Home 
Home Search search Menu menu Not logged in - Login | Register
> Jensen Healey & Jensen GT Tech > Carburetors > Fuel System Problems...

 Moderated by: Greg Fletcher
New Topic Reply Printer Friendly
Fuel System Problems...  Rating:  Rating
AuthorPost
 Posted: 07-04-2006 01:41 am
  PM Quote Reply
1st Post
Jim Weatherford
Member
 

Joined: 03-12-2005
Location:  
Posts: 16
Status: 
Offline
I just replaced the fuel hoses from the tank to the fuel pump and started it up and it was running fine then smoke started coming up and a checked and fuel was running out of the bottom of both stroms.  What is going on?  Now, I can get fuel to the carbs and I could have easily turned into a molotov cocktail!  Any ideas?  Thanks.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 07-04-2006 06:37 am
  PM Quote Reply
2nd Post
edward_davis
Member


Joined: 07-06-2005
Location: Eugene, Oregon USA
Posts: 162
Status: 
Offline
Replacing those fuel lines could have freed up some gunk in the fuel system that stopped up your float valves, keeping them from sealing.  It would be a lot like getting a heart attack.  You should make sure you have a fuel filter in the fuel line at the carbs and that it's clean.  If not, you can take the carbs off and open up the float bowls and clean out the float valves.  If you're really worried about it, you could get a rebuild kit and put in new float valves. 

It's just important to have that fuel filter in the engine compartment, and probably another one back between the tank and the fuel pump to keep the pump from being contaminated by crud from the tank or from a gas station's tank, etc.

Come to think of it, I should have a fuel filter in my engine compartment and not just the one back by the fuel pump...  I better get on that!

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 07-05-2006 09:17 pm
  PM Quote Reply
3rd Post
pc
Member
 

Joined: 03-16-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
The plugs in the bottoms of the carbs are made of plastic and sealed with o-rings.  They're held in only by compression of the o-rings between the bowl and plug.  They get old, they get weak and they start leaking. 

 

Try pulling them out and inspecting them.  The fit should be quite snug.  If you can pull them out easily or they're damaged in any way they need to be replaced.

 

 
PC.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 07-06-2006 01:06 am
  PM Quote Reply
4th Post
Mark Rosenbaum
Member


Joined: 03-12-2005
Location: Kingman, Arizona USA
Posts: 532
Status: 
Offline
Actually the plugs are held in both by friction from the o-rings and by integral plastic fingers that press against the top of the bore into which they fit.  Removing a plug without breaking it usually requires removal of the float bowl from the body of the carb.

New o-rings are part of the standard rebuild kits, are available separately from the usual suspects, and even from a good hardware store.  For further info, see the post on o-rings at the very end (earliest post) of the Miscellaneous folder elsewhere in this forum.

 

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 07-06-2006 05:21 am
  PM Quote Reply
5th Post
pc
Member
 

Joined: 03-16-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
Mark Rosenbaum wrote: ...the plugs are held in both by friction from the o-rings and by integral plastic fingers that press against the top of the bore into which they fit.  ...
Agreed.  But the fingers can get weak over time.
 
After putting out an engine bay fire in my car* I found that it was not the infamous fuel tee but rather the float bowl plugs leaking onto the starter.  They were easily removable by just reaching under the carbs and pulling them by hand.
 
I replaced both the o-rings and the plugs.  It’s never a bad idea to replace plastic parts that live in a bath of gasoline.  They’re cheap too.
 
 
PC.
 
 
*Luckily I caught it quick and only a couple parts needed to be replaced.

Last edited on 07-06-2006 03:29 pm by pc

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 08-17-2006 05:43 am
  PM Quote Reply
6th Post
pc
Member
 

Joined: 03-16-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
By the way, anybody know what size those bowl plug o-rings are?
 
 
PC.
 

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 08-17-2006 06:03 am
  PM Quote Reply
7th Post
Mark Rosenbaum
Member


Joined: 03-12-2005
Location: Kingman, Arizona USA
Posts: 532
Status: 
Offline
Yes.  See my post elsewhere on the message board at:

http://www.jensenhealey.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=13&forum_id=10

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 08-17-2006 06:30 am
  PM Quote Reply
8th Post
pc
Member
 

Joined: 03-16-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
Woo-hoo, thanks Mark!
 
I was thinking –114.  Thanks for confirming it.  Just ordered a pack of Mil-Spec Viton –114’s.
 
 
PC.
 

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 01-05-2007 04:32 am
  PM Quote Reply
9th Post
JJones
Member
 

Joined: 03-13-2006
Location:  
Posts: 2
Status: 
Offline
I had a problem that appeared to be fuel leaking out of the bowl on my Stromberg and found the plastic float had filled with gas and sunk. Just one more thing to look out for.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

Current time is 03:49 pm  
> Jensen Healey & Jensen GT Tech > Carburetors > Fuel System Problems... Top




UltraBB 1.172 Copyright © 2007-2011 Data 1 Systems