i have a holly carb, and its running ok for a few min. after i start it. Then it starts to get all lumpy and gas starts to flow out of the line towards the back of the carb (see in picture). What the hell is going on. I ran it dry, then tapped on the back of it, thinking the float was stuck... but that didnt work.
ANY Ideas?? I will post the picture in a few min..

 

 

I dont' know a lot about 4 barrels but I belive thats your rear bowl vent. Did you check the float in there?

 

I havent taken it apart... i know nothing about carbs... im a fuel injection guy.. So all i did was run it dry and tap the back of it, in hopes that it was a stuck float and it would free up. Can i just unscrew the 4 bolts and take that plate off?? Dont forget i know nothing about carbs.

 

yep, the 4 screws in the rear cover will give you access to the rear bowl. I had this happen to a holley 2brl, float just needed adjusted.

 

ok im a retard... how would i be "adjusting" the float?

 

no need to call yourself names. like you said your a fuel injection guy. everyone needs to learn some time. if it's the way my 2 brl is, haven't worked on many holley 4's,
there is a brass screw on top of the bowl. take that off and it'll give you access to another screw which you can tighten or loosen adjusting the float.

 

ok, so let me get this straight..... take off the back plate (4 screws)... then that will give me access to the bowl. Just the side of it im guessing... does the bowl come out, or do i adjust it in there. Will gas come poring out when i take off the back plate, is there a un-reusible gasket on there? Lots of questions!
Or is that brass screw on top on the outside, so there being no need to take the plate off....

LAST thing... if there is gas poring out that line... will i be tighting or loosening that adj. screw?

i think thats it...
THANKS!@!!!

 

The bowl is the part that is being held on with the 4 screws. It is just a cover. Inside you will find the float and a few other things...never had one apart so I can't say exactly what. Yes gas will come pouring out when you remove the cover. I recommend taking the carb off the engine, lot easier to clean up the gas.
from your pic it looks, atleast on the front bowl, you have a brass screw on the pass side. take that out and it should flow gas. this should be how you tell the fuel level..... there is a silver screw on top drivers side, take that off and there should be the adjustment under that. As I've said many times I've never had a holley 4brl apart so I'm going off my 2 brl experience...if anyone else sees I'm wrong please say so!
Tightening should reduce the amount of fuel in the bowl....

 

Your problem is your carb is a holley i have never had good luck with holleys. I would suggest getting a Carter ABF 625 Carb. They work great. The holley you have i would say is off of an 80's truck as well.

 

Jay, You may have thought you ran it dry but you are dealing with the secondaries. Yes, it is flooding. It is overflowing out the vent.
Just running it at idle or part throttle won't run the fuel out of the rear bowl. What I recommend is to take a small cup or something you can get under the bowl and loosen or take out just 1 of the lower bowl mount screws. They are the 4 horizontal screws on the end of the bowl. That will drain the bowl without having to remove the carb. Then tap the bowl. Put the screw back in and try it.
Even if the float is a little out of adjustment it shouldn't run out of the vent. You probably still have a piece of crud under the secondary needle.
The float adjustment is the big straight headed screw with the nut just underneath. The screw tightens the adjustment but the nut does the actual adjustment. The nut turns the seat which is threaded in the bowl. Loosen the screw and turn the nut counter-clockwise to raise the fuel level and clockwise to lower it. Remember the fuel level in the secondaries won't drop by itself. You'll have to manually open the seconcary throttle plate to use some of the fuel to check the level after adjustment.
Hope this helps.
Greg

 

Hey greg can you elaborate on this a little:

"Remember the fuel level in the secondaries won't drop by itself. You'll have to manually open the seconcary throttle plate to use some of the fuel to check the level after adjustment. "

also do you happen to know the ignition timing on my truck?

thanks, cant wait till its all fixed so i can enjoy it!

 

Sure,
The secondaries only use fuel under load when you're getting into the "4-barrel". The idle circuit, the accelerator pump and the main circuit are all run on the front side of the carb. Just like a 2-barrel. The only fuel going thru' the secondaries is under wider throttle openings. At light throttle the secondaries don't even move. When you adjust the secondary float down with the engine is at idle, the fuel is already shut off so the float just moves down but the fuel stays high until it is used.
If you open the secondary throttle plate a little at idle (there might be enough slack at a high idle, or pull the secondaries open with the primaries) the air flowing through will draw down the fuel in the bowl to the adjustment.
The fuel should just barely trickle out of the sight plugs with the engine running.

Not sure on the static timing. Should be in the range of 6° to 12° and with the vacuum and mechanical advance working around 34° to 38° total. If it pings, back it up a little.
Hope this is a little clearer.
Greg
BTW Nice lookin' truck.

 

Jay if you go to the holley web site they have a trouble shooting guide it is very helpfull holley carbs are NOT junk you have to just read up about them ..there is tons of info out there about them check out the site

www.holley.com

Jon

 

Good call chas.
Lifted, I hope you find this. Message moved and last couple of posts not showing in the last post column.