Cold Starting a Carb 308

Greetings All,

What is the best practice for cold starting a Carb 308? I have heard DO NOT USE THE CHOKE!!!
Then when do you use it? Then I test drove a US spec 1977 308gtb at a dealer here in CT. and the sales guy said pump the accelerator 3 times and start er-up! It started right up! and yes, it was cold. All Insite is welcomed!

Thank you
Sincerely

 

I've always been told to pump the pedal on a carb'd engine.

As for the choke, it's my understanding that the concern is that the choke cable will brake. I don't know why that is a concern; I haven't heard of that being a common occurrence with 308's, and if it did happen, you can just close it manually.

 

I turn my key, pump runs and after approximately 1o seconds I give the pedal a good press to the floor and fire her up, she coughs, spits and farts then we're on our way! I disconnected my choke cable at the carbs and left everything in place. Its not the cable breaking that is the issue, it's the cold start mechanism on the carb getting stuck open due to a poorly adjusted or old and worn out mechanism that gets stuck open and therefore causes a constant rich condition. Better to not touch it!

 

No choke (it's disconnected), two full pumps, then just crack the throttle a wee bit, and crank. She starts immediately, then a bit of throttle to keeps the revs about 1500 for a minute or so before driving off.

 

Thank you all, this is great advice! Now the mystery of (DO NOT USE THE CHOKE) has been solved! I often hear HOT starts can be an issue. Same remedy pump the gas a couple of times?

 

No, just hold the throttle open a bit for hot restarts.

 

Ditto on what everyone has said. My 308 seems to like 4 pumps if it is cold. Your mileage may vary.

 

This is why F1 ditched carburetors sixty years ago

 

True, but we still enjoy riding horses, don't we?
- Dave

 

Good thing this a 308 thread and not a "my vintage f1 car won't start cold" thread.

sjd

 

No.