Zenith 12848 altitude adjustment

[Boater1217]

I am the proud new owner of a 1966 M151A1 but I have a problem, I purchased the vehicle in CO and it ran well but when I got home (Mississippi) it will not start. When I first cranked it, it ran for about a minute until the fuel in the bowl ran out then it stopped. I can get it to run if I spray starter fluid in it but when I stop spraying it stops. I have checked and it is getting fuel, the lines are clear and the the filter is clean. Is there some type of altitude adjustment I need to do?

I am NOT a mechanic so I am really in the dark here.

[njjeeper]

Sounds like the needle valve in the carb is stuck closed. I have freed them off with a shot of compressed air into the fuel inlet on the carb. Correct way to fix would be to pull the top cover and fix free it off...The TM will show you some good pics to help.

[Boater1217]

Thanks, I will try that.

[rickf]

You can also just tap the side/top of the carburetor with the handle of a screwdriver right where the fuel line goes in. That will free up a stuck needle usually. Is the fuel pump working? Unplug the the connector on the oil pressure safety switch and jump the #77 and #77A wires and then turn on the ignition switch and the fuel pump should be rattling away in the tank. If not then that is your problem. If it is see if it will start. If it does start then remove the jumper and put the plug back on and see if all is well. If it dies again then there is a problem in the wiring or the pump. The pump should run while you are cranking and also once oil pressure is detected. The reason I say to jump the switch is because you will not be able to hear it running while cranking so you will not know if it is a pump issue or not.

[rickf]

Just out of curiosity are you pulling the choke all the way out when you try to start it? You do have to have the choke all the way out until it fires and then in a little bit after that.

[Boater1217]

Yep choke has been all the way out.