What's up with this bowl???

[cuda]

Got something I don't understand. I just rebuilt my carb, fuel gauge, and removed and cleaned everything between the fuel tank and the intake manifold. Got it all put back together, put some gas in the tank, opened the shutoff valve, and no gas would flow into the sediment bowl. I had a NAPA 3039 filter in it, which I thought maybe was causing the problem. I loosened the bowl to remove it and upon that, fuel started to flow. I removed the filter and put the bowl back on. Opened the fuel valve, again no fuel flow. Loosened the retainer on the bowl and let a bit of air in, and poof, lot's of fuel flow. Once I tighten the bowl up, I get no flow. What am I not understanding??? I am using a new cork gasket in there. I cut a little bit out of the middle of it so as not to block the exit holes of the filter.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

First, I would check to see if your gas cap is vented and working properly...

[cuda]

Actually, I had the cap off. All the more confusing.

[dlshady]

Sometimes a dry float valve in the carb will stick shut, which could be causing your problem. I'd pull the line loose at the carb and see if gas will flow. If it does, compressed air blown into the fuel inlet of the carb should unstick it.


Deron

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by dlshady

I'd pull the line loose at the carb and see if gas will flow.
Deron

I agree. Think of a straw placed in a glass, if you have your finger on the straw nothing will enter. If the carb is already full, or if the valve is stuck, nothing will flow. Try just starting the engine and see what happens.

[Brentwood Bob]

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Try a little wd-40 to unstick the float valve? Bob

[jimvette59]

Is the carb. gasket blocking the vent hole. Is the bowl hitting the float and hanging it up.

[Keith True]

You didn't replace the line and stick the new one in too deep did you? Or,replace the ferrules on the old one and stick it in too deep?If the lines bottom out they are against a solid wall and nothing moves.

[29ModelA]

Mine did that, and I loosened the line to the carb a bit to get the fuel to flow into it, than retightened. Once I did that it has not happened again.

[cuda]

Thanks everyone for the help! I did as Deron suggested and pulled the line at the carb. I got a very good flow so I knew the problem wasn't upstream of that. I blew a little air into inlet of the carb to loosen the float valve. Hooked up the fuel line and opened the fuel valve. I could hear the gas flow into the carb. Now it's time to fire her back up tonight, been down for a month.

[Purdy Swoft]

I've had the same problem when using the glass bowl type sediment filter but never with the cast iron type sediment bulb. If you are running a tillotson model X-XF carb, there is a bowl vent in the back of the hump on top of the carb where the fuel line connects. If this little hole gets blocked it will cause an air lock and fuel will cease to flow.

[jkeesey]

Original brass float valves will do that constantly especially after sitting. I just fully rebuilt my carb using an original style valve, drove the car around and it ran great let it sit for about a month and the float stuck shut then stuck open.

[cuda]

Purdy, I've got a Zenith but thanks for the note.
jkeesey, I do have an original style valve in there now so I'll remember that.

[James Rogers]

Cuda, if you empty the glass bowl, it will most always do what you observe. It is not a problem, it just worries some people till they see it makes no difference. Try it sometime and don't loosen the line at the carb, just start the car and drive it. Later you will see the bowl has filled.

[cuda]

Just fired it up. A few adjustments and purrrrrrs. So sweet. Thanks to everybody for all my recent questions!!!!