WC63 Will not start

[Wolfen]

I have a 1943 WC63 with a T214 engine with a Carter Carburetor that will not start now that temperature has dropped. It doesn't get that cold here. Only down into the upper 20's at most so far. It started easy when the temperature was higher. I have tried Ether and a block heater, but the engine will only give one chug and then just keeps turning over. Any advice would be appreciated. The truck is kept inside in a unheated shop.

 

[ODAddict]

Good morning,

Any progress?

I wouldn't use ether. Block heater is good.

Is your choke working? Is the gas fresh? Is it possible that the distributor got knocked out of time? There are other possibilities, but start simple and go from there. Please keep us posted.

 

[Wolfen]

The choke is working, and the gas is fresh. I;ll pull a spark plug and see if it is fouled for my next step.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Oh man I'd love to take a WC63 for a ride today. What's the fuel situation down there? Never had so many problems getting engines fired up after sitting and one source says the ethanol is drying up seals. A once sealed carb might suck air, accelerator pumps might swell and stick.....the fuel might have water in it right from the station.

I mean let's hope a child swapped the spark plug wires around as a joke and the fix is easy. The one thing that has changed for all of us over the decades is fuel.

 

[ODAddict]

Here in the Old Dominion, we can still get no-ethanol gas. I use it in my vehicles, mower, and power equipment that run infrequently. Ethanol gumming and seal issues are real and nettlesome.

Should we credit ethanol for saving the world? After all, we're still here after the introduction of ethanol into the fuel supply. That must mean it's working, right?

 

[glcaines]

I burn nothing but ethanol-free fuel in all of my gas-powered MVs and small gas-powered tools. Have you checked that you have a good hot spark? When I was a kid, we lived in a place in the country that commonly got down to -20 - -30 deg F. in the winter. We routinely drained the oil into a pot and placed it on the wood cook stove in the kitchen and heated it up fairly hot. After pouring the hot oil back in the truck or tractor, they almost always fired right up. It worked much better than a block heater but was a real nuisance and my mother hated the smell in the kitchen!

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

Up here I've had issues with cold starts on old spark plugs, was a nightmare to get my civi Dodge going. Air density changes with temperature, might have to re-gap the plugs and adjust the timing a bit to get it right. There may be a section in the TM's for "arctic operation", that'd probably offer the best advice.

 

[Wolfen]

I tried starting it earlier today. The engine gave two chugs and refused to start. I did use Ether. I tried starting it again after the starter cooled down, but the batter was run down. I have the battery charging right now.