I must be losing my touch. Fuel pump is getting fuel to the carb. But I can't seem to get the bowl full. It will start and run for 5 seconds and then run out of fuel. The needle and seat are clean. I have had it apart several times, and I'll be if I see what the trouble is. Help?
It starts back up after it dies ok, and then gives me 5 more seconds. Mostly with the choke on.

 

Are you absolutely sure your pump is keeping up? Unhook the fuel line from the carb and add a piece of fuel line to it and run it into a bottle. Crank the motor and take note on volume. If you should have a tester, check the pressure.

 

Very strong fuel flow, but no tester. I can't imagine that it can't keep up with idle. It just isn't filling the bowl.

 

Any more help?
Again: Pump delivers plenty of fuel into a container when cranking. Starts and runs for 3 seconds, then dies. Take top of carb off, and very little gasoline in the bowl.
Inlet/needle/seat are clear. Can my float possibly be THAT far out of adjustment? Only let's 3/16" of fuel into bottom of bowl?

 

Could the float have a hole in it causing it to sink to the bottom rather than, well, float? That would cause it to overfill the bowl, though, wouldn't it?


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That was my first thought. But that would cause the fuel level to be HIGH in the bowl. This carb (Model F1 with hand choke) has no site glass that I see.

 

Ya, I added a sentence questioning if a sunk float would overfill rather than under fill. Good luck!


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maybe the float is stuck.

 

That's possible. It sure moves freely when it is out though. I will check float level tonight as an easy one. I will have those screws worn out by the time I figure this out.

By the way: Love your thread on your truck! Very cool!

 

thanks man. it's a slow motion fix up!

 

Float level was ok. Tried to blow in though.....and nothing. Took the seat out, and behind it was a big clog. She is rolling now.

 

See... Never second guess your ability or knowledge, but don't overlook the basics!

 

I'm back to scratching my head. Now I have the opposite trouble. It will run well for a while, then like flipping a switch it will be flooding. I figured something in the seat or the needle hung up or a hole in the float. So I pull it apart, and find nothing. OK. So finally put it together again and it runs well, for a day....then back to flooding. What the? I'm wearing out the threads on these screws at this point. LOL. Standard equipment for going for a ride is now a screwdriver, rag and wrench for the fuel line. What am I overlooking on this darned thing? I just need a little more reliability out of this to make it fun to take to town more often.

 

Anyone? Anyone?

 

Maybe the fuel pump output pressure is too high (if it has been replaced recently); overcoming the needle and seat and forcing too much fuel into carb. Going to have to find a pressure gauge to check though. I would think 5 to 6 psi would be the correct output.


The only thing else I can think of would be too much pressure in the tank; but that should have been more problematic in hotter weather.