Hey guys, I started my '56 the other day to move it to another bay, and to let it run for a while. Anyway, it wouldnt start so I sprayed a little starting fluid into it, and it started right away. The fuel pump was running (electric) but NO fuel. It's an Edelbrock AFB/ Carter AFB knockoff. Anyway, I tapped the side of the carb, and got fuel. Remember I took the top off last summer and rejetted it. It has done this 1 other time before, and I was wondering if the needle/seat assembly is toast? Or maybe it just got some junk in it??

What do yall think?

 

With todays junk gas, combined with that lovely additive, ethanol, I would bet your needle valve/float assembly was just stuck. As I said, it only takes 2 or 3 months of sitting for todays crappy fuels to begin to degrade, thicken, and start to gel.

 

Yep, dadgum hippy tree huggers!!!! But........... the carb is 12years old now, and it could be bad?? It only has15,000 miles on it, but thats as bad as having a bunch of miles on it since it sits most of its life.

Thanks

 

In Edelbrock/AFB carbs the needle of the needle and seat is only pushed up by the float, the float falling cannot pull the needle down to open it. So because the needle is so light they stick. Higher fuel pressure may help if it's below 6 try bumping it up. Other then that there is little that can be done besides replacement.

 

I wonder if I may have damaged it when I took the top off to rejet it? If I remember correctly, I think I may have had trouble with setting the float level? I may just replace it anyway?

 

In addition to the other things mentioned above, without fuel in the bowl, the rubber tips of the needles tend to dry out. If it's sitting on the seat, it will dry to the shape of the seat, and tend to "form" a seal. When it gets wet again and will sweill ever so slightly, it will "tighten in the hole." much like a cork or sponge.

Chances are when you start driving it again, youwill have to replace the needle valve and seat - at a minimum.

For now, just wipe both parts clean with a little denatured alcohol and it should work for awhile (until the bowl empties out and it sits again).

J!