My W600 almost stranded me today

[712edf]

So, I installed a new battery a couple weeks back. Every weekend I prime the carb then start the truck & let it run for 10 minutes. Yesterday I added about 5 gallons of fresh non-ethanol gas, primed the carb then started the engine. Let it warm up nicely. It still won't idle (even with engine at temp) without the aid of the throttle stop. I decided to get it out on the streets for a drive. First time in a couple of years. Well, the drivetrain is a tad noisier due to sitting. Shifted fine, accelerated decently. I got it all the way up to 30 mph & into 4th gear. It drives just fine when in motion. But then there's those stop signs. Ya know, the ones where you must come to a complete stop! I wasn't good enough with my pedal juggling act to keep it from dying. I hit the key, pumped the pedal a few times & tried to relight the fire. Didn't appear to be promising. I couldn't tell if lack of gas or if I had flooded it. Luckily (grace of God) there was a bystander within 15 foot of the stop sign fixing to mow a yard. I asked him if he had some gas. He fetched a jug out of his mowing trailer & I tossed some down the carb throat. I crawled back in, held the accelerator pedal down about 3/4 the way & it cranked up. I thanked him & nursed it back home. A couple walking their dog witnessed all this & remarked how lucky for me to have it die right there beside the yardman with the jug of gas.

So, I have lost all trust in this vehicle. I won't be attempting to drive it again until carb & ECM are replaced. Which may be a few more years. Other household things eat most of my income up before I can even think about pending much on this truck.

Bucky

[Matthew Welcher PWA]

So, I installed a new battery a couple weeks back. Every weekend I prime the carb then start the truck & let it run for 10 minutes. Yesterday I added about 5 gallons of fresh non-ethanol gas, primed the carb then started the engine. Let it warm up nicely. It still won't idle (even with engine at temp) without the aid of the throttle stop. I decided to get it out on the streets for a drive. First time in a couple of years. Well, the drivetrain is a tad noisier due to sitting. Shifted fine, accelerated decently. I got it all the way up to 30 mph & into 4th gear. It drives just fine when in motion. But then there's those stop signs. Ya know, the ones where you must come to a complete stop! I wasn't good enough with my pedal juggling act to keep it from dying. I hit the key, pumped the pedal a few times & tried to relight the fire. Didn't appear to be promising. I couldn't tell if lack of gas or if I had flooded it. Luckily (grace of God) there was a bystander within 15 foot of the stop sign fixing to mow a yard. I asked him if he had some gas. He fetched a jug out of his mowing trailer & I tossed some down the carb throat. I crawled back in, held the accelerator pedal down about 3/4 the way & it cranked up. I thanked him & nursed it back home. A couple walking their dog witnessed all this & remarked how lucky for me to have it die right there beside the yardman with the jug of gas.

So, I have lost all trust in this vehicle. I won't be attempting to drive it again until carb & ECM are replaced. Which may be a few more years. Other household things eat most of my income up before I can even think about pending much on this truck.

Bucky

[Matthew Welcher PWA]

The W200 stranded me yesterday, some type of electrical gremlin is haunting me.
I believe I have it traced to an electrical connection somewhere on the firewall to the firebox.
thank you for writing and sharing your stories with us!

[712edf]

I have had that happen to me as well, on other vehicles. Sudden complete loss off all power, as if the battery & all wiring disappeared. Not pleasant when at an intersection or on some street/road that has no safe place to pull over.

Bucky

[712edf]

Well, this year I sort of gotten into a rhythm with this thing. Usually on Friday or Saturday I pop the hood, pour a splash of fresh gasoline down the carb, whack it with a hammer. Then I hop inside, pull the choke closed, depress the go-pedal down about 3/4 of the way, turn on my ignition toggle switches & hit the key. Usually it sputters & fires coming to life. I close the choke, lower the rpm's to about 2000 & set the throttle. After a minute I lower the rpm's & reset the throttle. In time I can get it to a reasonable idle, but almost always with the throttle. I haven't driven it on the road since my March adventure.

Every few weeks I add 5 gal or so of pure gasoline. I haven't had to charge this battery yet, just running the engine 10-15 minutes a week seems to do it.
We had a somewhat mild summer. Never got above 103, only had 20 something days of 100s, but here it is mid-October & we are still pushing 90s. It was a tad humid this year. The wife & I managed to sneak away to Colorado for a week in late September.

While I wish I had the gumption to do more with this ol truck for now I am content with just having it start & run somewhat reliably.

Bucky