Hello All, I just got my truck running tonight (it had a valve replaced.. long story) and I was trying to setup the carb. I think the float is either stuck or not set properly. I have a couple of questions on the 'theory' of setting a 500cfm Holley 2 barrel up:

1. When setting the float, which way do you turn the float screw to bring the float up or down?

2. Is my assumption correct that bringing the float up raises the fuel level in the fuel bowl and bringing the float level down lowers the level?

3. I have fuel spilling out of the very top air thing (the thing that looks like a tube sticking up out of the top of the carb, near the 'plates') when it runs.. could this be a float problem or perhaps a mixture problem? (too much gas).. either way, there is alot of gas dumping into the motor and it smells like it's running super rich..

I tried mucking around with it.. the float level doesn't appear to have any effect on how much or how little fuel comes out.. it just gushes out the side at a pretty good rate no matter what. I'm not sure how sensitive the float adjustment is.. or whether having it too high or too low will make it gush. I hope this is something simple..

 

Hi James! Your float sounds stuck, start with the lowest setting it will go and slowly work your way up from there. Are you running the stock fuel pump?

Barry

 

Barry,

Everything is stock on the truck.. nothing high performance whatsoever. Does it sound like it is stuck up or down? I tried putting it down earlier by putting the adjustment all the way down (clockwise). I assume that is lowering the float?

 

Sounds like it's stuck up. I'm gonna have to go out in the garage 'cause I can't remember which way it turns, sheesh! Got one of those carbs. in a box.

Barry

 

did youj flip the carb upside down....not good for old carb to do that.....lol

 

Ok, turning the nut clockwise runs the needle/seat assy. downward. Run it down to where there are hardly any threads showing, if it still leaks you've got a problem and will have to take the bowl off.

barry

 

Also, how long was that carb. sitting while the engine was down? They don't like to dry out and get wet again.

Barry

 

OK, this is gonna be kinda hard to explain, but I will give it a shot. First, park on a level spot. Then take the adjusting nut's lock-screw out. You will then see that you can take the nut off. The actual valve may have been turned down too far for the cutout in the center of the nut to turn it. If it is, get some needle nose pliars and raise it up so the nut will catch it. This will make alot more sense when you get it apart. But it back together after you have done this.

Then take the sight plug out of the pass. side of the fuel bowl, and adjust the float untill gas doesnt run out of the hole. As a bonus, your intake manifold will be a bit cleaner too.

 

I made sure to keep the carb right side up. It was taken apart early september, then it was started just tonight for the first time since it was apart. Yeah, I ran it so that it was all the way down, and it still gushes out.. so it looks like the bowl has to come off? maybe somehow it got stuck up?

If I take the bowl off, is there anything I should watch for or be careful off (translation: is anything going to spring out or apart that might get lost). What do I do once it's apart? Do I clean it with something? do I try to move the float?

Much to my delight,
It did appear to be ran down too far. Perhaps my adjusting before had no effect whatsoever because of this. Would that cause it to overflow? I was able to get it the assembly out, and I put it back in, with enough to grab some thread. I haven't ran it yet like this.. I came inside to post my questions..

 

Before you take the bowl off, screw out the needle and seat assy. The needle valve may be screwed up. The only other thing could be the float stuck down (it's really down, don't know what I was thinking).

 

See if you can get it to run now that your adjusting will have some effect. If you do end up taking it apart, you may end up having to get a new gasket, but you might not. (i did't). Nothing will spring out, and once you do get it off, gas is gonna go everywhere. Then check for free movement of the float. Then turn it upside down and adjust the float so that it is perfectly horizontal. Then put it back on. But dont take the bowl off until you are sure you have to. I will be online for a while tonight, so go out there and see if you can get it adjusted without taking the bowl off.

 

I'm a bit confused now, the float could be stuck down?

 

Yes, sorry. The float rises to push on the needle valve to close it.

Hey MTMD, I think we're stepping on each other. Will let you take over (have to walk the dog).

Barry

 

if the float is down (either stuck or it got a hole in it and filled with fuel), this would be the same as having the bowl empty as far as the needle and seat valve working, so it is going to try and fill the bowl with fuel. Since it is already full, the fuel spews out of the vent tube. Am I making sense?

 

at 12:30? Ah, i see that in CA, it would only be 9:30. I have had a many a go 'rounds with that old holley out there, and have learned its little idiosyncracies.