Denny -
I agree. Seems screwy that float level could stop hesitation. Here is info on my carb rebuild. Perhaps we can find a common problem with other rebuilds.
Disclaimer: My Rochester B is only the second carb I have ever rebuilt. (First was a Carter AFB in 1966 on my 1963 300HP 327). So I am no expert and operator error could definitely be a factor.
One of the Stovebolt posts that I read when researching my problem said that the inlet for the accelerator pump well is high and that low float level may lower the fuel in the float bowl below the inlet. I dunno, but it makes sense. If this is true, then raising the float level will fill the well and allow the pump to push a full load of fuel into the air stream to prevent hesitation on sudden hard acceleration.
Raising the float level did releave most of the hesitation on my '54. Hesitation was so bad that it seemed to loose all power when the throttle was opened wide at idle or when moving. It did not hesitate before the rebuild. I raised the float level twice. The hesitation lessened each time. I may be able to raise the floats even more, but I stopped while I was ahead.
This is the only varience that I know about on the rebuild.
The old float needle seat did not have washer under it. The instructions called for a fiber washer under the seat. None came in the kit, so I made one from an extra air horn gasket. The float needle therefore sat higher than previously. This required an adjustment to the floats.
At casual glance, it looked like the float needle seat, the float needle, and the accelerator pump were identical to the ones that I removed.
Here is a 1976
Pop Science Carb Troubleshooting article on Google Books that states,
"Hesitation ... Main causes are low fuel level in the float bowl, insufficient accelerator-pump travel, worn or malfunctioning accelerator pump ..."
Another entry on Google Books,
Rochester Carbs: Tune, Rebuild, or Modify, notes that low float level will cause a lean running carb. That may be a cause of having to pull the choke cable 1/2" on acceleration.
Hope I didn't just add to the confusion!
- Lonnie
