whats that button do?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
From: nowhere town nj
whats that button do?
i just noticed on my truck, an 86 f150 4x4. on teh righthand side of the bell housing cover on the firewall inside the truck, theres a little black box with a white button on top. its ford scripted so its original. but i really would liek to know "whats this button do?"
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
whats that button do?
ah lack of details...
just in case you dont know what the inertia switch is, its basically an interia-operated switch.. meaning in the even of a serious shock (like a serious accident) the switch will turn off, cutting off the fuel pump circuit.
just in case you dont know what the inertia switch is, its basically an interia-operated switch.. meaning in the even of a serious shock (like a serious accident) the switch will turn off, cutting off the fuel pump circuit.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
whats that button do?
This is also a good way to prevent the primary fuel bowl from sludging up on trucks that aren't used every day. Mine will dry out in3-4 days is I don't drive it. Popping the white button up shuts off the fuel pump so the carb will run dry, eliminating the slow dry out which leaves a layer of varnish with every occurence.
I intend to install a remote (and somewhat concealed) switch into this circuit which will; 1) give me a way to keep the my carb from building up varnish and, 2) give me a little added "anti-theft" factor.
I intend to install a remote (and somewhat concealed) switch into this circuit which will; 1) give me a way to keep the my carb from building up varnish and, 2) give me a little added "anti-theft" factor.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
whats that button do?
Dude, my carb specialist .... with 30+ years of experience ...says it should, it will and it has. Draining eliminates the varnish build up and helps an expensive rebuild to last longer.
There are people who own carb'd vehicles that have even gone so far as to install drains on their bowls. Another alternative ... recommended by a rebuilder ... is to just "crack" one of the lower bowl screws to drain the gas if the vehicle is going to sit for a while. I've found the inertia safety switch to be easier and was told the secondary bowl isn't nearly as critical as the primary.
There are people who own carb'd vehicles that have even gone so far as to install drains on their bowls. Another alternative ... recommended by a rebuilder ... is to just "crack" one of the lower bowl screws to drain the gas if the vehicle is going to sit for a while. I've found the inertia safety switch to be easier and was told the secondary bowl isn't nearly as critical as the primary.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
whats that button do?
I'll take your word for it then. I've had many carb'd vehicles, and never had a problem with varnish, of course, I'd try to run fuel cleaner through it every once and a while.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
whats that button do?
The fuel bowl will never dry out on motorhead's truck because it's EFI. Carbs don't use an inertia switch or an electric fuel pump (except some 460s).
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