DA 85 Won't Start

[McFlymaster]

Tried the new needle settings, no joy. Fuel dripping out of cylinder when plug is pulled out. Fuel also dripping out of exhaust. I have gone from no fuel and a dry system to fuel everywhere. It looks like I am flooding even with choke open. Any other thoughts?

Gonna call DA next and see what they can advise. My arm is sore.

dan

[sarawnty]

	Quote: Originally Posted by McFlymaster
	Tried the new needle settings, no joy. Fuel dripping out of cylinder when plug is pulled out. Fuel also dripping out of exhaust. I have gone from no fuel and a dry system to fuel everywhere. It looks like I am flooding even with choke open. Any other thoughts? Gonna call DA next and see what they can advise. My arm is sore. dan

Hi Dan,
That's a good sign that you're getting fuel now. DA's have a bit of a routine for starting them. But first, make sure you've drained the fuel out of the engine. Remove the spark plug , and with the ignition off, flip the prop over several times. Clean out the plug and put the plug back in. The DA routine is to turn both the choke and ignition on. Then flip the prop over until the engine 'pops'. Then turn the choke off and keep flipping until the engine starts. Your throttle should be set to just above idle.
Regards,
Steve

[McFlymaster]

Success!!! What an awesome sound!!!!

So, in the end the problems were:
- New engine and initial "dry carb" which needed to be opened up and coaxed with a little fuel to loosen up the rubber diaphragm.
- I also pressurized the fuel tank and "pushed" the bubbles out of the fuel line and pushed fuel into the carb via pressure...this seemed to do the trick on fuel flow.
- Step 1 then caught up to me as I had failed to reconnect the fork to the bottom of the metal plate on the diaphargm - this resulted in uncontrolled fuel flow and constant flooding, now that the engine was getting fuel.
- Tried some alternate needle settings to no avail.
- Called DA and talked them through what I had done and they immediately asked about the fork connection on the diaphragm...which I checked and lo and behold!
- Once the fork was re-connected with both needles at 1 and 1/2 turns the normal DA sequence worked fine. 4 flips on choke and a pop. choke off and 4 or 5 more and she started up and kept running.

Thanks for all the help!!
dan

[WOODisGOOD]

Glad to hear you got it going. Give us a call if you need anything else.

[McFlymaster]

Hey A J -- if that was you on the phone at DA thanks a lot. The diagnosis was fast and accurate. I'll be flying this weekend is the plan. Dan

[sprice50]

Nice! Congrats.

You'll likely find the low a little rich at 1.5 turns.

[McFlymaster]

Ok.

So now the deal is that I can get it to start, provided that I squirt some gas into the carb first. This can't be right as it is very hard to get to the carb on a DA85 without taking the cowl off...

Any advice?

Here are a few pics so you can see what we're working on. Thanks for the help. dan

[gareth.ky]

Where is the low end needle set at?

Try richening up the low end until it starts easily.

[McFlymaster]

Low end is at 1.5 turns now. Will try it at maybe 2 turns and see what I get.

[gene6029]

Mcflymaster, Here is my cold motor starting proceedure:
1. ign OFF
2. open throttle full with radio
3. put choke on
4. turn prop thru 3-4 revolutions
5. move throttle back to above idle
6. turn ign on
7. flip until engine pops, usually 1-2 flips
8. take choke off
9. flip until engine runs, usually 3-4 flips

After the first flight of the day, mine usually starts with out chokeing it again, depending on how long it sits and how cold it is outside. I have several DAs & use this on all of them. It works for me. My 85 wont start cold unless i do the cold start proceedure above....Gene

[sarawnty]

	Quote: Originally Posted by McFlymaster
	Low end is at 1.5 turns now. Will try it at maybe 2 turns and see what I get.

I you have to richen the low-end needle more than 1-1/2 turns chances are you have a leaky base gasket or an air leak some where in the intake track. You shouldn't have to prime with gas in the carb. Steve

[McFlymaster]

Spoke to DA and they are suspicious of an air leak somplace, thus I think I will send it in. Also DA are going to do some of the updates which I'm told this engine needs. So, I think I'll pack it up and send it in and get it checked out by the pros.

Although I can get it started it has definitly been too hard to start so there must be something not quite right.

I'm going back to Europe for a month or so, so it might as well be DA looking after the engine while I'm gone.

Thanks for the help.
dan