Howdy folks!
I just scored a really nice '79 from a wrecking yard. It's in great shape and clearly has sat in a garage for ages!
It turns over, and I can hear compression bumps, but won't start. With some "fresh" wrecking yard gas, (read as, gas collected from the tanks of the yard cars) it sounded like it was just starting to think of firing, barely enough to increase the crank speed, but certainly not enough to run on it's own.
I'm not familiar with any starting tricks on these old girls.

I'd appreciate any tips, tricks, suggestions etc on a safe way to get this old honey running. I get a strong feeling old gas is the main culprit here.

Should I put a little oil or ATF down the carb to lube the apex seals?

Thanks in advance!

B

 

As with many similar posts, start by checking for compression, fuel and spark. You'll need about 75 psi to get some hope of starting it with the starter. The alternative is to bump start it if it's manual. Check to make sure there is fuel and check for spark. If compression, fuel and spark are there it should fire at least. Some 12As need the choke and others don't so see if not using the choke will help.

 

I herd ATF is okay to use quickly to build compresson but it eats at the seals, oil is best but it has to sit for days..

Drain the tank, make sure the fuel pump is working (Should hear it good, my bro has a 79)

The 12a's are gr8, his was sitting for like 5 years never started, fired up right away with new batt and gas

Really before you start it flush and replace all fluids, filters, belts, battery, plugs, wires; well some of those you don't need to do before the first few starts but before you drive it I'd suggest some like belts and such

 

1. confirm that you have spark on both leading and trailing plugs.
2. Dump a couple of ounces of Seafoam down the carb. DO NOT USE ATF. The Seafoam will usually get them going right away, cleans the carbon out of the apex seals to restore compression, and even cleans the crap off the spark plugs.

Doing a compression test would not be worth the effort at this point. If the motor is flooded, it will show zero compression.



.

 

we just fired up an FC after it sat for 12 years.

we made sure it had spark, cranked it over without plugs to clear it out, put plugs back in, and it fired right up.

with fc's its easy to tell when you get fuel, but a 12a you may wanna verify it

 

squirt mmo not ATF in and spin by hand a few times, before trying to turn again. this has been covered plenty of times too.

 

new plugs, oil down the carb will boost the compression, starting fluid and u mite want to put some new gas in the tank

dont give it gas till she starts cranking over freely and I didnt use the choke

thats what I did to start my FB after sitting for almost 2 years

 

The best would be to put it in the plug holes turn it around put more in and down the carb and let it sit for a few days slowly turning it by hand

I don't know why people hate against ATF, I've herd it does bad (Only long term) I used it in my FC fine.

Another good thing is the water trick, we did it in our 79SA and the rpms now go from 5k to 6.5k`ish

 

1) Change fuel filter!!!!! $2 item located under car in front of driver rear tire. All sorts of crappy-running issues can be solved for $2
2) make sure the battery you are using is strong!! Weak batteries can seem to turn the engine over OK, but aren't getting enough spark to do the job...
3) Cooling system likely compromised so don't run it long w/o complete rad flush (even better, pull it and get a rad shop to do a proper chem-dunk). Assume ALL water related hoses are shot and replace. Cheap insurance esp since rotaries depend on a top-notch cooling system to survive.

Welcome-
great to have another SA owner in the Flock

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Thanks guys!
I should maybe have been a little more specific in that I'm quite familiar with basic no-start troubleshooting steps.
I'm after rotary-specific tips for safely starting up a 12A that has sat for a long time.

So far we've gathered:
-Some 12As need the choke and others don't so see if not using the choke will help
-Drain the tank, fresh gas, make sure the fuel pump is working
-confirm that you have spark on both leading and trailing plugs.
- Dump a couple of ounces of Seafoam down the carb. DO NOT USE ATF.
-new plugs, oil down the carb will boost the compression, starting fluid
-fuel filter, strong battery.
-steam clean when running.

There seems to be varied opinions on the value of ATF to clean out the seals, but i haven't yet found anyone who has claimed seafoam is harmful.

Thanks again, and keep the ideas coming!
I should have this car in my driveway monday. =)

 

You should be able to get that thing going. 12A's are really bullet proof. My car sat for I don't know how many years. We put gas in it and replaces one plug wire and it started right up. Because the car sat for so long it took miles off the motor. I bought the car with 115k and the motor died at 175k so I'm not complaining.

 

Good list, however, the Seafoam actually replaces the need for oil down the carb and steam cleaning. Seafoam is an RX7's best friend.

 

just make sure if you do put the oil down the carb to do it before you change your plugs, it will gum them up and ruin the ones you have, so dont ruin new ones!