1929 Model A leaking gas

[nkaminar]

All the different varieties of Model A carburetors are pretty simple and easy to work on. You should have no problems but you need to do a little reading.

Here are a couple handy references for the Zenith carburetor:

http://modelabasics.com/carberutor.html

https://model-a.org/default.html

[cavalierhome]

Originally Posted by old ugly

here is the book. hopefully it is still in print.

I got it. Thanks.
Cheers

[cavalierhome]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

All the different varieties of Model A carburetors are pretty simple and easy to work on. You should have no problems but you need to do a little reading.

Here are a couple handy references for the Zenith carburetor:

http://modelabasics.com/carberutor.html

https://model-a.org/default.html

Wow this is great, thanks.
Cheers

[katy]

Originally Posted by Mike Peters

The jets I bought from Bratton's were spot on. Katy

I didn't know that. Will order a set from Brattons and try them. Thanks, Katy!

That was 2 or 3 years ago, so hopefully they still have the same stock.

[Jim M]

I ALWAYS shut the gas off when I park my car. EVEY old timer that I talked to in two different Model A clubs told me the same thing. It definite does NOT hurt to turn it off and can prevent leakage and potentially maybe even a fire.

[cavalierhome]

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Originally Posted by Jim M

I ALWAYS shut the gas off when I park my car. EVEY old timer that I talked to in two different Model A clubs told me the same thing. It definite does NOT hurt to turn it off and can prevent leakage and potentially maybe even a fire.

Yes I think it's a good idea also but I didn't think the cars should sit there with gas running out the bottom in a stream every time I stopped at the parking lot.

The carb really needs to be looked over.

Right now I am just trying to acquire information. Eventually will learn something I hope

Cheers

[cavalierhome]

So I have this carburetor, and it is leaking badly at this spot.

Can anyone here tell me what make it is so I can a rebuild kit. I don't know about Model A, but if I had to guess the float has a whole in it and sunk so the carb is running overfilled with gas, I wonder how it manages to run

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[WHN]

Zenith.

Easy to work on.

[cavalierhome]

Originally Posted by WHN

Zenith.

Easy to work on.

OK thanks.

I will order a complete kit tomorrow.

You should see the gas come out. When the car runs no gas, but during startup and when shutoff it's a small river.

I am hoping I don't have some kind of crack,

[katy]

Have you tried the "tapping on the side of the carburetor" trick?
If that stops the leak it's an indication the the float valve needs attention.

[nkaminar]

Zenith style carburetors were made by other manufacturers but they are all the same and all take the same parts.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by cavalierhome

OK thanks.

I will order a complete kit tomorrow.

You should see the gas come out. When the car runs no gas, but during startup and when shutoff it's a small river.

I am hoping I don't have some kind of crack,

if the float is good.
the gasket around the float valve can sometimes leak then over filling the bowl.
you can check that buy using a glass jar tied to the top part of the carb.

also when you order your carb parts order the little gaskets that are used to shim the float valve to adjust the float level.

[cavalierhome]

Originally Posted by old ugly

if the float is good.
the gasket around the float valve can sometimes leak then over filling the bowl.
you can check that buy using a glass jar tied to the top part of the carb.

also when you order your carb parts order the little gaskets that are used to shim the float valve to adjust the float level.

Yes I ordered those, thanks for the heads up.

Cheers

[JimZ]

Inspect your replacement parts. This main jet was cracked causing me to deal with a leaking carb for years.

[cavalierhome]

Originally Posted by JimZ

Inspect your replacement parts. This main jet was cracked causing me to deal with a leaking carb for years.

Thanks
P

[old ugly]

[QUOTE=WHN;2109053]As Bill Williamson said many years ago. They all leak, that’s why there is a shut off.

Gravity feed! May not leak today, but just give it a chance.


i think this is wrong. it should not leak.

i have a rototiller, gravity feed carb with a float valve to shut off the gas
i have a snow blower that has a float valve to shut off the gas.
i have a lawn mower that has a float valve to shut off the gas.
surprise ! none of the pcs of equipment have a gas leak

and i have a model A ford that does not leak gas out of the carb.

if your model A is leaking gas out of the carb you didn't fix it correctly.

[WHN]

[QUOTE=old ugly;2110209]

Originally Posted by WHN

As Bill Williamson said many years ago. They all leak, that’s why there is a shut off.

Gravity feed! May not leak today, but just give it a chance.


i think this is wrong. it should not leak.

i have a rototiller, gravity feed carb with a float valve to shut off the gas
i have a snow blower that has a float valve to shut off the gas.
i have a lawn mower that has a float valve to shut off the gas.
surprise ! none of the pcs of equipment have a gas leak

and i have a model A ford that does not leak gas out of the carb.

if your model A is leaking gas out of the carb you didn't fix it correctly.

Your snowblower and lawn mower don’t have the weight of 10 gallons of gas pressing down on them. Our yard equipment all have shut off valves under there gas tanks just in case something were to happen.

Why do you think the manufactures put the shut off valves there?

Enjoy.

[TerryH]

I agree one should use the gas shut-off when parking the car, but a properly re-built carb also should not leak by itself. I bought a re-built carb many years ago and it has never leaked a drop….even when I forgot to turn the gas valve off.

[katy]

My riding lawn mower never had a gas shut off valve, I had the mower for years and never had a problem until one time when I did a routine maintenance, including changing the oil in the engine. The next time I went to use the mower it wouldn't crank over, both the crankcase and the cylinder were full of gas. It now has a shut off valve, lesson learned.

[old ugly]

[QUOTE=WHN;2110228]

Originally Posted by old ugly

Your snowblower and lawn mower don’t have the weight of 10 gallons of gas pressing down on them. Our yard equipment all have shut off valves under there gas tanks just in case something were to happen.

Why do you think the manufactures put the shut off valves there?

Enjoy.

i have a to35 massey that has 8 gal. of fuel in a tank directly above the engine. it does not drip fuel out the carburetor.

the fuel shut off at the tank has another important use. it is there to shut the fuel off to the engine so you can fix your carburetor properly.
that is why i think it is there.

shutting that tank valve off is probably a good idea while the car is park for extended times. but, i would not trust it. they can leak too. so if that leaks and your carb leaks you have not solved any problems.

another thing
if that carb is leaking when the car is not running that means it is also leaking when the car is running. if it is dripping on the ground, you maybe ok with that but if it is leaking internally you will never make that engine run correctly.