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grrr why won't you start?????

76k5grrl

76k5grrl

killin it
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2 questions....

parked the k5 on a pretty steep incline, filler neck side down, left it for about an hour, and now it cranks but won't start. I know I needed gas, is it possible this is the problem?? I see fuel in the filter by the carb... added 2 gallons to tank, no go. keep in mind I'm used to a baby 4 cylinder jeep that would run on fumes.... it was running/starting/driving fine all along....

also... I noticed for the first time possible evidence of shoulder belts??? did the 76 have them ???
 
Odds are its related. Fuel in the filter does no good if there is no pressure to push it on into the carb.
But, I know what you mean about the Jeep. I ran a 60 model CJ5 for my DD for years. I don't mention it here much, I just silently pity them......

If its by any chance a manual, put it in 4L, put the tranny in low, let out the clutch and crank it around so that the pickup in the tank can get fuel.

Drove my Jeep a block and a half into a service station like that once......

Otherwise, you are going to have to get enough fuel in the tank to reach the pickup in the middle, or get someone to pull you around level.

Don't forget that the fuel in the carb is all sloshed over at an angle too. Even though it may have some in it, if its too far over to cover the jets, none will get sucked into the intake.
 
it is a manual... when i get a second set of hands I plan to put it somewhere level. I almost seems flooded but I'm not smelling the flooded smell.

learning curve .........
 
Well, try the low-low trick, and drive it with the starter with the accelerator all the way to the floor.
That way, if its flooded, it will tend to clear it out as you crank, so that it might start. Either way, you will be moving, and if it does suddenly start, you won't likely to hit anything too suddenly with it in double low.

Since you are undoubtedly running a 12 volt starter, only crank it for about a minute or so and then let it cool for a while.
My Jeep had a special starter that would crank until the battery went dead without overheating.
We used a version of it to build electric winches. It was a 6 volt starter with a special tested armature.
 
I backed a k30 off the trailer and into a shed the other day with the starter.
 
I don't think the starter trick will work if it's an automatic transmission.
 
Blue85 said:
I don't think the starter trick will work if it's an automatic transmission.
Click to expand...

Check post #4. :whistle:

I'm placing my money on the blinker fluid being low. Seen it before when leaning to the driver's side.
 
Have you tried starter fluid in the carb yet?

Is it possible to move the truck onto a level surface to try to let it start?

Does it still have a mechanical fuel pump? your diaphram may be cracked and leaking. My truck did this for a while (diesel) being hard to start after sitting, and I replaced the lift pump (mechanical fuel pump) and never had another issue with it.
 
well luckily for me it's parked at my work and can sit a while. as for the angle,it's pretty steep but not so steep It shouldn't start. which leads me to the next question that'll further display my ignorance: it seems ridiculous to me that a capable offroad vehicle would fail in a situation this simple.... is it possible it needs a new fuel pump???

I tried adding 2 gallons because that's what my gas can holds- no dice. I'm going back today with starter fluid, more gas, and a friend to help me put the truck level. I'm going to start my levelling it out.

I know this is sacrilege but my jeep never would have done this. (the jeep is fuel injected). is this a reality of a much larger, carb engine or do I have something here I can "fix"?
 
Well few of us would go wheeling with only 2 gallons of gas. I know when my fuel injected rig gets down to the last couple of gallons it can stall at angles. Add some fuel and no problem. If you really ran it dry, the fuel sock will need to stay submurged to get the system re-primed. Just look at the basic geometry of the tank, knowing that the fuel pickup is in the very center and you can get an idea of how much fuel is needed before the pickup is submurged again.

With my car, once it's run dry it needs almost 3 gallons in the 17 gallon tank before it will prime and fire again - and that's sitting on the level.

After adding 5 gallons or so, I would start looking for other problems.
 
My old Jeep was carbed, but being in Fl. I usually did not see all that many steep angles.
Since I had dual rear wheels it was a lot more stable that most, and there was a curve out on the beach highway that I could go around at about 45 and it would stall out briefly due to the G forces.
I always suspected it was due to the gas in the carb rather than the tank.

About the only times it would not run due to angles, was when I used the PTO winch to hang it out of a tree.
I would throw the cable over a big oak limb, winch it up until it was off the ground. The engine would quit about the time the back bumper hit, and I would crank it on up with the starter.

Then I could grease it, or change the U-Joints without having to crawl under in the mud.

Then I just put the transmission in reverse, and cranked it back down.
Had to give it a push when the back end hit to make sure it swung down the right way, but other than that, it worked fine.

And after it got down to about 45 degrees or so, the engine would fire.

Now when I spun my F150 upside down on the winch cable, it kept running for a few seconds until a friend reached in and turned the engine off.

I was laying on the ceiling trying to figure out what had happened.

I really suspect you don't have a big problem. Its probably just a combination of low gas and angle.

Post a few pics if you want, we might have a better idea...
 
I'd be willing to bet something else is going on. If it was running when you parked it should have at least caught and ran for a few seconds until the mechanical fuel pump ran the line out.

Could be the fuel gauge is not reading correctly. I never ran my 76 under about a quarter tank because when I filled up it when about an inch past full. Might be an issue with the fuel pump. Could be ignition related. Since the truck is new to you might have problems you aren't aware of.

You are in the right direction though. Get it on level ground, add some gas and go from there.

Edit. 76's definitely had shoulder belts.
 
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update. not going well!!

arg. ok, I've level the truck out, added an additional 2 gallons of gas, which basically leaves my fuel gague at 1/2 tank. Again, I can see gas in the filter.

I tried starter fluid. No dice.

I tried popping the clutch but I ran out of room. It almost turned over but not quite.

It's been sitting on level ground for about 15 minutes and now it's cranking but nothing.

I don't have anything to test the spark right now but I'm beginning to suspect that's the problem.

Anything cause a sudden loss of spark? It looks like my wires are all connected....

So annoyed.
 
It isn't that unusual for an ignition module to fail out of the blue like that. You can test the spark by having a friend hold a screwdriver with one of the plug wires slid over the end close to a good ground on the engine while turning the engine over. If he or she spasms and jumps off the ground, you have spark!

Actually though, you want to see a sharp blue spark when doing this test. A fuzzy reddish orange spark will not be sufficient to start the engine.

If you are sure you have fuel and are alive meaning there is probably air with O2 in it that leaves only spark missing to achieve combustion :D
 
Not sure where you are at, but I'm out on the northside of DFW airport and have a spare HEI dizzy cap you can try out if you think that is the prob.
 
ok... here's my concern now. did plugs and wires 4 days before this problem. it ran and drove beautifully after that... new rotor, new coil today. still no dice.... apparently I have a much bigger problem here
 
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