Rough Idle...
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
Rough Idle...
Wow, it's been a long time since I've had a problem with my truck!
Well guys, for the past month or so my truck has been idling pretty rough, it'll almost die if I don't keep it lit myself. I know that my idle is set kinda low, but even with it turned up it still misses, it just won't die as easy. It's not just the engine shaking, you can hear the miss through the exhaust.
Within the past two weeks, I installed hot sparkplugs, gapped at .045. Using the correct method, I timed it to 6 degrees. I ran some B12 carb cleaner through it too, it didn't do too much though. The carburetor is less than a year old.
Now that i've convinced myself that the oil didn't do anything to it, and that the ignition is all new and perfect(I don't think my MSD would fail this quickly would it?), it seems to be leading me to the carburetor. It's not just a few cylinders that are stumbling, it's all of them!
So what do you guys think??
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
Well guys, for the past month or so my truck has been idling pretty rough, it'll almost die if I don't keep it lit myself. I know that my idle is set kinda low, but even with it turned up it still misses, it just won't die as easy. It's not just the engine shaking, you can hear the miss through the exhaust.
Within the past two weeks, I installed hot sparkplugs, gapped at .045. Using the correct method, I timed it to 6 degrees. I ran some B12 carb cleaner through it too, it didn't do too much though. The carburetor is less than a year old.
Now that i've convinced myself that the oil didn't do anything to it, and that the ignition is all new and perfect(I don't think my MSD would fail this quickly would it?), it seems to be leading me to the carburetor. It's not just a few cylinders that are stumbling, it's all of them!
So what do you guys think??
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
More Turbo
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Rough Idle...
Check and or replace your vacuam lines. Sounds like a vacuam leak. You could use some carb cleaner and spray it around the intake manifold while it is running.... if it idles up you have a gasket leak. How old is the fuel filter? Cheap to replace and easy too. Good Hunting.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 127
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From: Coopersville
Rough Idle...
The symtoms of your truck sound exactly the same as mine. I gave it a tune-up and plugged all the vacuum lines, but it still runs that way. I have decided that since that exhaust is black my carb is running rich (needle and seat or float are bad?). When the truck first starts (about two seconds) it is fine, but after sitting at idle it starts to load up and sputter exactly the way you descibe yours. When you rev the engine up slowly it will smooth out when the RPMs get higher, but as soon as you let off it sputters again. I'd say it is definately your carb but I would check all the vacuum lines first, just in case.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
Rough Idle...
Well I got it fixed. I squirted a bunch of carb cleaner into the carb, in short bursts giving it time to burn off. While I was squirting it, I decided to wetdown the carb. Turns out that my carb didn't wiggle, but when I went to tighten it it took one full turn on each side! Then I found that the two vaccum nipples, ontop of the aircleaner were clogged with dirt. Another couple of shots of B12, and I was on my way.
The ultimate engine vibration test for any '80-'86 Ford truck, is to pull the sunvisor back (yes the one that hangs 45 degrees off the ceiling) and see if that thing vibrates LOL. (Or you can try the shifter with the classic SROD 3 feet of play in it)
I've never had that truck run smoother, the spark plug wires don't even shake, and the vaccum lines don't vibrate either.
MAN I'm so excited, this had been bugging me for a long time!!
Thanks guys,
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
The ultimate engine vibration test for any '80-'86 Ford truck, is to pull the sunvisor back (yes the one that hangs 45 degrees off the ceiling) and see if that thing vibrates LOL. (Or you can try the shifter with the classic SROD 3 feet of play in it)
I've never had that truck run smoother, the spark plug wires don't even shake, and the vaccum lines don't vibrate either.
MAN I'm so excited, this had been bugging me for a long time!!
Thanks guys,
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 335
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From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
Rough Idle...
Well it turns out that the knocking sound I heard was actually piston slap. Oh well, this hog's already got 212,000 miles on her, I'll say that since she's a 300, and a Ford, she'll live to run another 212,000 miles in any condition.
Gotta love how tough these engines are, they may not be the quickest, but they sure can take alot of abuse! Not that I abuse my baby, she's already a classic! Especially with this paint scheme!
Thanks again!
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
Gotta love how tough these engines are, they may not be the quickest, but they sure can take alot of abuse! Not that I abuse my baby, she's already a classic! Especially with this paint scheme!
Thanks again!
Chris
1982 F100 Flareside
300 I-6 SROD 4speed
MSD6AL, 8.5mm S/C Wires
Blaster 2F Coil
Blue & Silver
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Rough Idle...
My sunvisors vibrate when they are in the stored position, and the sliding rear window buzzes with the truck at idle, and people say the 300 is a quiet engine..... Mind you that's with open headers. Glad to hear you got your idle straightened out, but, the piston slap isn't a good thing. It should run a good while yet, but, that would be a good excuse to re-build it and hop 'er up.....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide ex. 2wd
MAF MPFI HD 300-6
Hedman Hedder
NP435(6.69 low)
NP205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9"
Dana 44 TTB
31x10.50/15 Goodyear M/T's
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide ex. 2wd
MAF MPFI HD 300-6
Hedman Hedder
NP435(6.69 low)
NP205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9"
Dana 44 TTB
31x10.50/15 Goodyear M/T's
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