Last Friday I posted a message describing a hard starting problem I have
been having with my van (see below for original message).  Thanks for all
the great suggestions.  Well here is an update.

I checked the lifters and the valves had zero clearance at TDC and stone
cold.  However, I was still able to spin the pushrods so they weren't
super tight.  I backed them out to about 0.006 and this made a BIG
improvement.  The van started much easier and the vacuum increased to 12-
13 in at cold idle and 16-17 at warm idle!  Gas milleage improved
marginally (from 10-15mpg to 16mpg)and O2 sensor is still reading 0.8V at
highway speeds.  This hasn't solved the problem, but I think I am heading
in the right direction.  I am going to check the valve setting again
tongight and see if they changed at all after about 250 miles of driving
over the weekend.  The lifters have definetly quieted down.

I am thinking that maybe I had two problems: 1. air bound or missadjusted
lifter 2. missadjusted AFM

Jake

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:53:20 -0400, Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>1982 air cooled Westy, Federal model (no O2 sensor)
>Relatively new Boston Bob motor, compression 141-157
>
>I have a hard starting problem that has been plaguing me for the last 2
>years, I need a fresh idea.  When the motor is cold, or is warm but hasn't
>been run for 10 or more minutes, it starts hard and wants to die.  I need
>to keep the throttle open to keep it running.  After fighting with it for
>about 5 minutes the idle comes up and it starts running smoothly.  After
>it is good and warm it runs great, but my gas mileage has dropped from 18-
>20 to 13-15.  I installed an O2 sensor and it indicates a rich running
>condition.  It reads 0.6V @ 30mph, 0.7V @ 55mph, and 0.8V @ 70mph.  The
>exhaust isn't warm enough at idle for the O2 sensor to produce a signal.
>Another symptom that seems to point to a too rich condition is gas in my
>oil.
>
>This is the 2nd or 3rd time I have asked the list for help on this.  I
>have done every test in the fuel injection and ignition section of the
>Bentley several times.  I installed a new AFM and Temp II sensor, even
>though the old one tested out fine.  I have a web of extra grounds running
>from the chassis to the motor and alternator.  My only new clue is that my
>vaccuum is very low when it is first started (2-5in Hg) and comes up to
13-
>14 in Hg at a warm idle.  I would like to see this higher.  I have plugged
>up every outlet on the air plenum and intake boot and this did not have
>any effect on the vacuum.  I think I am going to pull the throttle body
>and air plenum next week and run some test to make sure the throttle body
>gasket isn't leaking at the bottom.  Lifters are set at 0 lash warm, which
>is equivalent to 0.006 cold as I understand it.  Could my low vacuum be
>related to the lifter?  Does low vacuum have anything to do with this?
>
>thanks a ton, I am totally stumped and just about out of ideas.
>
>jake