Ground Strap

I have uploaded three videos. One is trying to start without the Schumacher, trying to start with the Schumacher, and the final video is actual starting with the Schumacher. 

The one without the charger is what I normally experience and it will not start. Very confusing that I was able to start it the first try tonight. 

1) Not Starting Without Schumacher - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt3pBkUMOms

2) With Schumacher - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X5hBsQmJRw

3) Starting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iOlMNK5qmg

It does seem to be cranking slowly, even for a 6-volt system. Something is not right. Starter drawing too many amps or a resistance somewhere. Notice the fuel gauge bouncing as the load on the starter is increased and decreased by compression. A good test would be to find someone who can measure the starter draw in amps on the jeep as you try to start it. 

In the second video, it cranks about like it should. Two things you need to do: CHOKE IT! as my grampa would have said. When the engine is cold, it needs a richer mixture to fire up. If it was hot when you filmed that, I take it back. When it fires up, only push the choke in partway, it needs the choke until it warms up. How much? You need to learn that by experience. Every vehicle is different. When mine fires up, I put my first two fingers between the choke knob and the dash and push the choke in until my fingers stop it. I have another one that only allows me to push the choke in about the thickness of my fingers. After it warms up a bit, you can push it in all the way, a little at a time. The other thing is, crank on it until it starts. Give it a chance. It's not likely to start in one or two seconds of cranking. Lean on it until it goes. If it does not start in ten seconds or so, you might give the starter a break. It will take a lot more than that to damage anything.

In the third video, you choked it and it started. I think if you had leaned on it a bit longer it would have gone.

I think if you find out why it cranks slowly, and get over being afraid to stay on the starter, you'll be fine.  BW

Just worked out a similar issue with my sons cj5. It had been hard to start for about two years and I thought it was electrical. It would pull start fine, you could jump start it or if your timing was good, you could crank on it for a bit and then turn the key to run and it would fire right up. I was sure it was electrical. He brought it over about a week ago and the battery was low, checked and the generator was not charging. He wanted to go with an alternator, kids these days, so I changed that out and got it charging. Had a kit for the carburetor and it needed it. Rebuilt the YF and now it starts fine. Before the carb rebuild it would turn over fine but would not even hit. I was sure it was electrical but ended up being fuel related. 

Good luck,

Mike

  I'm sure you have said that all of your connections are clean and tight, but two of the most-overlooked connections are right there at the battery - the cable/post connections. Are they clean and shiny, inside and out, and tight?  

  The jumpy gas gauge still has me thinking we've got an amperage draw problem. A heavily-drawing starter can also steal all of the amperage in the system and leave none for the coil to use.

  BW