Troubleshooting hard start

[rwarre]

Starting to troubleshoot a starting problem. Lycoming O320 1 slick mag and 1 pmag. 950 hours Has started fine in the past but recently take longer for the engine to fire. Need advice on what to check first. Sparkplugs, timimg, etc?

[vic syracuse]

Without knowing what you have/haven't checked or performed maintenance on, try these:

-spark plug gaps and spark plug resistance
-intake leaks (check for blue fuel stains around intake gaskets at top of intake tubes
-Slick 500 hour SB's

do you have a primer and are you using it?
Check accelerator pump in carb. Have someone in cockpit pump the throttle once while you are listening at the cowl air intake (if cowling on) for a squirt of fuel.

These are the easiest checks for starters.

Vic

[Mike S]

First off------is it still spinning like it used to, or starting to crank slower??

My go to point after being sure the battery is up-------grounds.

If still cranking just fine, the plugs for you EI are dirt cheap----just replace them. Check the timing.

When it does start, how does it sound------popping and snorting then smooths out, or whirling along then starts to fire and runs fairly smooth?