start a '67 +4 after it has been sitting

I am trying to start my Morgan after it has been sitting for 9 months. It started for a short time, but I believe it only used the gas in the carbs. It will turn over and over, but won't catch. I tried priming with the manual fuel pump, but still won't start. Now I am remembering someone suggested blowing air in the gas tank to push the gas through. Are there any other options that can get it primed and started? Can I spray starter fluid in the carbs to get something going?

Thanks in advanced for your help. Reade

If it starts on starting fluid that tells you you have a fuel delivery problem, if it does not start on starting fluid and you have an ignition/timing problem. I'm assuming you've already drained and refilled the gas tank and also drain and refill the oil and coolant?

If the fuel is old change it. That may be the cause in these days of ethanol in fuel

I have had ethanol destroy fuel hoses. It is easy to remove and replace. Also the cork in the fuel pump glass filter dries out and leaks air. NAPA has rubber ones that are better.

I have an electric pump wired in ready to hook up instead of the manual pump. I just plumb it in. BUT!!! go straight from the electric pump to the carbs. ByPass the manual pump. Bad things can happen if You do run the fuel thru the manual pump while using the electric pump.

Another way to insure it is a fuel problem is take off the cover of the SU float bowl and look inside. If there is fuel it is an ignition problem. No Fuel than a fuel problem.

Is it SU carbs or Stromberg. The stomberg have rubber diaphrams that perish and cause all sorts of problems.

That ethanol fuel has dissolved all the fuel pipes on my hedge trimmer & the tank on my lawn mower so I would agree with Button.

The stuff is leathal

Thanks for all your suggestions. The car has the SU carbs that was overhauled two years ago. The glass bowl is fine and there are no leaks. I will check the carb bowls this weekend.

No - dont use starter fluid. The car should start on the button after only 9 months so that indicates a problem.

Take out one of the spark plugs, leave it connected to its wire, lay it on something ,metallic say the engine block and turn over the starter. Is there a spark at the plug? If there is, then the problem is fuel. If there isnt then its an electrical issue.

I am not familaiar with this car but from that era its likely to have an electric fuel pump. When you turn on the ignition, can you hear it ticking? If not, try a sharp rap with a light hammer.

Unless modified, Morgans were using mechanical fuel pumps well into the 70s Howard.

Son's Mini engine died and refused to start one time. We tracked that to the dried out (ie no oil) SU dash pot. Sorry if that's a red herring but it is, at least, very quick to check. Less likely for both carbs to suffer the same, I expect.