Cold starting issue once in a while

OK I got 82 550 Maxim.
It runs good and everything but I run into some weird problem once in a while.
When engine is cold If I don't get it started very first time(With chock on of course) then I have a hell of a time starting it.
Best way I know is to bump start it which it does OK.
Is there better way to get it going if you mis start the first time?

 

Do you mean that the starter won't engage and crank after the first try? or do you mean the starter will crank fine but it just won't fire.

If it doesn't crank after the first try, i'd suspect a weak battery.
If it cranks and won't fire, i'd check the battery again, weak batteries can prevent a weak/no spark when the starter is engaged.

Any one else with thoughts?

 

My '81 has developed an issue, if I haven't run it in a few days I need to start it in "Pri" then switch to "run" once it's running. (I suspect a "lazy" automatic petcock or a slow vacuum leak somewhere in that system.) Try starting it on "Pri" and then switch to "run" once it's running off the choke, see what happens...although KRS is right, your description of the symptoms is open to interpretation...

 

starter engages and turns over really well but does not fire if I miss the first time. I don't know if it is flooded or something else.
I know we probably got spoiled by fuel injection for past while and we forgot about these carburatted engines.

 

check your battery voltage sitting with key off, if it's like 11v that's yer problem. You can also pull one of the plugs and ground out the strap to the engine, and crank it a couple times, make sure you actually have spark for a few tries, if you have spark on the first and no more after that, it could be a weak battery, or some other part of your ignition system is weak.

 

I'll bet it's a "lazy" petcock...or a split in the vacuum line TO the petcock...