Triumph MAYFLOWER 1951, Instruction Book

Page: 13 / 86

12
THE ENGINE
TO START THE ENGINE
IMPORTANT—When Starting the Engine at any time:
If the engine does not start when the starter is operated Do not re-operate until
starter motor and engine have come to rest. This is to avoid damage to the starter
pinion.
Starting when Engine is cold
Place the gear lever in the neutral position and see that the handbrake is on. Pull the
carburettor choke control out to the stop, switch on the ignition and pull the starter
switch button. When the engine has become sufficiently warmed up, push the choke
control back to the
half-out position. After one or two minutes driving, as the
engine warms up, it will be possible to push the control right in without causing the
engine to run with undue hesitation.
Difficulty is sometimes experienced in starting if the atmosphere is very damp,
causing moisture to collect on the exposed porcelain portions of the sparking plugs.
Caps are provided on the plugs to minimise this trouble.
If the battery has been allowed to get into a run-down condition it is best to use the
starting handle.
When the engine fails to start do not keep the choke control out too long or the
sparking plugs will become wet with petrol and it will be necessary to remove and
dry them.
It is important that the accelerator pedal should not be depressed
when starting the engine from cold as the effect of the carburettor choke device is
upset when the throttle is open.
It will usually be found possible to reverse out of the garage on the choke control
alone, usually in the intermediate position, without using the accelerator.
Starting in very cold conditions
In very cold weather the oil in the engine and gearbox becomes thick when the car
has been standing for some hours. Thick oil causes the engine to be "stiff" and an
unusual effort is required to turn the crankshaft. This can be reduced to a minimum
by using the recommended oils. It is advisable to free the engine, giving the
crankshaft a few turns, using the starting handle. This relieves the load on the