Tapping on the side of the carb might or might not have been related to the engine starting back up. I think to know if it is related, I need at least one more example of that solving the problem. The entire fuel system is new from a new gas tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, fuel filter and rebuilt carburetor. I will check the bowl as suggested to see if any fuel squirts. I will also try a spark test, but I should also point out all new wires, points, plugs, coil, cap and condenser.
Sadly, “new” is not the same thing as “good” in today’s world.
I mention the ignition stuff because it is fairly common to chase fuel issues to the ends of the earth and later figure out it was ignition. Yours truly is guilty of the same. Someone around here (Carl?) has a catch phrase that “it’s never the carb.” It’s truer than one might guess.
Given the symptoms you have described, I would still place my bets on fuel. Spark is just so easy to check that you might as well just do it. A crummy coil can operate fine and then act up once it gets warm.
Wrenchbender gave you some good ideas about tank venting and intermittent tank/sock plug-ups. Easy things to check off the list.
