I just tried to start my 1956 Ford Card. It turns over but will not start. It sounds like it isn't getting any gasoline to the carburetor. I changed the fuel line filter.

It takes a surprising amount of liquid gasoline to fire an engine when fuel is not atomized by the carburetor.

You need at least a tablespoons and it needs to be down the throat of the carburetor or into the intake manifold.

Try the following; Remove the air filter assembly and filter. Spray a 2 second burst of starter fluid directly down the carburetor throat. Promptly start.

You have not mentioned the year, make, and model, but here are the suggestions.
Probably you have a gummed up carburetor. Gasoline can evaporate whilst sitting, and will leave a residue inside the carburetor that will prevent starting. You may need to remove the carburetor and/or float inside, and have it thoroughly cleaned.
You may also need to address the gasoline in the gas tank, as it can turn "stale" over the many months, and it too may be "spoiled".
Solutions are to 1) run the mower at the end of the mowing season until it runs out of gas, which should help prevent "gumming".
2) Add a chemical additive to prevent gumming and keep gas fresh during the winter.
God bless your efforts..

It sounds very much like the carburetor's float valve is stuck shut, not allowing gasoline to enter the carburetor. Try tapping on the side of the carburetor several times with a screwdriver handle while a helper cranks the engine.

It's also possible that the choke isn't closing for a cold start, or that someone has fiddled with your idle mix screw, turning it fully closed. If you're SURE that nobody has tampered with the idle mix screw, it may be time to pull the carburetor off for a thorough internal cleaning & possibly a rebuild kit.

Larry - the manual isn't really going to help you get this started. Press the primer bulb - if provided a couple of times to get gasoline into the cylinder. You may hear it squirt - or even see it drip from the carburetor. Try starting. If it didn't, remove the spark plug. Is it wet with gasoline? Is the chamber filled with gasoline fumes (you can slowly pull the starter rope to move the piston up and force the air in the cylinder out to smell for gasoline). It wet, dry it throughly. If there is no gasoline odor, give a brief spray of starting fluid or ether into the spark plug opening - and install a new plug - or the clean old one. Attempt to start again. If it tries to start and sputters, you likely have a fuel delivery issue. Make sure the shut off valve at the bottom of the tank or inline on the fuel line is open. If it is, I suspect that the float in the carburetor or needle valve needs to be cleaned / adjusted or replaced. You may want to have this done for you as there are some very small parts involved and attention to detail when re-assembling will be required. Carburetor rebuild kits are available for most of these engines.

The carburetor ports and jets are likely clogged with gum from fuel that contains Ethanol. Avoid using any gasoline that contains Ethanol in small engines. Use only 100% gasoline. You can try the simple method first by adding some Lucas to the gasoline and a tad bit directly into the carburetor. Also, remove the bowl under the carburetor to see if it's gummed up and stopping the float from setting and rising. Simply clean the gum off with carburetor cleaner and replace the bowl. If this doesn't work then you'll likely need to remove the carburetor and do a thorough cleaning on it. Be sure to replace with new gaskets.

Hi aguicel68...
Check and make sure your fuel is making to the carburetor, by removing the fuel line from the carburetor, inserting it into a can that will hold gasoline and cranking over the motor a couple of turns to be sure the filter is not plugged
If not then I think your problem is a stuck inlet fuel float or you have a hole in the float causing it to seal the fuel off from coming into the carburetor.
Try to tap lightly the carburetor top bottom and sides with a small hammer around the fuel float area of the carburetor and see if that will loosen the float valve and needle if so then that cleared the problem.
If not then you will have to disassemble,rebuild or buy a new/rebuilt carburetor.
Please take time to rate me

I am speaking from my Yamaha XS1100, with 4 carburetors.It is a 1980 model, but the carburetors are always gunking up, especially if it sits over winter with gasoline in the tank. This also happens more frequently with the alcohol laced fuel that you have to buy now days. The alcohol causes it to absorb water that mixes with the gasoline and alcohol to form a sticky gunk that blocks up the orifices in the carburetors. The first thing that you can try is to get some Seafoam additive, or maybe Textron. Pour out all of the gasoline in your tank and change the inline filters if possible. Fill the tank with fresh gasoline and add the Seafoam in a generous amount. Allow the bike to sit over night and try to start it. You may get lucky and get the bike to fire up. If it runs rough and doesn't smooth out, you may have to clean your carburetor. See: http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/2002-yamaha-yz426fp/o/m8901#sch252680

For a breakdown of your carb.

usually this is air trapped in the system. Try leaving the cap loose on cold start and run engine until upper hose gets hot (ie thermostat opens). That should burp air. Then keep system full as it cools down. so it uscks coolant back in as it cools. Then, tighten cap.

Unable to crank? Do you mean unable to start?

If you leave gasoline inside tank over long period of time, that will 'gum-up' and ruin carburetor.
To prevent problem, put additive in gasoline or empty gas from tank:: under gas tank should be a hex bolt that holds up gas filter > loosen bolt and drain gas.

Starting the engine:
Take off air filter and spray WD-40 directly into carburetor.
Start engine, engine should fire on the WD-40 accelerant.
If engine fires but does not keep running, try spraying WD-40 into carburetor continuously to see if you can keep engine going.
If engine stops each time after it no longer gets WD-40, then carburetor is bad or gasoline not getting to carburetor or gasoline is bad.
Try fresh gasoline.
Do not turn small engine on side or upside down or oil will get into carburetor.

Check gas supply: Go to gas filter under gas tank. Pull loose rubber hose that connects to carburetor and see if gas comes out rubber hose.
If gas is flowing to carburetor, then carburetor is gummed up.
Small engine repair might suggest 'gum out' or have other suggestions ... but you may need a new carburetor

If engine will not fire on WD-40
If engine will not fire on WD-40 at all, then spark coil may be bad or exhaust port is clogged
Check screen that covers exhaust >> is it covered with carbon and dirt or can air pass through it easily?
Check spark
Remove spark plug
Put spark wire back on spark plug
Hold spark plug by rubber spark cap so hands don't touch metal part of spark plug
Touch spark plug threads against hole where spark plug was removed >>> metal to metal so it conducts electricity
Pull start cord and look for sparking between spark plug threads and metal of engine (don't look at the spark gap ... look where metal meets metal
If you have no spark, the spark coil is bad >> time for estimate from small engine repair shop or get your part number and order replacement

if it was me i would start with a new fuel filter and some STP gas treatment if you let it sit for a long time there maybe water in the gas tank and try these websites to see if they have your motorhome listed its www.autozone.com and the other one is www.alladtadiy.com if all fails stop by your local library and get your hands on a Haynes auto repair manual for your motor home