Carrier staring question/problem

[rob love]

I think to be truly authentic, you need to use the hand crank after the battery doesn't cut it. After that handle whacks your elbow a few times, and you finish the happy dance, you will be happy to do whatever it takes not to have to use the crank handle again.

Personally, after I finished swearing and dancing around, and waited for the pain to subside enough to decide if I had broken my elbow or not, I would look at my Ford KL and it would be happily purring there waiting for me.

[Jordan Baker]

I've had the same hard starting issues with my Carrier this year as well. So far I have the problem narrowed down to a bad connection at the starter bolt to power cable. My copper bolt is only half as long as it should be (top half broken off at some point). The threads were also chewed up and it has since been re-tapped down to 1/4"-20nc. Nowy cable is loose again and it's time to replace the special bolt.

Rob I've also used the hand crank a few times. The first time I sliced all my caluses off of both hands and said quite a few words. Other times I've hardly moved it and it fired right up.

Bruce I'm all for keeping it stock 6 volt like you.

[Ron Pier]

I have to fess up! After years of criticising others and refusing to join their ranks of converting my Jeep to 12 volt. I have got a 12 volt carrier. It has a 12 volt starter. It still charges through it's original dynamo but with a period 12 volt regulator. I swapped the bulbs and a wizard friend has put resistors on the gauges........I've never had a working fuel gauge though?? I've put a little black period starter button on the dash and hidden a solanoid near the starter. Blimey does it whiz over. Ron

[Lynn Eades]

Ron, I think a 6 volt starter works fine on 12 volts. Just don't leave it engaged for too long.
Maybe if it spins over fast, that's what you already have?

[Ron Pier]

Possible Lynn. It's a long time since I've actually looked at it, But I think it is stamped 12Volt. It's the type that requires a solenoid and not a pull cable.
6Volts is fine if everything is spot on and you run them frequently. I'm guilty of leaving mine standing for long periods but connected to an Accu-Mate charger. Same battery for about ten years now. When it dies, I'll fit one of those sealed for life type. Ron

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Thanks all. The battery seems OK and I gave the ground a little work. But the second part of my question is why the faster cranking with an ounce of gas down the carb? There's a marked cranking speed difference before the gas (slow) and almost 12 volt-ish (fast) once the gas is in the manifold. Is it lubrication? (doesn't make sense) Vapor or pressure? Part ignition on one or more cylinders helping the starter along? (yet there is no sound of firing until it fires up on all eight)

[rob love]

Lubrication could be part of it....a washed down cylinder will lose some of it's compression. Could also be that it is starting to start.

If you want to find you, disconnect your coil or leave the ignition switch off, and try the gas trick. If it goes faster with the gas, it's the cylinders washing down. If it does not, then it may well be the ignition of the fuel.