How to change fuel level in carb

[rivcokid]

Hi all - Well, I thought this was going to turn into another of those "My car stalls when I stop" threads but it's more involved. Yes, the car does in fact die when stopping - no sputtering, just dies. I got the fuel-level checker from Renner's Corner and according to my reading, the fuel level is 1 inch below the gasket line (it's supposed to be 5/8 apparently). This is a stock Zenith carb with a new float since the other one sprang a leak. My question is - how in the world to I make up 3/8 of an inch of fuel loss? I did find a thinner washer to use on the valve, but really to no avail. I think I have way to much ground to make up (I can see being a 1/16 or even an 1/8 of an inch off but all indications are this is 3/8 of an inch).

Would this be one of those times in which you're allowed to bend the float?

I should note that this symptom just started one day. The fordor was running excellent after I put in a new exhaust manifold gasket. It ran for a bit, then this. The manifold nuts are tightened as are the muffler/manifold nuts so it's not that. Even I can see that the fuel level appears way too low in the carb - but how do I make that up? It's beyond a simply replacement of a washer.

Thanks in advance.

[Thodge]

Did the new float have the same volume as the original? Could the new float have been bent? I know I would personally try bending it if it were that low with only one washer. What do you have to lose? If it doesn’t get you where you need to go, you’ll need to find a different float anyhow.

This link might be helpful

https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ZenithAfloats.htm

[rivcokid]

Good point Thodge - I'll try it

[Thodge]

I would be interested to know how much that float weighs. I would bet that it is too light.

[rivcokid]

And the Winning Idea Award goes to - Thodge! Yes! Weighing in at just 25.11 grams, the two new floats I purchased from Snyders several months ago (and made in Argentina but licensed) are not doing their job! I'm going to experiment with adding about 6 grams to one and see if it gets me anywhere. Thanks for the advice!

[Thodge]

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I’m glad you found the problem. Keep us posted on the outcome.

[bobbader]

The weight of the float may not have much to do with fuel level. If the float is high enough to shutoff the float valve (ie: you’re not complaining about gas leaking), adding weight will probably not change things. The fuel level gauge tests the height of gas when the fuel valve is closed.

The brackets on some of the new floats are not soldered on to the bottom of the float chamber at the same angle as on an original float. This will affect where the bottom of the float chamber sits in relation to the gas …….. thus affecting the measure on the gauge.

Please explain your sequence of events in more detail for better ability to diagnose the problem. Why did you replace the float? It ran OK for a little time and then started doing this. So, it ran OK for 10 minutes? A half hour? 3 trips around the block? 3 MONTHS? Do you still have the old float to put back in? Got a friend nearby that could loan you a float for a trial run?

[Thodge]

A float that is too light will ride higher on the fuel, just like a boat that loaded light versus heavy. This would cause the float to bottom out on the valve before the level has risen to the correct height.

[rivcokid]

The car works like a charm now! I glued 6.5 grams of washers (4 in total

[rivcokid]

Yes - logically, the float will ride higher because it weighs 20% less than a regular (good) one. I glued 6.5 grams of washers onto the new float, put it in the car, and no problems whatsoever for the little bit of time that I drove it around the storage facility. That said, beforehand, the only way I could keep it going was to turn up the throttle, but then I would grind gears every time I shifted. I could tell it was definitely in the idle portion of the carb, but I could not pinpoint it. As to why I changed floats - it was because the old one developed a very slight leak with an accompanying gas leak out the air intake. I bought the float from Snyders thinking it should be ok - once I put it in, the car developed the problems. Admittedly, it's been a while but I haven't been on it for a long time.

[Thodge]

Glad you got it worked out. What kind of glue did you use for the washers? Will it hold up to the fuel? Now that you have proven out the theory of the float weight, I think I would look into a more permanent option of either soldering the added weight on or scrounging an original float.

[rivcokid]

@Thodge - I used super glue, and no, I'm not figuring it to be a permanent solution. No one seems to have a consensus on whether those glues hold up well in gasoline. I've been on this (more off than on) for about 6 months, checking and rechecking the level of the valve, and shimming the float up, down, and all around to no avail. I was only going to try this (i.e. the weight on the float) as a temp fix. Now that I know that's the issue, I'll be going to buy another float but I will take along my trusty scale to ensure it's not a 25 gram one!

[Thodge]

Looks like the current float that Snyder’s is offering in made in USA, not the ones from Argentina that are apparently a problem. Maybe they figured out that they were no good.

[rivcokid]

Could be. I'm about 35 miles from CW Moss. I'm going to go there next week for a few things and perhaps a 31-gram float!

[Bob Bidonde]

Di any of you notify Snyder's of the light float problem so something can be done to correct it?

[rivcokid]

@Bob Bidonde - I'm in the process of doing that. I put in a call yesterday and hope to hear from them today. Will post what happens.