Hibernation Start Ups

[John Vardanian]

Just curious, after the car has been put up for 3-4 months, especially in lower temps, how easy is it to start it? Precisely, how many full pumps of the throttle and how many revolutions of the crankshaft? Thanks.

john

[330Jim]

I have never noticed the differance between 1 week and 3 to 4 months. But then I do not get cold temperatures either.

Cheers Jim

[afwrench]

Hi John, my car fires right up even after a long layoff with 4 pumps and a few seconds on the starter.It might fire and die the first time but #2 usually does it.This is after some pretty cold temps. Note I dont start it up unless it is around 45' or above. Mike

[John Vardanian]

Mine requires many pumps of the throttle and several cranks after it's been laid up for 3-4 months. I get concerned about taxing the starter and the carburettor throttle bores. I wondered if others had that problem. Using the choke cuts down on the effort, however.

john

[tyang]

Hi John,

When you look down the throats of the carbs, are all the accelerator pumps working? If the car is in good tune and there is good fuel delivery, it should start pretty readily.

Tom

[John Vardanian]

Hi Tom, how do you check that?

john

[250GT]

Not using an old Ferrari for 3-4 month is asking for trouble
Upgrading with high torgue starter will vanish everybodys trouble .
those who have problems with the sound of the starter, I can only say
its better to enoy the engine sound as those 2-3 sec. of the newstarter .
the street cars are rather good isolated hard to reconize.
and they are cheap about 450 usd
I read on Kerry's side he also made this upgrade.
If you are a driver there is no alternative, or start collecting literature and pics.

ciao
C.

[tyang]

Hi Tom, how do you check that?

john

Hi John,

First, take the air cleaner top off. With the fuel bowls primed ( the electric pump clicking slows), look down the throats of the carburetors and operate the throttle. With each movement, there should be a squirt of fuel seen going down each throat.

Tom

[tyang]

Not using an old Ferrari for 3-4 month is asking for trouble
Upgrading with high torgue starter will vanish everybodys trouble .
those who have problems with the sound of the starter, I can only say
its better to enoy the engine sound as those 2-3 sec. of the newstarter .
the street cars are rather good isolated hard to reconize.
and they are cheap about 450 usd
I read on Kerry's side he also made this upgrade.
If you are a driver there is no alternative, or start collecting literature and pics.

ciao
C.

Hi Cornelis,

I decided to keep my original starter until I have problems. I kind of like the er-er-er-er sound of the start up. The switch over will one day come!

Thinking of John's issue, I don't think it's his starter. Usually the Marelli starter draws so much amperage on startup that the voltage will drop to the coils. At that point, the engine simply will not start without assistance to the battery.

Tom

[250GT]

In the old days we use 24V to start a car after a long standing period here. (scrapeyard)
My credo was always as long the engine can be turned by hand, I can let it run.
the hightorque starters-12V- does the same without damaging anything.

C.

[TOMKIZER]

John,
If, after filling the fuel bowls with the electric pump and after pumping the accelerator pedal 3 or 4 times, you then wait about 10 seconds to let the fuel evaporate a little bit (vapor ignites at almost any temperature, liquid doesn't burn at all), then crank the engine with the throttle CLOSED, it will likely fire immediately. Cranking with the throttle closed creates a vacuum in the intake manifold during cranking to evaporate fuel almost instantly, so, although it may not keep running, it will probably fire quickly. The plugs get hot quickly so it gets easier and easier to restart if necessary. Mine always started almost instantly even after a long storage, and without a choke. Ferrari chokes can be overkill.

Good luck.

Tom Kizer

[DWR46]

Ferrari chokes of the 250/275/330 era are actually early versions of anti-theft devices. If you use them the engine will almost never start!!!!

[jcwconsult]

Starting with a fully charged battery, I crank intermittently with rest periods, a wide open throttle, and the ignition off until I see a tiny blip on the oil pressure gauge. Then add the ignition plus a couple of pumps on the throttle and it fires right away - with oil pretty much throughout the engine.

[John Vardanian]

Thanks guys,
Tom Y, I checked the pumps as you suggested, things work as you described.
Tom K, interesting point about allowing the fuel to evaporate. I'll try it.
Dyke's right about the choke, that's why I am reluctant to use it.
JCW, I have this little gadget, it gives me a good 30-40 lbs of pressure before turning the engine.

john

[250GT]

Ferrari chokes of the 250/275/330 era are actually early versions of anti-theft devices. If you use them the engine will almost never start!!!!

I do agree that the choke is not nesecerry to start, but you need it during driving the first 5 min. at cold days,
-to warm up the engine by idling in front of you're living is not the bestway
you should drive immidiatly after starting-
other wise the carbs are caughing like a pneuonia patient.
Second when driving fast in colder days the radiator blind is ESSENCIAL.
otherwise the oiltempfinger is not leaving his left corner.
The oilpan is so big an can cooldown severly, extra radiatorair is hardly nessecery !....... at 100 mph.
I use the choke every morning and drive the first 10miles with CLOSED blind to reach my business to warmup the engine.
but to pretend choke and blind are useless is a saga.

C.