Rough Dauntless

I've done a search and haven't really found a post explaining my problem or a fix to it (though I have a pretty good idea). As $$$ allows I've been working on the CJ-6. I've replaced or rebuilt the fuel tank, lines, pump, filter, and carb.

The problem I'm having is that everyother time I fire it up (or so it seems) it won't run properly. When it runs good it has that Dauntless roughness at idle, but smooths out when you give it gas. However, occasionally when I start it, the motor seems as though its only firing on one side. When I give it gas it does not smoothout. There is no power and it misses pretty bad. If I let it try to idle it will die. When I do give it gas, occasionally it sounds as though it wants to fire on all cylinders, but just won't. Also, there is a stronger smell of fuel when the motor dies or is shut off. I've pulled plug wires on the right side of the motor when it does this and there is no chage in the the way it runs.

I haven't tackled distributor/electrical as of yet. I'm pretty much learning as I go and my service manual really isn't being too much help here. Any ideas as to whats going on? Other than 'Jeep Gremlins' why would it run OK one time and not the next?

 

I'm interested in an answer as well. Mine does the same thing. I cleaned the points and changed a visibly bad plug wire and it seemed better but not always. Drivers side exhaust is smooth, pass side is rough. When (and if) you get on the gas it usually smooths out. I've got the TH 400 and it wants to bog down when you put it in gear.

Paul

 

First I'd do a compression check. Then, plug wires that look ok but are old will often cause misfiring. The humidity will change this a lot. If the plug wires are more than a few years old, I would replace them. Carbon tracking in the distrbutor cap or on the rotor will cause a misfire too.

Then, just go down the list. Fuel, spark, timing, compression.