Starting problem after storage

[cyrille768]

Ive had a 86 and an 85 fj that were both hard to start after being stored over the winter. Once I got it going
they both ran good over the summer.  My usual routine would be to take the tank off, attach a turkey baster to the fuel line and fill with gas, use a car battery to turn it over take a break because it wouldnt start and repeat until it did.
I was wondering if using the  baster was causing flooding because i ve checked the fuel bowl level and it seems okay

What procedure is the best to get it running? 

The 86 was for sale but Im going to keep it  if I can get it running

[FJmonkey]

How long was the storage? Why are you removing the tank? Did you take storage precautions? Use Sta-bil (or equivalent), drain the carbs, run the engine one a month? Have you checked other systems? Getting good spark, run switch in the "On" position...etc.. Try draining the carbs and using some fresh fuel. It's not rocket science, you will figure it out.

[jack02]

Looks like I'm going to be in for fun 'n' games in a few weeks,my '89 has been dormant for going on 15 months now. We moved house in the first week of '09 and the FJ got shoved in the garage and well,just got 'forgotten about' as it needed some attention to the exhaust but there was always something needed doing to the 'new' house and money had to be found for this or that. Being one of life's terminally broke meant the FJ lost out and as time went by it kinda drifted off the radar. Yeah,I know... Anyway,after Xmas '09 it came sharply back into focus for some reason and I made it clear to the missus that this sorry state of affairs can't go on,and that one way or another I'm going to be back on the road this Spring.

I made no storage preparations whatsoever,the FJ just kinda slid into hibernation as I never intended to take it off the road - always meaning to get around to fixing it but having to postpone it because something more pressing had come up. Well I've sorted out an exhaust and will be fitting a new battery and changing all fluids etc in the first week of April when I'll have some time off work. A coupla weeks ago I pulled the carbs,expecting them to be full of some kind of congealed mess as I didn't drain them. Quite surprised that they were perfectly alright but I stripped them completely anyway. Much is made of the need to drain carbs before a lay-up but every jet and orifice in mine were totally clear and nothing showed any hint of stickiness. Must be good juice around here (England!). Whilst pulling the carbs I whipped out the spark plugs and squirted a little 'maintenance spray' in the cylinders. Waited ten minutes then tentatively tried turning the motor over by hand.... no problem at all and nice slurping sounds coming from the plug holes as I turned. So far so good. Took a look at the clutch slave piston and decided to dismantle that... not so good,being infested with that white crystalline stuff you get when brake fluid evaporates(?). More expense,and as the front brake is utterly jammed on I'm expecting more expense in that area. I envisage one of those scenarios where one thing leads to another - I've already got half the thing in the kitchen and a steadily growing list of bits required. Good job I've got a good woman. Roll on April,whatever she may bring.