Carb leaking question

Rusty Homestead Fl

Rusty Homestead Fl

Senior Member
Ready for my initial start up of my 3 year chassis build (man I'm slow) and found gas is leaking pretty bad around the upper and lower halves of my Zenith side bowl carb. I've tightened the bottom bolt as tight as I feel comfortable and it still leaks. The large size of the leak leads me to think its more of a warp of the upper half. My thought is double the gaskets or try some sort of gasket cement. Any thoughts or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. I'm SOOOO close!!! :) Thanks, Rusty
 
Just to make sure it is a good fit, I always use a flat file to surface the top of the bowl when dissassembled
 
I have used Permatex #2 non-hardening sealant, but it isn't truly non-hardening, and can set up so it's hard to get the parts separated later. I have also used just plain axle grease, Be careful about tightening that bolt too much, you won't be able to draw the two halves together if they're warped; more likely something will break. I've never tried two gaskets, but that might work.

It might all come down to your float being too high.
 
Rusty Homestead Fl said:
......... gas is leaking pretty bad around the upper and lower halves of my Zenith side bowl carb...... :) Thanks, Rusty
Click to expand...


you need to check your float level setting, normal float level and there should be no gas leaking between the upper body and lower body
 
the fuel level should not be rising above the point of the gasket. i think you have a leaking float valve / needle seat. that being said you still could have a warped surface
 
The parts dealers sell a "kit" for small money that you can apply to your carburetor to check where the float level is. Or understanding what to accomplish and how to get it, you can make your own with a short length of tygon tubing.

You may want to consider replacing the (likely) original float valve with an aftermarket replacement. Gross-Jet three ball valves used to be the state of the art for leakless valves, but now I might recommend a valve with a Viton tipped needle. This should be a one-for-one replacement of the original valve and should stop all leaking.

As to gaskets between the lower and upper halves of the carb, these are there more for sealing the various jet tubes and compensating wells - which really don't have anything to do with keeping the gasoline in the carburetor bowl. The bowl is actually "vented" to the atmosphere and the gasket is there simply to prevent "sloshing" of the gas with the motion of the car.

Hope this helps.
Joe K
 
I too feel you have a float valve problem. If you have a warpage issue, that should ba able to be corrected with proper use of a good file. Just set the halves together and look for a gap.
 
Thanks guys. I'll give the float a look tomorrow. I put a new Viton tip needle in when I went thru the carb. As suggested, probably the float. As always, thanks for the help. Rusty
 
To check for warpage use transfer bluing , you can buy at most auto stores . Put a thin film on one of the half's and put together with no gasket. The bluing should transfer to the other half if not warped. If it doesn't use a flat file to make them match.
 
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