A months frustration, Fuel issues

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Thought I would pass this on, Lengthy story.


Hope my theories etc. towards the end are good, am trying to make sense out of all this. If disagree, please correct me.


Just got done battling my A not running for more than 5 minutes at a time. Was dying and occasionally backfiring when dying. Let it sit for an hour, same thing happens. It has taken a month for me to solve the issue. Had to take breaks, I was so discouraged at times.


Learned a lot of stuff most experienced A people likely know, and may give some a chuckle or 2. 1st time it happened I was 30 miles from home and had to have it towed.


Cause - combination of clogging filters and my gas can having contamination. I really really dislike problems that are self inflicted, and seem to be common sense when you realize what has happened.


Starting From the Beginning
Cleaned all 3 filters, drained the tank, siphoned the bottom of the tank, let dry, vacuum - probably did this 6 times. Ran the A between cleanings. 1st few times would find a little grit in the filters, last 2 times no grit. Still will not run more than a few minutes.


Hooked up a small external tank to the carb, ran longer but eventually died. Shortly before the issue, had the carb professionally cleaned and gone through, looked at it, gasket was on correctly so air balancing passage was clear and open. Float level set correctly, fuel coming out of the float valve. Reassembled carb, opened the drain plug, fuel only dripping out. Checked the carb filter again, no grit, upon closer inspection with a magnifier the filter was covered with a clear, opaque substance.


At this point I concluded that the only common factor was the gas container. Poured some gas into a clear jar and found the same stuff. This spring before I used the container I had emptied the container of old gas, put a little fresh gas in, swished it around and emptied it again to flush it. I learned that the handle is hollow, and I possibly did not completely flush everything out.


Emptied the gas container. Added 3 Bottles of isopropyl alcohol, swished it in all orientations, let sit, swished and sit 2 more times. Then drained it into big jar. The jar was full of the stuff. Repeated this process 2 more times with fresh isopropyl alcohol each time, 3rd time it was clear.


Performed drain/add a few gallons known good gas process on the tank, shaking the truck, letting it sit for an hour or more before draining. Repeated 4 times before it ran clear of this stuff. Also flushed the fuel valve, lines, filters, sediment bowl, carb multiple times.


Started the A, let it idle for 10 minutes, cranked up the idle setting and ran for 20 minutes, took it for a ride close to home for 30 minutes. Seems good, keeping my fingers crossed.


Have added a paper filter to the Sediment Bowl to keep this stuff out of the carb if it returns. Since this stuff made it all the way to the carb, am considering rigging a small piece of panty hose and make a filter, attaching it to pencil filter. Check it every so often.




Talked to a couple of auto mechanics in town, best we can figure is that insects (mosquitoes?) had gotten into the container and set up shop, this can also can happen to the spout so will be rigging a cap up to seal the spout. I do not have tank sealer, so that should not be an issue. With all the rain we have had here this year in Wisconsin, the mosquitoes have been horrendous - is a possibility. I know I had a ton of them in the garage this year. I am really hoping that I got it all.




Other things I've leaned
The gas supply in a properly functioning A with the motor off does not flow easily. If you empty the Sediment Bulb and put it back, it will not want to refill. You have added a big air bubble with the gas tank on one end, and the Carb float valve on the other end. No flow. I chased this non-problem for quite a while.


If I am correct, may explain when I ran run out of gas earlier this year, and added gas, had a hard time starting the A. You may want to open the carb drain plug to "prime" the fuel system. The line between the sediment bulb and the carb drained into the carb and was used, creating a big air pocket in the gas line. Enough gas dribbled into the float bowl stopping the flow with air left in the line. Finally started after using full choke for 15-30 seconds or so. My battery started to weaken before I figured out to use full choke, was concerned I would flood it.


#1 thing - Frequent proper cleaning of gas containers. Do not leave them open, put the cap back on as soon as you set it down. I have a tendency to leave them open so the filler neck drains and dries. Currently this has been up to an hour while I am mowing lawn.