I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes once a
month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is about once a
year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't help. I
changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the most volatile
parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is inadequate to
start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I could add to the old
gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no outage so far, and the
generator finally started) but I would hate to have to do this in the dark
during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)

Thanks.

Ether? I'm not a huge fan of the magic juice, but if I needed to get
the generator started, it would come out quickly. Bonus!, you could
use up the tired gas, once it was started, I'll bet it would run on it
ok.

Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and then
start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more often when
the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to change the gas,
but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble starting it. I
also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in case. Seldom use it,
but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it run
until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

Pop`

In article .com,
"Eric in North TX" wrote:

Ether? I'm not a huge fan of the magic juice, but if I needed to get
the generator started, it would come out quickly. Bonus!, you could
use up the tired gas, once it was started, I'll bet it would run on it
ok.

Same here on the ether. It might be time for a new spark plug
and air cleaner filter.

Dean

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

b-12 carb cleaner makes a good starting fluid that's not quite as volatile
as starting fluid. Try pulling the plug, warm it over your stove burner or
with a propane torch, pull the engine through several times with the plug
out, then stick the hot plug back in. Try it several times without the
choke, then go back to the choke if necessary.

--
Steve Barker


"Toller" wrote in message
...
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes once
a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is about once
a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't help.
I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the most
volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is
inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I
could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no
outage so far, and the generator finally started) but I would hate to have
to do this in the dark during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing
the gas more often...)

Thanks.

Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

If you are using real stabilizer and if you are replacing the gas at
least once a year you should be fine, I think for your use I would switch
out the gas every six months..

The usual problem with old gas is not evaporation. Gasoline is usually
stored in air and gasoline proof containers. The problem is polymerization.
where the smaller molecule combine into larger ones.

You can burn that old gas in your car, but don't add a couple of gallons
to an almost empty tank. Fill it almost up and add about a half gallon at a
time. It will not hurt your car.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Pop` wrote:
Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and then
start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more often when
the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to change the gas,
but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble starting it. I
also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in case. Seldom use it,
but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it run
until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

Pop`
This has been a real interesting thread.
I totally gave up using stabilizer years
ago, because, every time I've put the
required amount in the tank, the engine
would not start the next time. I will
have to try the 1/2 amount approach.

Art Todesco wrote:

Pop` wrote:
Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and then
start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more often when
the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to change the gas,
but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble starting it. I
also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in case. Seldom use it,
but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it run
until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

Pop`
This has been a real interesting thread.
I totally gave up using stabilizer years
ago, because, every time I've put the
required amount in the tank, the engine
would not start the next time. I will
have to try the 1/2 amount approach.

I've been using stabilizer for years, in the amount specified and have
never had any issues. In the case of the OP's Honda EU2000i there
shouldn't even be evaporation from the gas since it has a selectable
vent on the gas cap that should be kept closed when not running.

I would check the condition of the plug and oil and then try starting it
with as little ether as I can get away with to get it going. Of course
open the gas cap vent and perhaps check it to make sure it is really
opening.

Pete C.

On Feb 4, 6:02 pm, "Toller" wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes once a
month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is about once a
year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't help. I
changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the most volatile
parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is inadequate to
start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I could add to the old
gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no outage so far, and the
generator finally started) but I would hate to have to do this in the dark
during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)

Thanks.

My emergency generator is alowed to run dry and the tank left empty
waiting for the next use. I keep a small gas can near it, and that
gets used for the lawnmowers and such. The gas is usualy less than a
month old.

Since they went in my area to ethanol in the gas, I have had problems
with gas stabilizers in the snowthrowers and lawnmowers. I now run
everything dry after draining the tanks, and store it that way. I
havent had a problem the last two winters. The emergency generator is
moved inside an attached garage if a major storm is expected, so it
is above freezing . We wheel it out onto a covered patio when
running.

"Pop`" wrote in message
news:fKuxh.819$384.787@trnddc05...
Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and
then start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more often
when the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to change the
gas, but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble starting it.
I also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in case. Seldom use
it, but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it
run until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

I probably over do it a bit on the stabilizer; putting the amount for 2 gal
into a not quite full 1.5 gal can. I will cut back.

How is the ether used? Directions on the can presumably.

"Toller" wrote in message
...

"Pop`" wrote in message
news:fKuxh.819$384.787@trnddc05...
Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and
then start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more
often when the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to
change the gas, but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble
starting it. I also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in
case. Seldom use it, but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it
run until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

I probably over do it a bit on the stabilizer; putting the amount for 2
gal into a not quite full 1.5 gal can. I will cut back.

How is the ether used? Directions on the can presumably.


Give the air filter just a spritz of the stuff. MAYBE a little more, if a
small spritz doesn't work. Don't overdo it. Friend of mine once emptied a
can into the air filter and blew the head off the engine. "Good!" he said
immediately afterward. "It's FIXED."

It's OK to spray ether on the air filter. So that only vapor goes
into the cylinder.

If you spray ether into the cylinder, it dries out the cylinder
wall, and the generator becomes a very expensive chunk of scrap.
My Dad had this done for him, or done to him, by a "helpful"
neighbor.

In the box with my generator, I have a quart of Castrol 10W30 oil
(Castrol is my favorite brand). And a spray can of ether.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Eric in North TX" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ether? I'm not a huge fan of the magic juice, but if I needed
to get
the generator started, it would come out quickly. Bonus!, you
could
use up the tired gas, once it was started, I'll bet it would
run on it
ok.

I'm not sure you can revive flat gas. But, who knows?

I like name brand gas. Mobil seems to last a bit longer than the
discount brands. Stabil and Pri G are supposed to help. Do they?
I don't know for sure.

A hearty congratulations for running your generator every month.
I know I should, but I do not. I know what you mean about doing
this in the dark. Hint: Buy a battery power head lamp. Worth
every penny when you are working and it's dark and you need to
see. I own and use several strap on head lamps.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use.
I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5
minutes once a
month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a
year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees
out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It
wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that
didn't help. I
changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the
most volatile
parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is
inadequate to
start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I could
add to the old
gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no outage so
far, and the
generator finally started) but I would hate to have to do this
in the dark
during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing the gas more
often...)

Thanks.

Even using stabiliser guarntees nothing, you are best to run it dry, you
are definatly leaving old gas in to long as you have issues, you are
ruining the carb slowly.

On Feb 4, 8:58 pm, "Pete C." wrote:
Art Todesco wrote:

Pop` wrote:
Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I
have done the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes
once a month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is
about once a year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't
help. I changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it,
the most volatile parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something
behind that is inadequate to start the engine; is that correct? Is
there anything I could add to the old gas to revive it? Everything
worked out fine (no outage so far, and the generator finally started)
but I would hate to have to do this in the dark during a real outage.
(I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)
Thanks.

Are you adding the proper amount of stabilizer? Too much will make an
engine hard to start.
I fill the tank, use about half the stabilizer amount suggested, and then
start the machine every second weekend, third on occasion, more often when
the mood strikes. Have never had a problem with having to change the gas,
but it would be my first choice if I had serious trouble starting it. I
also keep a can of ether starting spray handy just in case. Seldom use it,
but it's worth a fortune when it is needed.

So maybe a little less stabilizer and starting it more often and let it run
until it warms up every couple weeks would help a lot.

Pop`
This has been a real interesting thread.
I totally gave up using stabilizer years
ago, because, every time I've put the
required amount in the tank, the engine
would not start the next time. I will
have to try the 1/2 amount approach.

I've been using stabilizer for years, in the amount specified and have
never had any issues. In the case of the OP's Honda EU2000i there
shouldn't even be evaporation from the gas since it has a selectable
vent on the gas cap that should be kept closed when not running.

I would check the condition of the plug and oil and then try starting it
with as little ether as I can get away with to get it going. Of course
open the gas cap vent and perhaps check it to make sure it is really
opening.

Pete C.


I had fuel storage issues when my state switched over to gasohol.
Gas with alcohol in it goes to crap much quicker- not to mention the
fact that anything without closed-loop mixture control runs 14% lean
on gasohol, making starting harder, and making it run lean.

Dave

Toller wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes once a
month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is about once a
year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't help. I
changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the most volatile
parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is inadequate to
start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I could add to the old
gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no outage so far, and the
generator finally started) but I would hate to have to do this in the dark
during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)

Thanks.



Try keeping a can of WD40 near the generator. When it won't start,
remove the air filter and spray the WD40 directly into the carburetor
throat. Full choke and it should start, leave the choke on until the
engine starts to flood out, and it should continue to run after that.

The WD40 will not "wash away" the oil on the cylinder wall as badly as
will ether or starting fluid. Also, the WD is slightly oily, helping
replace any oil it does displace. Lastly, even the reformulated WD40 is
highly flammable, it just doesn't have the flammable gas propellants any
more. Where they used to use butane and propane, they now use carbon
dioxide.

The fuel stabilizer isn't the problem, the evaporation in the carburetor
itself most likely is the problem. The gas in the bowl and main jet dry
up leaving a film of varnish (and even stabilizer). Running the engine
regularly will keep this film flushed out, but starting it and then
shutting it off right away will in turn foul the spark plug, making it
hard to start for different reasons. Start the engine and run it for at
least 10 to 15 minutes to reach full operating temperature.

Hondas have always had precise carburetors, and although they don't
normally require warm up on choke, they will still do better on "old"
fuel if given a chance to warm up on part choke. Other engines may
require more or less choke, depending on the condition of the carb,
engine overall, and fuel.

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in
:

I'm not sure you can revive flat gas. But, who knows?

I like name brand gas.

Funny,because all the gas in an area comes from the same terminal.
Additives may differ,though.Tank maintenance may vary from station to
station,too.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

On Tue, 6 Feb 2007 21:56:44 -0500, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

I'm not sure you can revive flat gas. But, who knows?

I like name brand gas. Mobil seems to last a bit longer than the
discount brands. Stabil and Pri G are supposed to help. Do they?
I don't know for sure.

A hearty congratulations for running your generator every month.
I know I should, but I do not. I know what you mean about doing
this in the dark. Hint: Buy a battery power head lamp. Worth
every penny when you are working and it's dark and you need to
see. I own and use several strap on head lamps.

I have one of those head lamps. It really makes some things easier. I
regular flashlight can be impossible to position correctly.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

In article ,
Husky wrote:
...snipped...
Try keeping a can of WD40 near the generator. When it won't start,
remove the air filter and spray the WD40 directly into the carburetor
throat. Full choke and it should start, leave the choke on until the
engine starts to flood out, and it should continue to run after that.



WD40 is not even close to working like starting fluid and in many cases
will make things WORSE. (Speaking from 29+ years experience in vehicle
and mobile equipment maintenance) Where it CAN be helpful is hard/no
start conditions resulting from wet or worn ignition system components
such as spark plug wires, distributor caps, and ignition coils. Spraying
it on the exterior of these items will displace water and help insulate
them, often enabling an engine to start. BTW the 'WD' stands for "Water
Displacing"



--
Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.
--Benjamin Franklin

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf.lonestar.org

On Feb 4, 5:02 pm, "Toller" wrote:
I have a 4 year old Honda EU2000i with about 200 hours of use. I have done
the proper maintenance on it.
I leave it with gas and gas stabilizer, and start it up for 5 minutes once a
month. When it gets hard to start I change the gas; that is about once a
year.

Tonight we had 2 brief power losses, and since it is 5 degrees out, I
thought it would be a good idea to warm up the generator. It wouldn't
start. I brought it in the house for a half hour, but that didn't help. I
changed the gas; that did the trick. As I understand it, the most volatile
parts of the gas evaporate, leaving something behind that is inadequate to
start the engine; is that correct? Is there anything I could add to the old
gas to revive it? Everything worked out fine (no outage so far, and the
generator finally started) but I would hate to have to do this in the dark
during a real outage. (I mean, besides changing the gas more often...)

Thanks.

I also have a Honda EU2000i. It's about 8 months old. Every couple of
months or so, I pour a little bit of gas in the tank and start it and
let it run completely dry (usually about 1/2 to 1 hour). I use gas
with double the amount of recommended stabilizer in it.

To start the EU2000i, I pour a little bit of gas in the tank and turn
the choke and fuel valve on. Then I pull on the starter rope VERY
GENTLY and fairly slowly about 8 to 10 times and it always fires right
up. It's not a problem. It's very easy. Just don't get rough with it.

I use the same gasoline that I use for my lawnmower so it never gets
to old, maybe 6 months old or so at the most. If it gets older than
that, I pour it into my car.

On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:11:39 -0600, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

In article .com,
"Eric in North TX" wrote:

Ether? I'm not a huge fan of the magic juice, but if I needed to get
the generator started, it would come out quickly. Bonus!, you could
use up the tired gas, once it was started, I'll bet it would run on it
ok.

Same here on the ether. It might be time for a new spark plug
and air cleaner filter.

Dean
Same here on the ether.

I have a lawn mower that runs fine, but it will never start without a
jolt of ether first (known as starting fluid, in an aerosol can. Some
cans say they include "top cylinder lubricant" and they sell for the
same price.)

When I had a '67 Pontiac, before fuel injection and electronic
ignition, it was hard to start in the winter. I ran some small
diameter aquarium tubing from the glove box through the fire wall to
the carburetor. I took the small stiff tube that fits into the top of
some aerosol can buttons, and I cut it in 2 pieces, part on the can,
to which I attached the hose, and part in the carb end of the hose, to
make it come out as a spray and not a dribble. Then when it was cold
out, I only had to open the glove box and spray some ether and the car
started every time, for more than 2 winters. Easy to do. No more
opening the hood.

mm wrote:
On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:11:39 -0600, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

In article .com,
"Eric in North TX" wrote:

Ether? I'm not a huge fan of the magic juice, but if I needed to get
the generator started, it would come out quickly. Bonus!, you could
use up the tired gas, once it was started, I'll bet it would run on
it ok.

Same here on the ether. It might be time for a new spark plug
and air cleaner filter.

Dean
Same here on the ether.

I have a lawn mower that runs fine, but it will never start without a
jolt of ether first (known as starting fluid, in an aerosol can. Some
cans say they include "top cylinder lubricant" and they sell for the
same price.)

When I had a '67 Pontiac, before fuel injection and electronic
ignition, it was hard to start in the winter. I ran some small
diameter aquarium tubing from the glove box through the fire wall to
the carburetor. I took the small stiff tube that fits into the top of
some aerosol can buttons, and I cut it in 2 pieces, part on the can,
to which I attached the hose, and part in the carb end of the hose, to
make it come out as a spray and not a dribble. Then when it was cold
out, I only had to open the glove box and spray some ether and the car
started every time, for more than 2 winters. Easy to do. No more
opening the hood.

You must have had bad hose/s because that story is full of holes, too, and
not true.

Yeah that ether can would have enough power to "spray" the distance of the
hose to the carb!
searcher