marine carb dripping fuel from booster

vector1 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 08:30 AM

so the carb is dripping fuel from the booster on one of the secondaries while the car is running, making it rich of course.

would this be the float level needing adjustment or possibly the needle sticking? there is no carb plate on the secondary side like there is on the primary, just a metering block. i'm at work so the tools are going to be minimal.

vector1 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 10:01 AM

turned the floats down, should get me home. the back one is still leaking out the sight hole, but should get me home. probably the needle.

zrayr · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 03:41 PM

if stranded w/o tools, try tapping on the side of the float bowl. Often this will dislodge any debris.

Z.

vector1 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2010, 07:03 PM

funny what a bit of teflon tape will do to a needle and seat.

StanJ · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vector1

funny what a bit of teflon tape will do to a needle and seat.

What? Teflon tape on a fuel system plumbing???

:::makes the cross sign with his fingers and backs quickly toward the door :::

Seriously, I know a lot of people use teflon tape on fuel line fittings, but it's always a gamble. Needle & seat assemblies as well as practically every metering orifice in the carb itself are allergic to the stuff should any of it get loose.

Jerry Clayton · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010, 08:52 PM

I have seen 3 cars burn to the ground at race tracks from teflon tape and electric fuel pumps

vector1 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2010, 02:29 AM

i really don't know where it came from. after i bought the car i had to replace a leaking fuel pump, and used paste on the pipe fittings at the fuel pump, everything after that i changed to flare or o-ring with an inline filter. the po/builder used teflon tape on the flared fitting going into the carb, i guess that would have to be the source but i have changed that also. no telling how long the journey took that piece of tape to find a home.

but you guys make some good points, electric fuel pumps and carbs, not something i had thought about.

stan, i tried your carb but it seems a little rich for this stock 351 and dual plane intake with 15+" vacuum, it'll have to wait for the other engine. it ran fine otherwise but i also want to hook up a pcv and vacuum advance for a more street friendly version.

oh, and it's not a marine carb as in the title, i tried to change that and missed.

StanJ · #8 (**permalink**) 05-17-2010, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vector1

stan, i tried your carb but it seems a little rich for this stock 351 and dual plane intake with 15+" vacuum....

No doubt. As originally calibrated for RD's engine, the idle circuit feed restrictions, transfer slot restrictors would be too large (rich) for your current engine. The main circuit air bleed i.d. is likely a bit too big as well for a mild street engine, requiring a larger main jet than I'd like to see for correct WOT operation, and therefore compounding the "rich on the bottom" problem. If you'd like to use that carb on your current engine, let me know and I'll send you the pieces needed to correct these issues.