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1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis Econolines. E150, E250, E350, E450 and E550

Troubleshooting Carb problem

Old Oct 12, 2015 | 08:51 PM
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kennyfzj80
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Troubleshooting Carb problem

I am completely new to carbs.

1987 460 Carb E350

Everytime the van sits for more than a week, I experience very rough starts and idles.

Today I decided to pop the air cleaner off and take a look.

The choke plate seems to stuck really hard. I can not push it closed whatsoever. When I depress the gas, I can close it with my hand but even then it seems like it is sticking.

When I close it manually while depressing the gas, the car idles very nicely.

As soon as I give it a little gas, the choke plate opens up a little more, gets stuck and the engine either sputters bad or stalls out.

Any thoughts? Am I looking at a fuel pump issue also?
 
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:16 PM
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first thing I would do is try some spray carb/choke cleaner around the choke plate and the ends of the choke plate rod where it goes through the air horn. Then the choke linkages. The butterfly/choke plate should move freely back and forth when the gas peddle is depressed.
What brand and model number carburetor is it? there should be a metal tag under one of the screws on top of the carb with numbers stamped on it unless someone has worked on the carb and never replaced it..

I am not very familiar with 4 bbl carbs but every carb i have worked on, when the choke is in the open position, the peddle has to be depressed before the choke plate will close. There are adjustments on the side to regulate how muh and wen it opens and closes.. But for now i would simply try cleaning the choke to see if you can get it moving freely..
Also on some carbs you need to be careful when replacing the air breather and make sure you get it back in the right place so it doesnt hit any of the adjustments or coke rod..

does your carb look like this?
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=524&jpid=0

or
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=524&jpid=1

notice the red tag? yours may not be red..
 
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