Guest mookie Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Long story short I just came into possession of a 56' roadmaster and now it doesn't want to start. The seller told me kindly about a week after I bought it that if it goes two weeks without being ran it wont start citing some problem with the choke being to blame.I need to get it up and running by christmas if at all possible, I'm not new to working on cars by any means but the only stuff I've worked on is japanese sports cars which are night and day with this thing.The air filter ontop of the engine was taken off and he was putting gas into the top supposedly when the shipper I had arranged got there. I dont know why this would be, or what this would accomplish but it did make the car start apparently.Any help would be much appreciated as im really lost with this and don't want to have to pay someone to fix it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Check your choke plate. Does it close after pushing the gas pedal all the down when cold? If not, check your linkage to see if it's binding and the thermostat on the carb to see if it allows movement. The thermostat cover on the housing can be adjusted by loosening the screws and turning it in the direction where it allows enough movement to close the choke plates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) Well Mookie, you'll be pleasantly surprised that you can work on this car with the basics you already know. There's just a few things different, in theory, than the Japanese Sports cars. You already know you need air/fuel mix, compression and ignition to run the engine. The carburator on top of the motor, under the aircleaner has an integral bowl of gas that is passed through the internals of the carb to vaporize the gas. The air is drawn in past the choke butterfly valve at the top of the carb. When the engine is cold and needs a richer mix of fuel to air, the choke is set closed by a thermostatic spring. As the car warms up the vacuum in the engine draws a small amount of hot air into the thermostatic spring cavity expanding the spring and thus allowing the choke butterfly valve to open leading to a leaner fuel/ air mix. It is not uncommon for the choke to get hung up when the car is not used regularily so dumping a small amount of gas down the throat of the carb serves to enrichen the air/fuel mix so the engine can start. Your Roadmaster has a starter switch attached to the carb so that when you turn the ignition switch to "on" and then step on the gas pedal, the starter engages and cranks the engine. What I have done for years before getting my choke fixed is turn the key on then go under the hood and push up on the choke linkage on the passengers side of the carb, and simultaneously push backwards on the gas pedal linkage on the drivers side of the carb. Obviously watch out for the fan. Unlike todays cars it begins to turn with the engine and there is no freespinning clutch to stop it if something blocks it. So nothing should be hanging from your neck while doing this. The Choke is one problem you'll find with this, the other is todays gasoline. Todays gas will tend to vaporize quickly when you have run the engine to temperature and then shut it down. This will make a warm engine seem like it has to be choked just like you have to do when it's cold. Not the case. When warm you actually want more air in the system and you do this by pressing the gas pedal to the floor to get the car running. It's a quirky thing that you will easily get used to. Hope you enjoy ownership of the roadie, and please post some pictures of it. Edited November 21, 2011 by JohnD1956 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 If the car has sat for any length of time in the past it could very well be the accelerator pump. This is a part of the carb and stores a small reserve of gas When you pump the accelerator linkage it pumps this gas into the throat of the intake manifold for starting. The seal in this pump is made of leather and when left sitting for a long period of time will dry out, shrink and sometimes crack. Sometimes it will fix itself when gas is kept in it but usually not. Another symptom of a bad AP is that the car will hesitate when you give it the gas. I would suggest a full carb rebuild but MAKE SURE they include rebuilding or replacing this accelerator pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Mookie, I'd suggest doing two more things if you haven't already. 1) Join the BCA https://www.buickclubofamerica.org/subscribe.html (Feel free to enter Lamar Brown as "Referring Member" ) and 2) get yourself a good ol' made in the USA back in the good ol' days 1956 Buick Shop Manual 1956 BUICK SHOP MANUAL FACTORY ORIGINAL AUTHORIZED SERVICE BOOK | eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) actually make that three things, 3) Join the '54 Buick Highway gang - 1954 Buick Highwaythe '56 is basically a mechanically improved version of the '54, just not as pretty.:) Edited November 21, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim_Edwards Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 No question that "Mr. Earl's" recommendation on a carburetor rebuild is a good idea. But, in a pinch so to speak you might just give that carburetor a serious hosing down with a spray can of Carburetor Cleaner, both down into the inside and most certainly all the linkages. Not going to fix internal issues or gaskets needing replacement but may for the time being get you passed the starting problem which may be not only be a bad accelerator pump and could be internal leakage draining the fuel bowl overnight. Good luck, '56 Roadmasters are beautiful cars. I have always been torn between them and the '56 Olds Super 88 as two which were the more attractive of all GM produced cars in that year. Either one is actually overall more eye pleasing than my '56 Cadillac Eldorado Seville. ..........Get over it fellow Caddy owners, it's a fact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mookie Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I've got the manual but its actually still in its plastic, this is all a christmas gift for my dad actually, and I dont want to open it before then. I just want to have most the kinks worked out before christmas, but if rebuilding the carb is whats needed that isn't sounding likely.Haven't had a chance to fix any of that stuff yet, but I'll post back the results of anything I get to try.Ill be going through the suggestions provided and trying to figure out what everything that was said means. Thank you for any suggestions provided as these things are foreign territory and although are much simpler that makes them seem harder to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Give this a try: Rochester carbs - Buick - newagemetal.comThere are several pages for carb adjustments.Also parts diagrams here: Rochester carbs - Buick - newagemetal.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Pouring some gas down the carb will help it start, when the choke won't work, a rather dangerous tactic, but it will work. There is a product usually called "Quick start" which is ether, and is extremely flammable, and will help it start, instead of pouring gas down the carb. If you do this I suggest putting the air cleaner back on, before trying to start it, so if it backfires the carb won't catch on fire! Your best friend in this could be the shop manual, though if you are very unsure of how to fix the carb, perhaps you could find a mechanic that has the knowledge, and patience to work on these cars. Another poster suggested spraying the linkage with cleaner, and it possible that might get you 90% to working choke. Cool car, and good luck with it. I've driven a '56 Roadmaster extensively for many years! Post some pictures if you can. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Hey, Mookie where are you located, I bet we can find someone to give you a hand for a few hours to help debug it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mookie Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I'm in eastern pennsylvania, Ill get pics up as soon as I can but it'll be awhile.Supposedly the thing got a rebuilt carb less than 500 miles ago, did they just not do the accelerator pump, or would that mean its just not that?The choke plate does close again just fine when cold or warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I'm in eastern pennsylvania, Ill get pics up as soon as I can but it'll be awhile.Supposedly the thing got a rebuilt carb less than 500 miles ago, did they just not do the accelerator pump, or would that mean its just not that?The choke plate does close again just fine when cold or warm.I think, I'd check the fuel filter and fuel pump before tearing into the carb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 SURVIVOR Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Check the fuel pump,mechanical pumps can leak back into the tank draining the fuel line empty,the pump has a thin rubber membrain[valve]that allows fuel to go one way.a little dirt under it can cause the fuel line to empty into the tank causing a hard start,sometimes if it is a slow leak it may empty in a couple of weeks.maybe have it rebuilt,or go electric?get a clear fuel filter and you can "see your gas". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Wonder if he ever got it running for his dad's Christmasthanks for the diagrams Bleach, I've been looking into Rochesters vs Carters lately and that was big help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mookie Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I did get it running, actually got the local police chief to escort me home (unlicensed & unregistered), and gave it to him christmas eve.Ill try and remember to throw some pictures up within the next few days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 How great... Nice job. Was he surprised? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budd Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 the '56 is basically a mechanically improved version of the '54, just not as pretty.:)(cough), (cough)Budd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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