Left sitting too long... runs like crap

[THE73Z]

It wasn't my fault - really. I've had a ton of obligations lately and the poor Z has been neglected.

I've been fiddling with the choke a bit and had it running great, but now it won't idle without the choke, smells strongly of fuel, and sounds like it's missing. If I put my palm in front of the tail pipe, I hear a pop pop pop as the exhaust hits my hand.

If I cover either airhorn the engine dies. There is a little vacuum port on top of the front carb (73 SU) that is sucking tons of air (way more than normal). If I cover it the engine dies.

I'm thinking distributor...?

Any clues?

Thanks, Z

[m4xwellmurd3r]

sounds like your carbs are running WAY rich and need a tune up. but i dont' know too much about carbs. but from the sound of it they're running rich.

[Mr Camouflage]

If I put my palm in front of the tail pipe, I hear a pop pop pop as the exhaust hits my hand.

Thats normal isn't it?

[THE73Z]

Thats normal isn't it?

I know what you mean, but it seemed somehow abnormal. I guess It's hard to explain.

[THE73Z]

sounds like your carbs are running WAY rich and need a tune up. but i dont' know too much about carbs. but from the sound of it they're running rich.

On some levels that seems accurate. It makes my eyes water like there's tons of unspent fuel coming from the exhaust, but I don't understand why it would run with the choke on and get progressively worse as I let the choke out if that were the case.

I was thinking it might be cap and rotor/plugs and wires since it ran fine six months ago and now it runs terrible after sitting for so long. Aside from messing with the chokes none of the carb adjustments have changed - unless there's just varnish build-up that is some how effecting the mixture.

I never really got around to learning these carbs.

Thanks for all your help.

Z

[Mike B]

The carb nozzle heads (at the bottom of the carb under the idle adjusting nut) may have gotten gummed up and stick in the open position, so that when you release the choke cable the nozzles stay down. Once you release the choke see if you can manually push up on the nozzle heads. If so, they are sticking.

[Bruce Palmer]

Which carbs do you have? Flat tops or round tops......

[THE73Z]

The carb nozzle heads (at the bottom of the carb under the idle adjusting nut) may have gotten gummed up and stick in the open position, so that when you release the choke cable the nozzles stay down. Once you release the choke see if you can manually push up on the nozzle heads. If so, they are sticking.

That is exactly what happened!

I had to move it to another garage and it died along the way. I couldn't get it to start until I figured out that the nozzles were stuck down. It ain't perfect, but it runs pretty f'n good now.

Thanks for all thye help guys.

[THE73Z]

Which carbs do you have? Flat tops or round tops......

Round

[Bruce Palmer]

Get in there with carb cleaner and douche out in the nozzle tube while working the nozzle up and down to cut the varnish out between the nozzle and the tube. You can do this with the dome off and the piston out and you can drop the nozzle out and run a small bottle brush through the nozzle tube while blasting with carb cleaner. After reassembly, run the car and check for gas standing on top of the nozzle. That sounds like where the drool down the side of the tube is coming from............. If that's the case either your nozzle is set too low or your float is set too high. Try adjusting the nozzle up before playing with the float.

[THE73Z]

Get in there with carb cleaner and douche out in the nozzle tube while working the nozzle up and down to cut the varnish out between the nozzle and the tube. You can do this with the dome off and the piston out and you can drop the nozzle out and run a small bottle brush through the nozzle tube while blasting with carb cleaner. After reassembly, run the car and check for gas standing on top of the nozzle. That sounds like where the drool down the side of the tube is coming from............. If that's the case either your nozzle is set too low or your float is set too high. Try adjusting the nozzle up before playing with the float.

Thanks for the good tip. She's in storage at a friend's for a couple weeks while I work on another project in my garage, but I will get her all cleaned up, when she comes back.

Thanks again, Z