M38A1 Trouble Starting
- 53a1
- Jeep Enthusiast

- Posts: 586
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:00 pm
- Location: Kern Co.
I assume it has the YS carb? You say you replaced it? Are you confident that it was rebuilt with modern materials or rebuilt correctly? Modern gas will turn the pump seals rock hard pretty quick especially if you let them dry out due to infrequent use. Mine started running like crap after a long period of non operation. The first thing I did was check them and sure enough they were hard as a rock. Replaced them and it ran like a new vehicle.
'53 M38A1 X2
- Madriver1968
- Contributor

- Posts: 61
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 6:00 pm
- Location: Rhode Island
Greetings all. It's been a while since I had time to work on the Willys. Took advantage of the fact that my father is in town to do some trouble-shooting. He's been a professional restorer of antique automobiles for over thirty years.
We have fuel in the carb, and good spark. He put his hand over the carb's air intake, and found that it is both pulling air and pushing air back out through the carb. Compression (dry test) is also very low - 90, 110, 90, 80. I'm going to turn my attention to the valves, and see what's up there.
I'll keep everyone posted, and thanks for all the help.
Best,
B.
We have fuel in the carb, and good spark. He put his hand over the carb's air intake, and found that it is both pulling air and pushing air back out through the carb. Compression (dry test) is also very low - 90, 110, 90, 80. I'm going to turn my attention to the valves, and see what's up there.
I'll keep everyone posted, and thanks for all the help.
Best,
B.
Bill S.
1954 M38A1 (#71757, Feb. 1954)
1964 Sunbeam Tiger
1964 Jaguar E-Type Coupe
1968 Triumph TR-250
1971 Triumph TR-6
1954 M38A1 (#71757, Feb. 1954)
1964 Sunbeam Tiger
1964 Jaguar E-Type Coupe
1968 Triumph TR-250
1971 Triumph TR-6