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I took my '47 out this morning. It started fine but as I was closing the gates it stalled. It was having trouble firing then I noticed smoke or vapour coming from out from under the hood. Gas was coming out of the carb where the top plate bolts to the lower part of the carb. The gas was dropping onto the exhaust. Fortunately it wasn't very hot yet. I eventually got it started. Later it started just fine without any leaks. My guess was that shortly after I started it the downdraft caused some gas to freeze. (The temperature here has been a bit below freezing.) The gas was being pumped into the carb with nowhere to go therefore flooding out. Once it warmed up a bit everthing was back to normal - started fine no leaks. Do you think my diagnosis is correct? What do you highly experienced/trained stovebolters think? Thanks.

could have been carb icing, although that's as likely at temps above freezing, and more likely to cause starvation - just as possible it was a piece of junk stuck in the float needle, which I've had happen ... I'd check the inline filter, or install one if you don't have one

Bill

Sounds like the needle valve got stuck open to me.

As to what caused it... Dunno. Could be ice, could be debris, check your fuel system out -- make sure you don't have any crap circulating in your gas.

What Brandon said.

Carburetor icing usually occurs in damp conditions at slightly above freezing. As the gasoline is vaporized it gets colder and can reduce the temperature of the surrounding areas of the carburetor The icing generally occurs around the bottom half of the carburetor