Starting

[PaulThompson]

Hi, Just bought a 911 that has been stood for about 6 years, what advice would you give for trying to start the engine?

Thanks
Paul

 

[Robin]

Hello and Happy Christmas to you. To start the engine after it has stood for a long time assuming the battery is OK, there is oil in the engine, and it has a supply of fuel. I would turn the engine over on the starter (with either the rotor arm removed or the coil disconnected) until the oil pressure light goes out on the dashboard. Then with the coil and/or the rotor arm reconnected/replaced try again, this time with the hand throttle raised (the black handled lever between the seats) if all is OK you should have some sort of action. If nothing then works put a little petrol into the inlet stacks or the carburettor venturi (remove the air filter for this) then try again on the starter. If the engine ran before it was stored then there should be some sort of action even a backfire and it should run again. Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

[38F3E1]

It can also be worth removing the spark plugs whilst cranking it over to generate oil pressure and to squirt a little oil into the cylinder through the plug hole first. Removing the spark plugs reduces the forces on the engine to a minimum whilst building pressure.

I would also change all rubber fuel hoses before starting for the first time as the last thing you want is a hose to split and have an engine fire.

Ian.

 

[ChrisW]

I had a fuel hose split and was very very lucky.

Well worth a check ...

 

[PaulThompson]

Thanks All,

Its the best Christmas Present I have ever had .... don't pick it up until next week and can't wait to start work on it.
I appreciate all the advice and will keep you posted.

Merry Christmas
Paul

 

[bernard tester]

Hi paul let us know year and model and how you get on! lots of advise on hear and ddk all for free! Regards Berny.

 

[Robin]

Further to the various comments made about hoses cracking and the engine catching fire etc, if the engine was running when it was put into storage there is no real reason why it should not run again after the long storage period. I suggest that you should do as little to the engine as possible, as disturbing stuff (ie, hoses) can cause them to fail. I am assuming you just want to see if the engine works before you start do do all of the things that will have to be checked and serviced or replaced before your car is put back onto the road.
Having said that please let us know what model it is and I am sure we will be able to help you with the peculiarities of your particular model.

 

[arfor]

Before I brought myself and my car over to this country from Zimbabwe, after the car had been inactive for any length of time, I used to do exactly as has been described above, i.e., remove spark plugs, disconnect electrics etc. I also disconnected the electric fuel pump, because I didn't want it to start pumping fuel until I was ready for it to do so. And before using the starter to turn the engine, I turned the engine over by hand for a while, using the tool-kit ring spanner on the crankshaft pulley. With the spark plugs removed, the engine turned over quite easily, with a minimum of effort required.

Good luck.

Arfor.