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Fuel problem suggestions

Here's my follow-up to an earlier post (thanks to Olli and others :-).

{SB 74, converted to carb, electrical fuel pump, stock carb 34-Pict}

Tried starting my Bug after a month of inactivity. While checking the rear lights and with key turned so that battery kicks in, fuel pumped into the carb in copious amounts causing gas to dribble out and fall to the ground. Took off the air cleaner and witnessed gas being pumped into carb like a faucet and running water (continuous arching flow).

After panicking, I took the key out and cleaned up the mess. Put key back in after a while ran back to the engine....no more gas leaks. Hmmmmm, tried starting the car and it tried to turn over but remained in 'chugging' mode. I'm thinking that now there's no gas entering the carb.

Any ideas what I should do or replace? Fuel pump? Carb? User error?

TIA,

Tom

Reply to
Bugzai
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Glad we can help.

The carburettor needle valve should stop the gas flowing when the carburettor bowl is full. If the needle valve is faulty or the bowl float is sticking or punctured, the pump will flood the carb with gasoline. Take the carb top off and check the bowl float. You may have to replace the needle valve.

If your engine is full of gas, eventyally it will flow to exhaust and vaporize/burn there. Don't stand behind the pea shooters in short pants when you get it going.

Reply to
Olli Lammi

My guess:

After a month of inactivity, the gas in your carb bowl evaporated, the float in your carb (or the needle valve) stuck open, and let the carb bowl overflow into your intake manifold when your electric fuel pump turned on. When the intake manifold filled up, it overflowed out the carb and onto the engine.

I am betting that you are massively flooded - like a gallon of gas in your intake manifold, cylinders, and muffler. BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

I would wait a day, and then try again. Attempt the start outside - not in a garage. And it wouldn't hurt to have a fire extinguisher handy.

Reply to
Patrick

What kind of fuel pump are you using? I really hope it's not the stock fuel injection pump - they put out way too much pressure for a poor carb.

Reply to
J Stafford

Hi John/Olli/Patrick,

Thanks for the great advice. Sorry for the delay in posting. Drove back on business from the 'rock' here in Ontario, Canada known as 'Sudbury'. Home of Inco and other mining ventures.

John, the fuel pump is stock...I think. It's installed under the floorpan area beneath the gas tank. I crawled under there to take a look. Seems to have a plastic filter or 'holder/canister' that is piped to the fuel pump. Pipe/hose continues through floorpan center as per Bentley manual. I've taken notice before with this fuel pump (I'm assuming that's what it is) as it emits a ticking sound when the battery is turned on. Always thought it was faulty or something due to the ticking sound. No sign of a manufacturers label or anything.

I'll check the carburetor needle...once I find where the heck it is :) Patrick, good advice on moving it out of the garage. I was thinking of that on the long drive back from Northern Ontario. Last fire I had was in my old Beetle when my little kids were in the back seats (battery terminals contacted metal springs on rear seats and created sparks which caused the horse hair to ignite). Good things the kids were light as I turned into the Incredible Hulk and grabbed each by the shirt collar and tossed them out of the car, one-by-one in rapid succession :P

Sounds like the advice is to check the needle...which I'll try tomorrow. I'd sure like to have had the Beetle on the trip just completed. But then again, the modern conveniences of cruise control and auto door locks are nice!

Tom

Reply to
Bugzai

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