Club Triumph

My 1974 2000 seems to take a fair bit of cranking to get it started if it sits unused for a week or two, points and condenser have been changed for electronic version, timing etc is spot on, the car starts and runs without difficulty hot or cold if used on a daily basis? The car is low mileage at 48000, all advice/suggestions appreciated.

It seems they all do that My 2500S is the same, except if i prime the the fuel pump first
If yours has a primer try pumping untill it goes firm and you will find it starts ok.
Cheers,
Tony.

Yes almost certainly down to the time taken to refill the carb float chambers but I think its a good thing as it allows the oil pump/filter/system to charge before the engine starts

I have tried priming the system via the lift pump but it makes no difference, the obvious answer is use it more often

I wonder if your pump is tired - can you feel it pumping fuel to the carbs as you hand operate it? Sometimes you can actually feel it go easy when they are full. I had a pump which still worked ok when powered by the engine as thats a lot faster rate but was pretty poor by hand due to a leaking non return valve.....

Sounds like a tired pump six or seven pumps on mine and carbs are full. Even after leaving it for a couple of months.
Funnily enough i have the same problem on my 1850 Dolly, but there is no primer on that pump.
I have been thinking about an inline non return valve or stop tap? If there is such a thing
Any idea's anyone??

Cheers,

Tony.  

I would say it is more likely leaky carbs than siphoning back through the fuel line.

I had similar problems on my Cortina. A non return valve didn't improve things. I think it's evaporation.
Tony.

no dont think a pump NRV can affect the loss of fuel from the carb bowls as the inlet needle valve to em is above the float level so no chance of back flow. However the chambers are vented so the fuel will evaporate quite quickly depending on the ambient temperature.
As I say a leaky valve could increase the time to fill the carbs after a long lay up both if using the manual operator (where fitted) or when cranking as in either case the operation of the pump diaphragm is relatively slow....

And make sure you get full choke often cranking times are just down to getting the fuel charge to build up in the manifold
early days of emmision improvers  around in the 70s made starting a lenghty process

if you get concerned about fuel priming , try a electric pump, but keep the pressure at 2.5psi max

pete

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions, Carbs are not leaking and choke is working as it should be, I will prime it manually and see if that makes any difference to the starting and take it from there.

just make sure the pump is on the back of the cam or the primer wont do very much as the diaphragm in the pump will already be pulled down

might need to crank over a little to gain a full/better  stroke

pete

I would suggest first to do a compression check wet & dry,  just to know all is well before moving onto ancillaries.

Hey dont go frightening Kenny, afterall he did say it starts ok if not left for too long

Once again thanks for the help with this, after manually priming the carbs it started fine so will get a overhaul kit for the pump,Next post coming up!!

If priming helps the start then its nothing to do with the pump
its a drop of fuel level due to evaporating some  
most pump kits dont solve this, and many the pump valves are not replaceable
any ideas its drain back will not reduce float fuel levels  and if the tanks half full it will not drain
more give you a  gravity feeding
sorry dont think the pump is a problem here
its fuel, it evaporates over time     you cant stop that
pete

Agree with Pete. If you like you could test the pump by carefully pulling off the carbs fuel supply hose and checking that you get a good squirt each time you operate the lever.....

I think you are all right about evaporation as it happens on both my cars
Although fuel seems to evaporate much faster on my 2500s auto when driving
Cheers,
Tony.

Ok I can go with the logic, easy to prime by hand if it has been sitting for any length of time, electric pump would solve the problem! regards Kenny.

Its not a problem,    its a classic   these little quirks are all part of the fun (not)

thers also knock on starting due to awaiting oil pressure

Its been doing it for 40+ years ,  without any problems ,  other than paranoid worries

some things were the standard of the day and should not give sleepless nights

pete