The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Runing Rich??

Okay, I am still a real novice and need the help of you seasoned pros!
A guy said to me today that it seems like my engine is running too rich. What does that mean? And further how do you correct it? I know my idle is a bit fast so I adjusted the screw on the carb. IS there more? Thanks

thomas,

With today's gas prices, you sure don't want to be wasting gas!

On your old carburetor, there are two screws..the one you adjusted brought the idle speed down, as you indicated.

Somewhere on the base should be another screw which will adjust the amount of fuel that is mixed with the air as the engine idles.

I think a base line adjustment is 1 1/2 turns out from full in. It is then fine tuned, most times by ear, for maximum RPM.

These old engines are not a efficient as today's modern high speed jobs, so sometimes, when you are standing near the exhaust pipe, it smells like the engine might be running rich, when in
reality, it is the best the old beast can do.

If your truck hasn't had a good tune up in awhile, this could be affecting how the fuel/air charge is burned, or not burned.

Stuart

My experience has been that the original Rochester B's run rich. A rebuild kit MAY help but thats just the way they are. The idle adjustment (thats the screw on the base of the carby)will lean out the mixture at idle but it will still run rich when not at idle. There is no adjustment I am aware of other than changing the jet and thats only if you know what you have and can find a smaller one. Many folks, me included, switched to the Carter YF carb.