Hard start

[Nima]

Hi:
When my truck is warmed up or has been driven for 10-20 minutes or more, if I park the truck and when I want to restart the truck, it has a hard time to start, it has hard time to turn the engine over. I feels like the battery is running out of juice but when the engine is cold, no issue, it cranks well and turn the engine with no problem.
I have covered the starter with a head barrier jacket since I thought it might be heat sink. Also, I added a new ground from started case (bolt) to chassis since the problem continued and I thought it might be poor ground.
Any other suggestion(s) would be appreciated.

[geezer#99]

Pull your initial timing back 3-4 degrees.
See if that helps.

[Stocker]

Yep, probably timing related (too far advanced). Another thing that can cause this is stuck advance weights in the distributor.

[Nima]

I will try that.
Thanks

[Stocker]

I remember having stuck distributor weights years ago after an engine rebuild. Mechanic said the battery was shot. It was fine. Super easy to check and to fix, if that's your problem. Good luck!

[Nima]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I remember having stuck distributor weights years ago after an engine rebuild. Mechanic said the battery was shot. It was fine. Super easy to check and to fix, if that's your problem. Good luck!

How did you fix it? Never done that.

[rpmerf]

Pull of the distributor cap and rotor. Move the weights around. They should move freely and smoothly.

Could check it with a timing light also. Vac advance disconnected and capped. Check it cold and hot. Should give the same reading. Rev it up to watch it advance.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Nima

How did you fix it? Never done that.

Sorry for the late reply, I went to bed after my previous post. Remove the cap and turn the rotor back & forth. The weights should change position when the rotor moves. Mine were stuck in the fully advanced position and did not move. They were easy to break loose so they could move freely. Never a problem after that.

[68 P.O.S.]

Sounds like maybe fuel percolation. Are you running an Edelbrock carb?

[72c20customcamper]

What size is the positive lead to the starter. To small and possibly bad connections could cause this too.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 68 P.O.S.

Sounds like maybe fuel percolation. Are you running an Edelbrock carb?

Fuel perk wouldn't cause slow cranking like a semi dead battery. Perculation cause a rich start or no start.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by rpmerf

Pull of the distributor cap and rotor. Move the weights around. They should move freely and smoothly.

Could check it with a timing light also. Vac advance disconnected and capped. Check it cold and hot. Should give the same reading. Rev it up to watch it advance.

Just a note to clarify this. Once set up as stated check the timing at idle and note the number. Then rev the motor till the timing stops advancing. Hold for 5-10 seconds. Then return to idle. The timing number before reving and after needed to be the same every time. If not then one or both of the advance weights are hanging up and not returning to zero. If you do see it not return to the same number try removing the cap carefully so you don't bump the distributor. Once removed you should be able to see which weight has not returned to zero advance position.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by HO455

Unfortunately this kind of problem is one of the drawbacks of having an HEI distributor. You can't access the weights without pulling the distributor and disassembling it.

You working on a non Chevy again.
Weights are right under the rotor.

[68 P.O.S.]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Fuel perk wouldn't cause slow cranking like a semi dead battery. Perculation cause a rich start or no start.

Not always. I brought it up because I had the same symptoms with my truck until I put a heat insulating gasket under the carb. After that, never a hard start until the battery died 2 years later. Edelbrocks are notorious for fuel percolation.

[68 P.O.S.]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

You working on a non Chevy again.
Weights are right under the rotor.

Indeed. GM has the weights right under the cap. Pretty easy to check the weights travel, lube 'em, and set your timing to 36 total.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

You working on a non Chevy again.
Weights are right under the rotor.

Dhoo! Sorry folks I will edit the post.

[dmjlambert]

Can you post pictures of what the terminals look like connected at the battery? And connection of the negative battery cable on the engine? I am hoping it goes to the engine. What is the condition of the positive terminal that is connected to the starter? Do you have headers or exhaust manifolds?