Well, the ole Jimmy broke down on me and I was about 40 miles out on my normal cruise route we it started acting up. Problem was whenever I let up on the gas to make a turn or slow down due to a curve it would act like it was going to stall out. After about 5 times doing this it died on the 6th..... And wouldn't restart.
Good thing I was up hill from gas station so I coasted in and began troubleshooting.
Pulled the air cleaner and the 1st thing I noticed (and heard) was gas perculating out of the secondaries and dripping down the side of the carb. 1st though was the engine had got too hot but the gauge indicated temps no higher than 175.
So I climb back in and slowly go to WOT then spin the engine. It starts begrudgingly but won't idle. Runs fine at 1/2 to full WOT. On shutdown gas is bubbling out the secondaries.
I then take the rubber handle end of a screw driver then proceed to bang around the carb in the general areas of the floats. This clears clears whatever was holding the float(s) open and it starts up and gets me home.
I finally got around to checking it out today.
I've gotta say that this Edelbrock 1406 AFB clone is the easiest 4bbl carb I've ever worked on. After pulling 3 clips that held the choke, accelerator pump and throttle linkages, removing the fuel line and approx 8 torx screws I was able to easily lift the top half of the carb off and access the "gut's" of it without removing anything else. The crud was visible at the bottom of both float bowls and easily cleaned out. The main jets are right there also but on a boss that lifted them 1/8" or so higher than the bottom of the bowls which helped to keep the crud out of them. The float assembly is housed on the top cover and the floats are very easy to check and adjust as were the float valves and seats. Checking the float adjustment is as easy as rolling a 7/16ths drill bit between the cover (with gasket on) and the bottom of the float(s).
I blew out the valves and housing passages and the main jets then put it back together. Even with the stock fuel pump the fuel bowls filled quickly and the engine started and remained running after the 3rd short cranking.
Then took it out on my usual 60 mile cruiise and it ran as good as it ever did.
Color me impressed.
I replaced both fuel filters, (one before the pump and one before the carb) in hopes all the crud is now purged from the system. We'll see.
The filter between the pump and carb was one of those chrome jobs and I should have changed it out when I replaced the fuel tank, fuel pump and before-pump filter but didn't. Thats probably the source of the crud that held the float(s) open.
Oh, on a side note, The Mrs was thinking about going on that cruise with me but decided to do something else and took a raincheck. Good thing, I'd have had a real hard time with her on that break down LOL....
Dave
