Sat to long and won't start

[hogbuoy]

150 Rocketta sat for 5 months with half a tank of gas. Cranks but won't start.

1. I'll disconnect the fuel filter and drain gas out of the tank.

2. Try and take off carb or FI and disassemble best I can then reassemble. If it a carb or FI?

3. Add gas and try and start.

Any suggestions?

[tortoise]

SOMETIMES a few spray-shots of carb cleaner into the carb vent tube will aid in restoring internal fuel flow. Might be able to access this tube through an under-seat tub access door and rotate it up. Inserting a plastic drinking straw "upward extension" into the tube may also be helpful.

[earlwb]

One thought I have is ff the engine uses a vacuum operated fuel shutoff valve, then the fuel in the carb could have evaporated out leaving the carb dry with some residual gunk leftover in it maybe. But the trick is getting gasoline back into the carb. You could bypass the vacuum operated fuel cutoff valve temporarily then the fuel will flow into the carb filling it up. You could also just, more or less, manually fill up the carb with some fuel too.

But what Tortoise stated ought to work too, as if the engine runs for a few seconds it might get enough fuel flowing into the carb to get it to stay running.

[ronlee]

earlwb is right that the carb may be empty. It can take a long time for fuel to pump fuel into the carb and fill it before it will start. It may even run the battery down first or burn the starter out. For reasons such as this I installed an electric fuel pump, turn the key on and it fills an empty carb, starts right up after sitting extended periods. You can remove the fuel feed line from the carb and devise a way to fill it from the nipple on the carb. You will have to slip on a piece of hose and fill it through the hose someway. Maybe a small funnel on the end of the temporary hose. Use some American ingenuity.