Carb identification and help needed

pdora

pdora

Senior Member
Can anyone identify my carb and point me to info on adjustments? It is marked "MODEL X" on the side.

It is idling rough and I don't know how to adjust it.

Thanks
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0478.JPG
    IMG_0478.JPG
    164.7 KB · Views: 32
  • IMG_0484.JPG
    IMG_0484.JPG
    172 KB · Views: 32
Tillotson Model X.

All the Model A Suppliers have rebuild kits and all of the normal Model A Carb books that I have seen include sections on them. If nobody else has them available, I can probably dig in the garage and find an instruction sheet and scan it for you.
 
Thanks for the instantaneous responses (so far).

Could this have been original, or is it perhaps an add-on?

The carb has another problem as well -- stripped threads on the bottom of the bowl where the drain plug resides. It was leaking when I bought the car six weeks ago and it is temporarily fixed with Teflon plumber's tape.

The carb looks pretty worn, and the mixture adjustment has lots of play.

I'm probably trying to talk myself into buying a new Zenith.

Any recommendations or observations?

Thanks again.
 
pdora said:
Thanks for the instantaneous responses (so far).

Could this have been original, or is it perhaps an add-on?

The carb has another problem as well -- stripped threads on the bottom of the bowl where the drain plug resides. It was leaking when I bought the car six weeks ago and it is temporarily fixed with Teflon plumber's tape.

The carb looks pretty worn, and the mixture adjustment has lots of play.

I'm probably trying to talk myself into buying a new Zenith.

Any recommendations or observations?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Old pal plumbers tape is for plumbers. Dosen't belong on carbs. It softens up and gets into all the small passages in the carb,blocking them. Word to the wise. Get rid of it. ken ct V8 er.
 
Based on your description, I really think you should get a rebuilt or reproduction Zenith carburetor. The Tillotson's pot metal tends to warp and develop other problems. It sounds like yours is a good candidate for replacement.
 
White plumbers tape is for water. They make a yellow plumbers tape for natural gas. I've tried it on liquid gas and it held up ok, but I don't like using it.
 
It is a Tillitson carb. I have both a Tilly and a Zenith and they both work fine except that the Tilly is much simpler.

I also stripped the threads on the bottom of the bowl for the drain and replaced the original type gasket with a very thin one so the drain plug went a little deeper into the threads on the carb. I believe that I also used some JB Weld material called Water Weld to coat the threads first - but just a little bit. It is supposed to be good with gasoline.

Here is a web site on restoring a Tilly. It's pretty simple.

http://members.fortunecity.com/pjsauber/TillyCarb.htm

Have fun

Dick
 
My "A" sported a Tillotson when I acquired it in '67. Ran OK. Replaced ASAP with a properly restored sidebowl Zenith. Never looked back. Now that I've learned to size the jets and otherwise care for and feed the original system, I have no regrets. My greatest personal "A" pleasure comes from tweaking max period performance out of 100% stock components. JMHO
 
When you get your new Zenith salvage the float out of the Tillotson and save it. When the cork float in your gas tank fails and sinks to the bottom use the Tillotson float as a replacement. Solder it on the end of the wand, it will fit through the gas guage openiong. It will last forever, or at least your life time.

Suppliers get about $35 for a Tillotson float. A whole Tillotson carburetor can be had at a swap meet for as little as $5.

Tom Endy
 
My Model X runs better than my rebuilt Zenith. It idles better and pulls up hills better than my rebuilt Zenith. Clean it up, remove the idle screw and clean out the idle circuit. Make sure the vent passages are clear. Plug up the drain plug- you can clean the carb easily by removing the three screws that hold it together. Once you've cleaned it up and made sure it works, keep it in the car as a spare. You may like it better than an old Zenith. If I didn't already own three working carbs, I'd spring the $200 for the modern Zenith replacement carb. I'd bet its superior to any Tilly or perfectly rebuilt vintage Zenith.
 
pdora said:
... It is idling rough and I don't know how to adjust it. Thanks
Click to expand...

Did it ever run well for you? Did it start running rough suddenly? Is the problem mostly idle running or at all speeds? The reason I ask is that there may be an easy fix. Also, there's the business about 90% of carburetor problems being electrical in nature.

Steve
 
Last edited:
The Original Zenith is a great carburetor if it is rebuilt properly. Flow testing the jets is imperative. Henry did not put any junk on the Model A.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top