The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Any Ideas ??

ok here's the problem my spark plugs were fouled up.I took them out and cleaned them. The truck started fine. I adjusted the idle.Turned it off and tried to restart it. no such luck. i pulled one of the plugs back out and its fouled again i know i'm running rich but other than adjusting the idle i 'm not sure what to do. so any suggestions on how to adjust the fuel mix so i'm not running rich? oh also i have an electric fuel pump on it. could that be part of the problem?

Before we can aswer that, we need to know some stuff. Which engine are you running? Which Carburetor do you have?

I have a Carter W-1 on a Chevy 216. On the back side of my carburetor there is a screw with a spring that you turn to mess with the mixture. This information may or may not be what you're looking for. If you've got a 50's era carb, you may have a Carter Y-F or a Rodchester, and neither of those, AFAIK, are the same set up.

Lots of people have electric fuel pumps, so I doubt that this is the issue. If the Carb were clogged up you'd have overflow, but that's the same with any fuel pump.

Welcome aboard, BTW! We can probably get you straightened out without too much trouble.

Is the choke plate open or closed?

Is the float level too high? Is the plug black in color or wet? What type of plug are you running and what is the gap set at? Do all the plugs look the same or is it one or two?

Its a Rodchester carb. I tried both open and closed.The choke is a little touchy it likes t be in a certin spot. The plugs were black when I took them out. One was worse. There was enuff bild up that I could tap on it and some of the build up would fall out. I think that one was my #6 closest to the fire wall but that was before I cleaned them now they’re all black none worse then the other.Champion plugs As for the float level and the gap i dunno.

Here's how to check your float level:

http://chevy.tocmp.com/1948_51truckshop/51ctsm0661.htm

Go along with I.B. think the float is stuck.

ok thanks for the help guys!!i'm sure i'll be needing it again!!

Tell us more about the choke. Do you have to run the thing with the choke on to run right - or just pulled out a certain extent? Could be you have some air leak, and fatting up the mixture with the choke could be dumping fuel in there.

How good is the spark at cranking speed? If you're not getting enough juice to the ignition system when you crank it over,it might start when everything the plugs are at their best,butif the float level is a little high or if the float sticks once you shut down it might pull enough unburned fuel into the engine to foul some plugs,and with weak spark,when you try to re-start there's not enough spark to clear the plugs.
Speed

a certain extent

Well the float was where it should be. But when I put it back together, I cleaned the plugs again and she fired up 3 times in a row!! I think when I put the choke line back on I gave it some extra room to move. Now the choke doesn’t have to be in that sweet spot to start. I just had to use the choke to get her started. But now I think my other wheel cylinder has blown because I’ve lost the breaks again. Oh well another issue for another day. Well thanks for all the help everybody.

Hey neighbor. Make shure there is a notch in the carb. base gasket for the vacuum to reach the hole in the bottom of the carb. If you need any help with it e-mail me. I,m not too far away.
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elect fuel pump could have more pressire than the old float and needle can handle. flooding by high fuel level in the bowl.