new issue (banging head now)

[Kim K Kaiser]

I haven been able to check for the starter items until today,  so i went out and noticed a lot of fluids on the ground that had run down towards the front of the car as it was on a slope.  so i looked quickly and could see active dripping,, touched it, and it was gas!!!

i opens the hood, and up around the carb, i noticed a puddle of gas ( see picture attached)  i had seen this the other night when i was trying to figure out the starter thing and just figured it was from where i had pour some gas in carb to help start and figured it was run off or i had missed some.  so i absorbed it, cleaned it up dry.  noticed the accelerator pump was a little damp dried it too, and left car as it seemed the starter or straps had been problem,,   so i was surprised to see all the gas and fluid underneath,,, i checked the fuel filter and it was dry as well as the hoses.,  it looks like, but cant be sure, the highest point is the accelerator pump,, now would that continually leak for 4 days with out the engine running  to create this kind of leaking ?  what would be my procedure from here for diagnosis and repair,  if you can tell from the pictures.  that little pool is about an inch deep below he carburetor.. so it holding a fair amount of fuel,,guessing about as big as a thumb,, and the squiggly marks on the accelartore pump are gas and liquid below the rubber boot

thanks,,

[Kim K Kaiser]

HI Anders,, its  odd, your drawings didnt come up till later in the discussion.

anyway,, Yes, that is the part with the loose hose,, however, i have just gotten back from the engine,, and the little rubber boot on the carburetor is leaking gas,, and the little pit that one of my pictures refers to is beginning to fill back up again, from that boot,, i have identified that part as the boot around the accelerator pump shaft.  

seems odd to me,, just by simple physics that it would leak in off position, just by it being the highest point on the engine almost,,, is there pressure built up in these things somewhere....??

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Kim, is your car pointing nose down in a dip with a full tank of fuel? I can't see your pics, the site seems to be playing up. Could it be, the fuel in the tank is higher than the carb and its syphoning itself?

This is a long shot I know, but you mentioned in another thread, the car was parked in a dip in the driveway or something.... I thought.

Or am I on the wrong planet.

[Kim K Kaiser]

no,, you are correct, its pointed nose down, on a pretty good tilt,,, i dont know why it would be leaking out of that rubber boot from the accelerator shaft to the extent that it is.  its a lot of gas,, imo,  

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Get a pair of vice grips and clamp the flexible fuel line before the fuel pump if you can get to it ok. USE SOME THIN RUBBER OVER THE LINE so the vice grips don't damage the hose.....however, it wouldn't hurt to replace the line after clamping anyway...... Or, get a mate to help to tow the car a bit to get it in a better position.

The fuel sounds like it is syphoning itself, so don't be trying to start the bloody thing anymore until you've get the car on level ground. YOU NEED TO DO THIS SOON. If some friggin wombat lights a match, you'll end up with a Crispy Cadillac.

If you can't get to the flexible line, grab some rubber line, stuff a bolt of something in one end of it and disconnect the steel line to carb or even the fuel filter, shove the blocked off rubber line over the flared end of the steel line and clamp.

This will at least stop the fuel leak until you move the car.

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Further to that, it may have a gut load of fuel/gas in the a couple of cylinders too.

As above, GET THE BLOODY THING ON LEVEL GROUND. Pull the plugs out and see if any are wet. If the plugs are wet, you'll need to drop the oil, as fuel/gas will make it past the rings easily. If the plugs are dry, no real drama.

The weight of the fuel has managed to find the easiest way out, through the rubber boot on the accelerator pump plunger by the sounds of it.

I've only ever seen this happen once before about 30 years ago.  

[Kim K Kaiser]

Hi again,, i checked the plugs, pulled one and three, there are wet, and smell of gas.

what do you mean by  "drop the oil"  you mean drain it or let it settle while on flat ground.

what would cause this type of thing, ??

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Kim, I don't know why, but I can't reply to your post, so I've had to reply to my own.

What's happened is..... The level of the fuel in your tank is higher than the top of your carb.... liquids run down hill and its made its way to easiest escape, the top of the carb, but some has run into the manifold and cylinders.

Fuel in the oil will dilute it big time and on occasions, fuel in the oil can explode..... nothing too dramatic, it might blow the sump apart of lift the tappet covers and you'll need new underwear when it happens.  Poop flows better down hill too.

1st. So, your first job it to block off the fuel line or get the ol girl on level ground. A mate, a tow rope and a couple of minutes will sort that. (Remember, you'll have no brake booster either, so be prepared to push harder on the brake pedal.)

2nd. Get the plugs out and leave them out. Drain the engine oil and really let it drain, until it doesn't even drip into the oil catch container. (may as well do the filter while your there unless its already new)

3rd. Let the engine dry out and get the starter off and take it to a sparkie to test it. He'll be able to run a "bench test under load" 

If the starter is rooted, replace. and clean up all the earth wires the way Tony suggested.

4th. If the starter tests ok, you can then refit it and eliminate it from your potential issues and look further a field.

5th. Don't forget to put some nice shiny slippery wet stuff (Engine oil) back in the motor prior to trying to start the car.

As Tony would say.... enjoy.

[David Thomas]

Hi Kim, sorry you're having fuel issues. The reason your carburetor is leaking fuel, is, because the floats, one or both, may be fuel logged from a pin hole leak or the needle and seat are leaking and not shutting off the fuel flow. With the car parked facing down hill, the fuel tank is higher and exerting fuel pressure through the fuel system onto the carburetor float(s) needle and seat valves. If one or both are leaking, the fuel bowl will overflow, flood the cylinders and leak externally. The raw fuel will run down the cylinder walls and contaminate the oil in the crankcase. You'll need to drain the oil, refill with fresh oil and dry out the cylinders/plugs before trying to start the car. You also need to have the carburetor rebuilt to address the leaking float/valves. The leaking float/valves will create a rich condition and eventually cause severe running issues. Hope this helps. Keep us posted on what you find.

[Kim K Kaiser]

HI David,, thanks for your input as well,, i have gotten it on flat ground, pulled plugs,, all but one were wet,  will drain oil tonight, let it sit over night or at least a couple days as i have some chores to tend to here in MT and we have good 50degree weather ahead,,,will be sure to follow up with questions if something else goes south,, 

thanks for all the patience and input,, really is a lifesaver,, gies me confidence to carry on,, Sincerely kim

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

There is some solid merit on David's opinion on the floats as well. Once you get it started, if the fuel problem goes away, it was the syphoning effect as I suggested..

If however, the engine is still flooding and running like a dog, then yes, David's on the money with the floats.

Go easy when handling the PCV thingy too, as the Bakelite spacer under the carb it connects to can be quite fragile. 

[Kim K Kaiser]

Sounds good, will do i wilo report back after earl chg

[Kim K Kaiser]

For clarity, you mean disconnect the wire from the ignitiin switch to my flamethrower coil i just put in a whipe back, oh you mean the big wire that comes out of the center of the coil,,,right?