prolly a dumb question..button on the floor?

ok, i spent all day today working on that maverick,changed all the fluids, took the engine apart a bit and lubed everything up, spun it around etc etc, got the new battery in at 8pm and turned it over around 9, no go, i'm thinking tomorrow i'll get some starter fluid and turn it over alot more until it starts up, anyways this is prolly a dumb question, but theres a button on the left hand side of the drivers floor and i was wondering wtf it is? it looks like its made to be pushed by your foot for something..but what :/, i was also kinda curious if this car would do the running start, i dont really know how to do it but the concept makes sense to me, so would it be easier to start if i got a couple buddies to push it?
i'll post some pics of it tomorrow so yall can see what your helpin me with
thanx again

 

the "button" on the floor sounds kinda like the dimmer switch(high/low beam) . As to the engine..if you have spark and fuel and the timing is close it should start up. How fast is the starter turning? Is it trying to start?

 

yep.

Sounds like the dimmer switch.
I would just put a charger on the battery and keep trying to get it to start sitting (in park). Cause if you do push it, and it starts, the next big issue would be making sure you had BRAKES IMO the only time push starting should be necessary is when your starter is out and you need to get home

 

ok cool thanks for tellin me , and as for it starting, i bought a new battery for it and it turns over fine, first at a normal speed then it slows down ,then i stopped for awhile and tried again..i only tried about 10 times because it was late and i didnt wanna keep the neighborhood up, about the fuel, i drained the fuel line of all the old gas so i think right now the lines empty and thats prolly why it didnt start, is there some way to prime it and get the fuel up to the engine? or just keep turning it over until it goes?

 

Prime the carb with gas ,NEVER STARTING FLUID IN A GAS ENGINE. It should run long enough to pick up fuel. Now your line isn't empty no more.

 

sure pull the line loose at the pump, place the end coming from the tank into a coffee can or other suitable container. Remove the gas cap and blow into the tank, blow gun on a air line works best. Have someone watch the other end to watch for fuel.
OR
what i usually do is remove the air cleaner, locate the vent tube, usually sticking up from the carb. Carfully poor about a half a cup into the vent tube. This will fill up the carb with enough fuel to start. With the engine running it should get it flowing. If the car runs for a short time and quits, try it again, if it again runs for a short time there is something wrong with the delivery side(fuel pump bad cracked line etc.)

 

Also, if you still find you are not getting fuel, meet need a new filter, while your changing that, change the 2 inch piece of rubber tubbing at the filter (I think it comes with a new filter ). that thing will dry rot and it "could" cause a problem . (ask Craig Selvey)
*Assuming you are getting spark?

 

Heard this for years... my grandpa has been using the stuff longer then I have been around, no one has ever been able to provide any proof that it does harm to the engine when used correctly. If a 2 second shot of the starter fluid dosen't fire it off, then you got problems elsewhere.

 

One safty precaution I would like to add is never pour gas down the carb when the ignition is on. Priming the carb like this is ok and works good, just make sure the ignition switch is off and everyone is clear before you turn the switch on. I would replace the points and condensor. Points will corrode when sitting for a long time and you will not get spark. These item are pretty cheap and only takes about 10 minutes to change.

 

Actually heard older mechanics say engines can get "addicted" to starting fluid ! Not sure about that, maybe an old wives tale, but I'm cautious about using too much either way. After sitting along time, filter probably needs changed. You can disconnect line and stick it in a gas can and try it that way.

 

Take a compression check if you have fuel and spark and correct timing etc. Never heard of any problems with starting fluid in gas engines, other than using half a can at a time and causing a "hydro" situation or backfire situation. Use a couple little shots each time I start my 1940 Ford tractor, in cold weather. Same can be done priming with gas too, is good advise to keep face and other appendage's away from the carb while cranking. Been there and lost eyebrows to the resulting backfire through the carb.

 

if no spark,check the points,condenser,coil.if your getting spark,check to see if the rubber part of the gas line didn't collapse.change the fuel filter.also sitting that long,the diaphram in the fuel pump might of collapsed.also if your getting a weak spark(orange)it might be too weak to fire it.look for a white or blue spark.also if the plugs are old,and you pour too much gas down the carb,you will saturate the plugs,rendering them useless.good luck.

 

like the others said,prime the carb,you are trying to dry start and you will burn up your starter and run your battery dead. as far as starting fluid goes-if you have your fuel system primed and ready to go, use just a small shot in the air cleaner with the ignition off,starting fluid is VERY flammable and can explode, YES it is harmful to your engine if used very much, it washes down your cylinder walls and removes the oil and causes dry-hot spots on cylinder walls and can and will cause gaulding of the cylinder walls thus shortening the life of your engine. assuming that your car is a stick shift you can roll start it,put it in 2nd gear and get it rolling then pop your clutch and this will help you-remember to turn the key on! if its an automatic then you will need to pull it with another vehicle because you will need to be going about 30-40 mph to start an automatic, key on, trans in "N" then drop in "D" and see if it will start. good luck and be careful!!!

 

could be ..the lifters haven't pumped up yet... did you spin the oil pump to prime the oiling sys. before you tried to start it?.
look down the carb. and press the gas pedal and see if you are getting a gas spray in the carb. if not the acel. pump could be dried out..frank...

 

Maybe if you drown the damn engine in it. It certainly has never shortened the life of my grandpa's '78 Bronco which has 250,000 miles on it and has had starting fluid sprayed in it to get it going in cold weather since the mid 80's.