The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Carburetor halves weeping

I have a 1950 216 with a Rochester single barrel carburetor. It is weeping gas between the two halves. I replaced the gasket this morning and it is still weeping between the halves. I am looking for your advice. It was rebuilt by National Carburetor 3 years ago, but then I started the frame off restoration so it has very few miles on it. I don’t think it’s the float level, but I’ve been wrong before. Thank you.

Check this post.
A warped carb body could definitely be your issue. Looks like it takes some work to fix, but possibly worth the effort as opposed to finding a different carb that doesn't leak.

Darren, it could be the float adjustment. It could be too much pressure from your fuel pump (which can cause your needle and seat to not seat properly). It could be the rebuilder used a seat with too large of an orifice diameter (which will cause over-filling of the float bowl and flooding). I'd guess the airhorn is warped and maybe also the float bowl. Not to throw mud at National Carburetor in any way but they're just a commercial rebuilder and I'd be very surprised if they had straightened the castings. Usually an improper float adjustment and/or too much fuel pump pressure are culprits but gasoline will wick up all over the place inside the carburetor and will seep out of that seam if any irregularity exists. Somebody somewhere might suggest using two gaskets. If that happens, please resist the temptation. It won't work and the fact this carburetor only uses 4 screws to hold the parts together is what causes trouble in the first place...the corners get pulled downward and that causes the area between the corners to bend in an arc. Good luck! Please let us know if we can help.

PS...maybe just an optical illusion but it looks like teflon tape was used on the fuel line inlet threads. I'd remove that if it was used there. Teflon tape has a tendency to shred off in small pieces and those can wind up in the small passages of the carburetor.

Which "half" of a 3 piece carburetor is leaking?
Jerry

The two halves where the reservoir and float come together.

If that gasket is leaking from an overfull float bowl (for whatever reason), it is also very likely leaking fuel internally, causing an over rich condition when the throttle opens. It is a symptom of a warped Rochester B.

[img]https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/67591/filename/IMG_2254.jpeg[/img]Rochester single barrel for my stock 216. Gasket removed and both halves mated and snugged down. Now I understand what a warped bowl means. Does anyone have experience with the reproduction versions offered on Amazon?

Universally known to be junk. That goes for the Chinese Carters and Autolites, too.

Track down an original Carter YF and rebuild it.

I would try fixing the warp. Follow the link Kevin posted above to read about Jon's work on this.

I am all for heroics, but looking at the pics, you could sling a dead cat through the gap in that particular carb. (I mentioned "dead" cat since it would be inhumane to sling a live one.)

Quick!! Remove the rebuilder's sticker from that pic before he sues you for defamation!!!!

I don't have any dead cats lying around or I'd give that a try.

I may have found a usable bowl that does not have stripped screw holes. But I’m not sure about how to change out the Guide Pump Discharge Ball. Maybe because this carburetor has never been rebuilt?

It's not a good idea to mix parts from different carbs.

Options:

• Repair the one you have
• Get one that can be rebuilt
• Get a new rebuilt one

I only like option 2.

Warped body AND stripped holes are two strikes against option 1. Hard to find a reputable seller to make option 3 viable.

By the way, your profile pic creeps me out.