Carb drip: Check My Thinking

Brobrian

Brobrian

Senior Member
I've been working on some fuel system related issues lately. I flushed the tank and took apart the petcock in an attempt to stop my Zenith carb from leaking out the air intake while it is parked with the gas is shut off.
Yet, even after removing the carb and checking to see that nothing was caught in the float valve, the carb still leaked. I then decided to check the float level by adding a washer to the float valve, thus dropping the float level significantly. Still leaked, so then I change out the carb to my old one. No leaks.

So, here's my thinking: Since the carb still leaks with nothing blocking the float valve and with the float level below spec, the float valve must be at fault. By the way, this carb is a new carb from Snyders, and has leaked since the day I got it.

I appreciate your time, gentlemen.
 
If the carb is leaking and the float is at correct height the the needle is not seating properly or not precision built, or the gasket under the seat is improper or improperly set. I cant think of too much more. Maybe the float is leaky. also if it leaks much with the valve closed you need to fix that part also.
 
A lot of floats have been molested by people bending the hinge around trying to adjust the float level. This causes them to not come up straight. This offsets the float valve and causes it to leak. Quite often I have had to change out the float for a new one to get the float valve to close properly.

Tom Endy
 
In this month's "The Restorer" Tom Endy wrote an article about the GAV Seat and Needle valve... I replaced my needle valve since I had a fuel leak there about 2 months ago.. Tom's paper in "The Restorer" mentions the needle getting jammed in the GAV seat and when turning the GAV, one is really turning the GAV seat via the needle and not the needle in and out of the GAV seat... I cannot say this is your issue but it might be worth checking...
 
I like the Viton tipped float valves. I have one I installed 4 years ago and it has worked great. I run Ethanol and no adverse effect so far. Also if your gas cap isn't vented it will build up and pressurize enough to force a leak.
 
Snyders will be happy to rectify the problem but they may not be happy that you tore it apart before contacting them. Bottom line is a new carb should not leak so get on the telephone quick ! Wayne
 
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