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Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 11:56 am
by offroadkid
Good morning!
My 1966 Patrol sat for the winter in the garage (or a little longer!) and when I try to start it it just cranks over and there is a noticeable fuel odor. I looked at the carburetor and I can see fresh fuel coming out of the base of it and running down the outside of intake manifold. I also noticed there is no fuel in the sight glass.
Is this a quick and easy fix that comes to someone's mind?
I have a rebuild kit for it if it needs to come apart.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:11 pm
by Esteban
offroadkid wrote:Good morning!
My 1966 Patrol sat for the winter in the garage (or a little longer!) and when I try to start it it just cranks over and there is a noticeable fuel odor. I looked at the carburetor and I can see fresh fuel coming out of the base of it and running down the outside of intake manifold. I also noticed there is no fuel in the sight glass. ...
I borrowed again a picture from member Pancho, since the parts diagram doesn't show the Main Jet Carrier clearly, and I think that it could be your problem.
Please take a look at the picture below. The fact that you have fuel spilling out of the carb, and no fuel showing on the sight glass, will only be possible if Main Jet Carrier is loose. It could be just in need of tightening it a little bit, or that the aluminum flat washer that acts as a gasket there, needs replacing. This flat washer goes between the Main Jet Carrier and the body. Be careful not to tighten too much the Main Jet Carrier since you risk the chance of stripping the threads inside the body.
Since you have a rebuild kit, most certainly it will include this washer. I will try it first without rebuilding the whole carb.
Carburetor VC42.jpg
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:16 pm
by Flaggoni
Another possibility...perhaps the float is stuck down and the fuel level is ABOVE the top of the sight glass, making it appear empty.
Mild Bill
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:28 pm
by offroadkid
Thanks for the replies! When I get to work tomorrow, (had today off) I will look at it with the information I learned today and see if I can find out what's happening!
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:52 am
by Esteban
Flaggoni wrote:Another possibility...perhaps the float is stuck down and the fuel level is ABOVE the top of the sight glass, making it appear empty.
Mild Bill
Like they say, look for the simple stuff first. Great!
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 9:36 am
by RiverPatrol
I usually find that the float is stuck when that happen. I can tap the side of the carb gently (avoid the sight glass!) and the float frees up. It will then start easily and run fine.
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:29 pm
by offroadkid
Okay, update!
Got the carb back together but the (leather maybe?) on the new accelerator pump is tight and does return to position only after a short delay. It's not on the Patrol yet, still on my work bench. Anyone else observe this?
I have it soaking in fuel overnight, maybe that's the fix?
As always, thanks for the input and advice!
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:00 pm
by Esteban
Soaking it in fuel will definitely help. I think you're right about it.
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:07 am
by offroadkid
On a side note....
What happened to my "Thanks" button? I can't thank anyone for their post anymore?!
Re: Hitachi VC42-rig won't start
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:43 am
by Johnny Roadkill
If the delay is only very short - a second or two - it probably won't be an issue anyway but it's likely to wear in and soften up after a bit of use like a new pair of shoes.
As for the thanks button...it's a digital thing so there must be a perfectly logical explanation for it, but beyond human comprehension...at least most humans anyway, and certainly me, lol...log out and back in and it sometimes comes back.
Cheers,
D