[Spridgets] HS2 Float Lid Question -- The Solution!

[David Ambrose]

OK, It's taken over a month, but we finally sorted this out (see below 
for original symptoms)

I went through and replaced pretty much everythng with spares; needle 
valve, float, pin. No change. Checked the fuel pressure, and found it 
right at 3 PSI just like a good little SU fuel pump should be giving us.

Finally got smarter, and removed the float bowl like, hooked up the fuel 
line, and held the float closed. Drip drip drip. . . aha!  Fuel is 
coming from under the float valve. The shim/sealing washer isn't. Daddy 
does a little happy dance and replaces the sealing washer with an 
aluminium washer from our local hardware store on steroids.

It's still leaking fuel.

The car is still running like cr at p so I decide to look at the plugs and 
check the mixture with the colortune on the theory that the shaking is 
causing excess fuel in the float bowl. #1 plug is fine. Colortune 
reveals reasonable mixture. Not spot-on, but good enough to run better 
than it is.

#4 plug is this virginal, new-plug white. The nose test confirms no gas 
in #4. Hmmm. . . no gas in carb throat either. I definitely have gas in 
the float bowl. Pull carb, remove jet.

My dear son, who otherwise did an excellent job reassembling the carb, 
let the jet tube slip out of its rubber sealing washer, then tightened 
down the retaining nut. It mashes the sealing washer into the bottom of 
the float bowl and seals it tight. No gas coming out of there -- ever.

Replace the jet, and life is pretty good again. No fuel leakage. Now I'm 
getting the needles and springs sorted out. I'll get back out there this 
morning and redial the carbs.

This was an ultra-wierd problem. Hey maybe it'll make a story for the 
Model Garage! :-)

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. It's nice to know we're not alone 
with our cars.

Cheers,
Dave Ambrose



Paul Asgeirsson wrote:

>Stuck float, dirty seat, bad needle??  Not closing allowing fuel out  
>the overflow..
>
>I'm not the right guy either!
>
>  
>
>>Greetings O Learned Ones:
>>
>>My son and I just mounted some newly rebuilt carbs on his desmogged '70 
>>midget. We turned on the key, and have gas coming out the "spare" hose 
>>connection on the rear carb. I don't remember us having anything on that 
>>connection previously so I'm both puzzled and concerned by this sudden 
>>production of liquid petrol. Did we get the carb lids swapped? The 
>>emission control diagram seems to indicate that is normally a vent of 
>>some sort that runs to the carbon cannister.