Starting Problem...carburetor?

[Lowbid]

Was going to fly to Madison, WI this morning. It was chilly, I would say mid 40's after an overnight low in the 30's. I primed it good, probably 6 times. It would fire, but would not stay running. Tried maybe 6 other times, priming more and less, same result.

Hauled it over to the local mechanic, with limited Mooney experience. He unhooked the fuel lines and verified the pumps were working. He hooked the lines back up and it then started. He figured an air lock, but I was skeptical. I did not want to fly it down there and end up stranded with the same problem.

Since both pumps are operational (boost and regular), his only recommendation would be a carb overhaul. He called around and found an overhauled carb ready to go for $925. Somewhere in TX. Should have it installed within the week.

Anyone experience this issue? It has been hard starting in the past, but not recently. This plane has spent its life in Kentucky and southward. This winter will be its first cold weather operations. Seems a little coincidental that this was it's first cold weather start, which is not really cold. It does not have an engine heater yet. I have been meaning to get the Tanis ordered.

[sreid]

How much time on the mags and spark plugs?

[carusoam]

...

[Lowbid]

Engine installed 1987 by Mattituck. 1,250 SMOH. From what I can see, the plugs have 670 hours on them. The mags are original, although they've been worked on. As a side note, I am impressed with the condition of this engine. Burns very little oil and last compressions were 78,75,75,76. Mattituck will be my next choice for an engine.

[Piloto]

This may be a carburetor problem. If the engine start but dies it may be due to flooding of the carburetor bowl. The flooding happens as soon the fuel pump feed the carburetor bowl. If the bowl float needle valve let too much gas in the bowl will over flood creating a very rich mixture on idle. If after start the engine can run with throttle open but not idle this is definitely the problem. Another possibility is a clogged idle injectors or idle mixture setting. Either way a carburetor overhaul is not a bad idea.

José

[moodychief]

Check your logs and see when the carburetor was installed. It may be one that needs the new float. My carburetor was installed in early 2005 and had to replace it last year since it had the old style float.

[Lowbid]

From the logs, it seems this is the same carburetor installed with the engine overhaul in 1987. I am assuming a new/overhauled carb came with the engine overhaul. I made the decision to install an overhauled carburetor. It doesn't seem as though digging into the carburetor and replacing parts is cost effective. As long as I'll have it torn down, may as well buck up and replace it.

Too bad too about Mattituck.

[N601RX]

The last carburated plane I had did this sometimes. It also had a manual primer. When it would do this I would just hit the primer quickly a couple times to keep it running until the carb could take over. It was basically running out of fuel at the cylinders before the carb could start delivering fuel and get it up to the cylinders.

[OldGlassMan]

The last carburated plane I had did this sometimes. It also had a manual primer. When it would do this I would just hit the primer quickly a couple times to keep it running until the carb could take over. It was basically running out of fuel at the cylinders before the carb could start delivering fuel and get it up to the cylinders.

Bump this one. When I bought my G model, it had a cold starting problem. After much hair pulling, my mechanic and I determined that the manual primer had a leak in the internal seal, so it was not delivering sufficient prime. We discovered it by pumbing excessiverly (up to ten strokes "full throttle"), which worked around the problem. I replaced the carburetor on the next annual -- and no more problems.

You can drop the carburator slightly without disconnecting the controls. If you don't see a strong up-jet of fuel from the top of the carb when the throttle is pumped, bngo that is the problem.

[Lowbid]

The overhauled carburetor has been installed as of last Friday. I have not yet tried it out, but will post an update on its performance and any noticeable changes. As always, thanks for your comments.