Engine problem

[bevans6]

I went to start up to move my bus, and it appears that it as developed a serious problem.  It was very hard to start, lots of cranking, needed a few shots of ether, then it would only run on about three or four cylinders - regular large puffs of dark smoke every second or so.  It ran fine when I parked it a week ago, and it has a third of a tank of fuel.  8V-71N.  Any ideas?  How do I tell if the shutdown flap is in the  correct position?  It seems to be spring loaded towards what I think is the open position, is that right?

Brian

[eddiepotts]

I think it is spring loaded to the close. The catch holds it open.

[bevans6]

Thanks Eddie, you're the bee's knee's!  Somehow the catch had slipped and it was half closed.  Twiddled a bit, found how the catch works and it started right up.  Who knows why it slipped and let the flap shut...

Brian

[eddiepotts]

Your welcome. I was playing with mine the other day when read something about it.

[bevans6]

FWIW I was buffaloed by it until you mentioned a catch.  Mine is a two part deal.  The actual flapper lever is spring loaded to open.  If the solenoid worked, it would have to pull against the spring to close the flap.  The catch is spring loaded to close, and there is a cam on it.  If the flap is operated, the spring on the catch moves it around to the point where the flap is held halfway closed.  That's why my engine would kinda start and halfway run.  I probably did it no favors by running it like that.  If you pull the catch back against it's spring, the flap comes all the way open and  the latch can seat against  it.  I think I will fix a way of holding the latch in place, if it slipped because of vibration or something, it sure would be a PITA if that happened on a long pull up a hill or something like that!

Brian