The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Starts but won't run....

Well after spending most of the summer working on the honey do list I have found some time to work on my 49. Tried to get her running ( Had her running last summer). I have Spark and gas. I am thinking that the carb is gummed up by the gas that has been sitting in there since last summer. Here is what is happening. Crank over the truck and she fires right off but wont stay running. I can extend her running by pumping the accelerator pedal but she will eventually cut out.

Here is my question: Can I carefully disassembel the main body and spray with carb cleaner and just reassemble? I know I should get a kit and do the whole thing. But I don't have the time to rebuild the carb. Any tips or tricks on cleaning out the carb with out removeing it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Do you have the rochester one barrel? If so, yes, you can take the top off while it is mounted in the truck. And, if you're careful, the horn to bowl gasket will remain intact. However, as easy as these carbs are to remove, I find it easier to pull the carb and disassemble it on the workbench, especially if you have to clean varnish out of the bowl, which usually involves soaking in carb cleaner overnight.

Brian--

You might try some Berryman's Chem tool. Pour some in, let it soak and see if you can crank it. If you get it running pour or spray some more in. Better approach is Fred T's --pull it off, soak in paint thinner or carb cleaner overnite --new gaskets and carb kit. Not hard.

Very simple to rebuild, I can almost rebuild one of those carbs with my eyes tied behind my back ,,,,,,I mean my eyes closed

Thanks guys for your replies. I realise that it is indeed a simple rebuild. I am, however, looking for the 15 minute fix here.

Ok so this bring up another question. If this did happen because of fuel left over in the carb. How do you elimenant this from happening every year?

Thanks again

When it runs for a few seconds and then dies, can you pull the top off the carb and see it it has run out of fuel?
How many times will it start and run?

well I only did this less then a dozen times. Didn't want to burn up the starter.

Brian

If it's going to sit around without being run for several months, then put some fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil in the tank and let it run a while to circulate. I've used sta-bil for years in my small engines and it works great.

Sounds like a fuel delivery problem.Have you checked the top of the fuel pump for a build-up of crud?
Does it run with the choke on?

Brian,
just a little more detail for you. If you are trying to save the existing gasket, you should be aware that it attched to the top airhorn assembly. Thus as you lift the top half off, make sure that the gasket stays with the top and separates from the bottom. I had mine break the other day when I was doing the same thing and I had to use up my new gsaket from my kit.

fuel pump was new last summer

Brian, just checking to make sure you've already made certain that you have fuel getting from the tank to the fuel pump. I had a similar problem about 2 years ago. I'd get it to turn over and then she'd die. Did this several times. Finally pulled the fuel line off of the fuel pump between the pump and the tank. It was so clogged that I couldn't get any gas through it at all. Ended up pulling the fuel line and running carb cleaner through it. After about an hour the varnish and sludge broke loose and cleaned it right out. No problem starting after that. There was enough gas in the fuel pump and the carb to let me start it a few times, but that was it. Just a thought if you haven't by chance checked the line. Good luck!

This may help. I just got my truck running after it had sat all winter and most of the summer. My fuel had started to turn into something other than gas. I put in 4 gallons of fresh gas, then using the fuel pump,(and a battery charger) I pumped out old fuel in lines. There's probaly a better way to do that, but my way worked. :p She still wouldn't start so I went to pull off glass fuel filter and discovered, a lot of pressurized gas between filter and carb. After I cleaned out the inlet of the carb, she fired up and purred like a well fed cat.

Well Thanks to everyone that has posted. I probably wont get to work on my truck until this weekend. I will keep you all posted as to what or if I find anything.

Thanks

When you pull the airhorn remove the float and check for holes. Mine had a tiny hole in it and caused flooding after the rubber needle was unstuck and fuel was allowed to flow.
I used a aluminum pie pan with water to float the twin float assy, after cleaning the carb and checking (about 30 minutes) one side had sank to bottom of pan. It is a brass float and EASY to dry before reassy assuming it floated. NAPA ordered float assy about $12.
Good Luck
Brad

Well due to too much rain and previous family comitments I wasn't able to get to the carb this past weekend. So it has been penciled in for this coming weekend. Thanks for all the tips!

Well the plugs where fouled and I fried the points while trying to work on the Headlights with the ingnition turned on.

Filed the points and dropped some new plugs in and the ol gal fired right up!

Funny note: Couple of weekends ago I had my 5 year old sons helping me. He was sitting right next to me when I was trying to get the truck started and not being succesful. He says to me "Dad I gotta go inside and pee" I say "ok" and don't think anything of it. Later when I go inside my wife is just smiling funny at me. So I asked what did I do now? She comes up to me and says that she asked Tommy how it was going out there? His Reply was "The old gal just isn't getting enough fire Mom and its Real frustrating!"
My wife knows that I have been known to Swear (just once or twice) and that I work really hard not using foul langauge around kids, any kids. She gave me a big hug and said your son is really Cute! Seems I was saying "real frustrating" a lot while working on the truck.

Thanks to everyone and your suggestions!

Glad its fixed--cute story on the son.

Good to hear you got the Old FRUSTRATING Gal running again.I assume most of the work was done by your son

Well since he is big enough to stand on the bumper brackets he can "help" me as long as the truck hasn't been run(radiator gets too hot for him to be around). However, he is the best wheel straightner I have ever seen. So each night before I finis working on the ol gal I make sure to turn the wheel a little. I will come home to hear "Dad your wheels are crooked again! We have to work on that - TONITE!"