Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Carb trouble

Today the burb stranded me. The float is sticking on my 1 barrel. I rebuilt it 2 months ago. What's wrong? (1959-235 6 cyl)

Is it a Rochester?
Is float sticking or did it sink?
I've had brand new needle and seats stick shut.
It's been reported on one of the Inliner forums that the gaskets are sometimes too big and float may hang up on gasket. Trimming gasket fixes this.
Another possibility:
On my Chevelle the tank was rusty and the filter sock had a hole in it.
The chunk of rust inside the sock would suck up to suction line, car would "run out of gas".
Except I didn't know this.
I'd get out thinking it was the carb, tap on it with screwdriver handle while saying appropriate words, car would then start, I'd go home and tinker on carb again.
Of course what really happened was vacuum in suction line would bleed off and rust would fall off allowing car to start after bowl re-filled.
Something to consider.

I opened up the carb and there was a good bit of trash. Cleaned it out, cut the gasket a little bigger around the floats and it runs fine. We'll see how it does.

I never thought about trimming the gasket until I read the tech article in "12 Port News". What a great tip that has turned out to be for many of us.

A good fuel filter will solve this forever.

There Two ways to do this:

First; is to put a "glass bowl" type in front of the fuel pump. This allows you to inspect & empty the contents from time to time.

Second; Install & "in line" type after the pump vertically on the passenger side of the engine. This should be done with brass "comprsssion" type fittings.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES place it horizontaly above the intake/exhaust manifolds with rubber hoses & metal clamps.

As a Damage Apraiser for 7 years, I saw way to many of these burn up nice cars because someone wanted to save money, in a hurry or didn't know any better......

Good luck, John M......

Whaaaaaat?
I have the glass bowl filter now and it's sitting on top of the intake.....connected with metal hoses and clamps.
So I should move the glass bowl filter in front of the fuel pump?

YES!

If it leaks up there a major fire will occur.
Always use brass fittings on fuel lines.

You can get a replacement steel line from pump to carb. An 'orginal' type fuel pump has the filter built in, which is the way I like to do it. Less fitings & possible leaks.

Good luck, John M...

Another issue is that new needle valve seats aren't chamfered any more by the manufacturer, and the sharp edge hangs up on the needle. I take a steel ball bearing and a punch and tap a chamfer into the brass seat, which gives a larger surface for the needle to seal against and doesn't tend to hang up as easily.

I always carry a fire extingisher in my van just incase a fire or explosion happens.

The engine has to be very hot before a fire will start.

One time I managed to get home 10 blocks with a malfuntioning carb it was at night and I did not realize that the gas was just POURING out of the top of the monojet carb and it never caught fire.

John M Were can you get origial type fuel pump with a glass filter.? I have seen it before too

My big problem with the Rochester toilet bowl one barrel was flooding. Had to install an adjustable fuel press. regulator inline, solved all the trouble. There have been many how-tos, remedies, tech tips on these carbs over the year, just a clue as to the problems living inside these "Toilet bowls".

UPDATE

It was the fuel filter. After the float hung a couple more times I went to the parts store to buy a new filter. After talking with the knowledgable clerk I realised my glass tube filter was missing the lock nut. It's supposed to hold the cylinder filter in place and seal it so the gass passes through the filter. Mine had no nut. The filter was laying in the glass tube doing nothing. It was sitting at the wrong end of the tube.
So.... I have purchased a nut to fix it. Will do so soon.
Just a little surprise left over from the previous owner.