She left me on the side of the road with a rebuilt carter 1bbl float stuck closed. I beat the crap out of it with my mag light and got it to unstick only to have this happen 6 miles down the road again. Should I take the carb back for a new one or is this an easy fix? I like the way a buddy got it running NICE and smooth. this one has a choke on it where the last few did not.(floor the gas with the key on and crank it will come up to about 1500rpm cold. I like that it warms up faster. Also. I was reading the oil pan replacement thread but not for a carb version. I need to replace the oil pan gasket. Any tips/ tricks?
it is a 78 2wd f250 How long does it typically tAKE?
Dustin

 

If you are driving and the float sticks closed you probably have other problems. The only way for the float to stick closed is if it gets completely closed first. If everything else is working properly that should never happen; it should always be open just enough to maintain it's level. I guess it's possible a hill could screw it up, but I would be suspicious of another problem.

 

would a low idel cause this? I have my Idel @700RPM. PS it was on level ground. acted like I cut off the key. I beat on it with my mag lite and it worked for about 6 miles to just do it again The second time I was @ 2K rpm's and cruising. One time it did not start without gas dumped into carb.... So techniclely 3 times in a 15 mile strech..CARB

 

get another carb.

beating on it did not help it, that just helped you get home.

oil pan gasket same as fi engine, 5 to 8 hours if you take oil pan out, 2 to 3 hours if only gasket.

put truck up on ramps if you have them.

 

I had to replace the oil pan gasket on my 240. Get it up on ramps, unbolt the motor mounts and jack the engine up as high as you can get it. Unbolt all the oil pan bolts, lower the pan. Youi'll have to remove the oil pump pickup while the pan is sitting on the crossmember but it's fairly easy. Let the pump pickup sit in the oil pan and slide it out. With the pickup out of the way it'll come out easy. Depending on the year of your truck (mine's a '66), your gasket may come in more than one piece. Make sure you clean off all the old gasket gunk from both the pan and the block befoire putting the new one on with gasket sealer. This is also a good time to examine the pan and see what kind of sludge/debris has collected over the years in the bottom. I found a broken piston skirt in mine! Another reason mine needs rebuilding-I have no idea when it broke off, if it was before or after I bought the truck. Replacement is the reverse of removal, you just have to be more careful not to dislodge the new gasket. The procedure is straight out of the Chilton's guide and was accurtately described with no surprises.

I would at a minimum take the cover off the bowl of the carb. You may be able to determine the cause of the sticking float. Beating on it may make you feel better (I know it does me), but it doesn't fix the problem


Good luck.

 

I'm not sure if this is all together true. A fuel pump pumps way more gas than the average engine is consuming. Especially at idle. Have you ever heard anyone talking about having a carb that is pouring gas out the bowl vent? That is what happens when you have a float needle that DOES NOT close as it should. Again a healthy fuel pump will more than adequately keep that small fuel bowl filled to the rim most of the time.