Great. You have made some improvements. You need to adjust the HS needle at full throttle.
Not at less than 1/2 throttle where the video is showing the motor running. Your carb needle’s
tip should be up pretty far above the cap. I don’t know the dimension off the top of my head but
if your’s is only an 1/8″ to 1/4″ of an inch or so then that is not correct. The bowl is not full.
Now get rid of that fuel line abortion that you have. Use 1 piece copper or aluminum tubing
with the correct fittings. If you like rubber fuel line with an inline filter then you need different fittings.
Don’t mix them. A fuel filter is a good idea but not the way you have it now. You don’t need two.
Did you clean the fuel tank? Did you look for the tiny filter in the tank? Is it in good working condition?
Yes there are clips on the carb bowl needle. I use cork floats sealed with the Aero Gloss Dope. The sierra
plastic float is great if you set it up properly. Did you? How is your needle attached to the float?
Do not run your fuel line with “uphill” bends. It won’t work properly when you are low on fuel. Here is a
picture of fittings for the fuel line or fuel tank.
Yes, I’m aware of the issue with the float needle being too low. That’s why I’m starved for fuel. It was fine for awhile, but after a few tries it stopped working properly. I thought maybe the fuel was low in the tank and not supplying the carb bowl, so I even added a little to the tank. I was intentionally running it low so if I had to remove it I wasn’t draining/dripping a ton of fuel all over everything.
To answer your questions directly…
“You need to adjust the HS needle at full throttle.
Not at less than 1/2 throttle where the video is showing the motor running.”
Yes, but I was unable to get the motor running at full throttle. I would give it advance but it acted like I wasn’t doing anything. Played with it a little, no changes to speak of so I did my best with where I was.
“Your carb needle’s tip should be up pretty far above the cap. I don’t know the dimension off the top of my head but
if your’s is only an 1/8″ to 1/4″ of an inch or so then that is not correct. The bowl is not full.”
I understand that. I am fully aware of what the needle looks like when the bowl is full. It was working, then it stopped.
“Now get rid of that fuel line abortion that you have. Use 1 piece copper or aluminum tubing
with the correct fittings. If you like rubber fuel line with an inline filter then you need different fittings.”
If you can point me to where to get the fitting for the carb inlet (gas line needle gland, part number 132691) then please do. I have searched the world and ended up robbing one from the fuel shutoff from another carb I bought for parts. I’ve checked McMaster Carr, etc, etc. They entire brass pipe/fittings are available on EBay, but most of the sellers are jacking the prices to unbelievable heights. More info on this “abortion” below…
Bottom line on this question…I would love a website where I can buy the male needle gland fitting!!!!!! I will be amazed if you can show me one.
“Don’t mix them. A fuel filter is a good idea but not the way you have it now. You don’t need two.”
I don’t have two. The original that usually sits in the tank is not in there. I could not find a FIP to FIP (1/8) anywhere (I wanted and needed a petcock), so I started with the petcock and worked down from there. It is TEMPORARY only, just to see where I stood on if the motor was going to run or not.
I do have the original fuel line and tank fitting. Again, the ABORTION was TEMPORARY while I ensured the tank was clean, the motor would run, etc.
“Did you clean the fuel tank?”
Um, DUH! Only about 10 times. It was pure, hardened lacquer. I soaked it in denatured alcohol for 3 days, rinsed and did it again. Followed up with a fuel tank cleaner I got from Autozone. I then opened up about 15 dove load shotgun shells and loaded them and more fuel tank cleaner into the tank and shook it like the dickens. Up, down, sideways, you name it! I still ended up getting some sludge in the carb bowl screen, but eventually everything cleaned up.
“Did you look for the tiny filter in the tank? Is it in good working condition?”
I think you are talking about the screen at the top of the fuel fitting that goes into the tank. If so, yes, I cleaned it and have it ready to install.
“Yes there are clips on the carb bowl needle. I use cork floats sealed with the Aero Gloss Dope.”
I know about the clips, that’s why I mentioned them. I’ve had my share of carbs apart. Where can I get some Dope? I’m in California, EPA does not allow most of that stuff anywhere in CA and you can’t even ship it in. I’ve searched the internet and cannot find any that is not 20 years old and 20 times the price it should be.
“The sierra plastic float is great if you set it up properly. Did you? How is your needle attached to the float?”
I don’t know how to set up the plastic float properly, that is why I ASKED up above how to do so. I didn’t want to ruin anything, so for now all I did was make the hole at the top of the float barely big enough (3/32″?) for the float needle to fit through then hoped that the interference fit would do the job and hold it in place. Obviously that is not the case, since the float stopped doing its job.
If you read my post, even though I had initial success, it was short-lived as the float bowl started emptying very quickly and the motor would starve for fuel and die. I watched the needle rise, then started it again. Same symptoms, every time. Not sure why.
“Do not run your fuel line with “uphill” bends. It won’t work properly when you are low on fuel. Here is a picture of fittings for the fuel line or fuel tank.”
Yes, I’m aware that this is a gravity fed carburetor. I already have the fitting on the right.
Can you help with:
1.) I’m making floats tomorrow. Where can I get some Dope?
2.) What is the BEST way to attach the plastic floats to the needle?
3.) If I can’t get dope, I’m going to run without it. Tubs has a 2 or 3 year experiment showing the floats continue to “FLOAT” for 3 years sitting in fuel/oil mix. Your thoughts?
4.) What do you use for packing for the HS needle?
5.) Is it possible I have a vacuum leak and that is why I’m surging?
Thanks again,
Best Regards,
John Gragg
RIverside, CA
Just starting in the hobby, please be patient.
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