The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Stalling Problems

Hi Guys, I was driving Ole Blue (55.1 series 3100) and it stalled as I lifted my foot off the excelerator I bump started and drove it on home. I thought it might be time for a fuel filter and I changed it. I drove it for a couple days without trouble. Saturday I got on the highway and it started to flubber and stalled I coasted to the side of the road the fuel filter was full. I got in and it started and got me home but was stumbling all the way there. I changed the points and condensor and still the same but it will idle all day. All seems OK but I can't be on both sides of the firewall at once and it only fails at speed. I know that you are not supposed to put 12v directly to the points and I have. I have heard of some type of resistor to drop the voltage but dont know what it is called or where to install it. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks
Tony

Hey I guess it would help if you knew what I was talking about . The truck has a 235 and 12v alternator, one barrel carb.

Sounds like a starvation problem. Does it run all right at an idle and slow cruising speeds? Does it seem to run out of fuel when worked a little? Look for a blockage at the tank and work your way forward. The filter would still be full but the carb bowl will be running out of fuel faster than the blockage would let fuel by to refill it.
Scott

Tony,

Because you have a 12 volt system, you need some method to reduce running voltage to the points. Your choices would be a ballast resistor in the primary lead wire, or a internally resisted coil.

Your problem sounds more like a fuel issue to me. Electrical gremlins can come and go, but fuel problems are a more likely suspect.

Is your fuel tank vented and clean. The engine doesn't take well to water, so a charge of a gas additive might be worth the dough. Next time it happens, try choking the carburetor and see if that makes a difference.

Stuart

Thanks for the replies. I think its fuel too but I have replaced the last few inches of fuel line right in front of the carb with a clear tubing and havent yet see it go dry. However when I was bringing it home from the last breakdown it sputtered and died and I did see an air bubble in the line that was not there two miles before. The only piece in the fuel line that has not been changed is the pick up in the fuel tank so I may order one of those and start there. Let me ask you. When I went to recover the truck after the last breakdown I took a piece of tubing about 3" long and hung it over the left fender so I could see if fuel was flowing. I pushed on the starter with the ignition off and waited to see how much fuel squirted from the line it really only spit a little, it was constant but the pressure and volume seemed low. How far would you say the fuel should have squirted from the end of the open fuel line.

Tony,

I have put fuel pumps in a solvent tank and operated them manually..the fuel blew out a good four inches or so. If there were a restriction in your fuel tank, your clear plastic line to the carburetor would be full of fuel, but it wouldn't be moving. If the pump isn't pushing fuel, the discharge side would be full, but no pressure.

I'll bet the see through hunk of fuel line is just a troubleshooting device. Don't forget to remove it lest it melt or break and barbecue your truck.

If it's a fuel starvation issue, it usually takes a little time after it fizzles out for it to restart. If the engine craps out, then you can instantly restart it, you are out of the fuel arena and into the electrical/loose wire/ignition scenario.

Stuart

Its fuel. I started it today and let it idle for a half an hour. I brought up the RPM's and held them high for a few minutes and after a while I started to see an air bubble in the clear fuel line. the bubble got bigger and was about a six inch long open area in the feul line and after a little time it drank the fuel in the bowl and started to flubber. so now I'll go after that pick up in the tank. I needed to get my fuel guage working any way. thanks for the good advise

Tony