The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop carb question

I am having problems keeping my 51 3100 running after starting. It sputters and dies and seems to be flooded. I have researched the forums and have come up with two likely candidates to my problem. By the way, I am running a 1958-69 235 with a Carter YF carb.

Float is stuck or not working

needle valve is gunked up.

I am running fresh gas by bypassing the tank and with clean lines. The truck sat for 10 years.

Question is, how do I go about checking the float and needle valve? I have tried tapping on the outside to free up anything stuck but have had no luck.

Purney,

Your problem could be too much fuel or not enough fuel and it's important to figure out which scenario it is to help you troubleshoot the problem. A flooded symptom would be black smoke out the exhaust when the engine finally did start. There might be a strong smell of gas and the plugs would be black and sooty. When the engine did start back up, it would cough and stumble as it cleared its lungs!

Fuel starvation would be a possibility too, but no black smoke or plugs and probably no stumbling when it did start. After a spell of ten years and these kinds of problems, a carburetor rebuild would be a good idea anyway.

Stuart

After it dies look down the throat of the carb. If any gas is running into it, it has a float/needle & seat problem. Stuart is correct. Any time a vevicle has been sitting that long a carb o-haul is in order.

I checked the plugs and they are black and sooty, they are new, so that shouldnt be. they also smell of gas. Looks like its Overhaul time. So then that begs the question.....For a carter YF, who has the best kits? thanks guys.

Carb king has the best. All the part stores have about the same thing.