So was the engine sputtering on all cylinders (assuming it's a multi cylinder engine) or did it seem to be missing on one or two cylinders? If the former, I'd be looking at fuel supply. As mentioned, it could be dirty filter, water in the fuel, clogged gas cap vent, old rubber hose getting hot and swelling shut, fuel pump going bad.
If the latter, I'd look at the magnetic pickup, the modern thing that replaced the old style points.
As far as taking a while to get going again, it could either have been fuel finally getting to the carbs or the pickup cooling off. Need more details as to brand, model, year, sounds it made or the way it acted, etc.
|