[TR] Bad Gas?

[wbeech at flash.net]

Oh, Strombergs.  When you pull the float bowls check the gasket very
carefully to see that it is not interfering with the smooth operation of the
floats.  BTDT

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Lemon [mailto:glemon at neb.rr.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 10:52 PM
To: wbeech at flash.net; triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] Bad Gas?

Sorry, forgot to mention, did try tapping with a small hammer already,
didn't help.  Bad thing with Strombergs (vs. SUs), you have to pull the
bottom of the carb off to get to the float and float valve, so beast and
easiest to do with the carbs off the car.

Greg

--------------------------------------------------
From: <wbeech at flash.net>
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 10:13 PM
To: "'Greg Lemon'" <glemon at neb.rr.com>; <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: [TR] Bad Gas?

> I'd pull the carb tops first, probably the needle valves are froze shut.
>
> Or, if you have an electric fuel pump just give each float bowl an 
> sharp 'rap' with a screwdriver handle while the key is on to see if 
> that jars it loose.  If that fixes it you still need to pull the carb 
> tops and clean everything up.
>
> Bill
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
> [mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Greg Lemon
> Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 9:21 PM
> To: triumphs at autox.team.net
> Subject: [TR] Bad Gas?
>
> Sorry I am being a little lazy, and haven't delved into this issue as 
> far as I usually do before posting for help, but perhaps a few of you, 
> like me, are housebound with subzero temps out in the garage and might 
> like to participate in a little bit of mental exercise in tracking 
> down a problem.
>
> As usual I put up my car (TR250, ZS carbs from a TR4A) for the winter, 
> and last started it sometime in November.  A couple weekends ago it 
> warmed up a little bit and I tried to start the car to circulate the 
> oil, burn off any contaminants, etc.  It started and ran for a short 
> time, then quit.  Got it to fire again, started for an even shorter 
> time and then quit.  No time for further work that day so fast forward 
> to last weekend.
>
> Checked gas delivery, it squirted right out when I disconnected the 
> fuel line right before the carb.  Tried to start it again, got barely 
> enough of a catch to disengage the starter gear then nothing.
>
> Pulled the air cleaners, pistons moving up and down freely.  I 
> squirted some starter fluid in, it ran on the starter fluid, then 
> quit.
>
> So it appears I have gas getting to the carbs, I have spark and 
> presumably compression.
>
> Something appears to be wrong with the gas or the carbs, have never 
> used sta-bil or other gas stabilizers in the past, and never had any 
> problems, even with much longer periods of inactivity, but I noticed 
> they are putting ethanol into all grades of gas around here instead of 
> just mid-grade at some of the stations, I try to avoid it, and it is 
> supposed to be labeled, but who knows.
> My only other thought is that the float valves are stuck shut, but I 
> did squirt some air through the line to the carbs, and that ended up 
> shooting gas out the carbs.
>
> So here comes the question, short of draining the gas and replacing 
> it, or taking off the carbs and checking the float valves, any other 
> tests or fixes you might suggest?
>
> Oh yeah, car was running fine when put up for the winter, and I did 
> nothing to any of the relevant systems, carbs fuel ignition, since 
> parking it.
> Pertronix if it matters, but this one sure seems like a fuel issue.
>
> Greg Lemon
>
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