TheSamba.com :: View topic - Leaking Needle Valve - Brosol/Solex Dual Carbs H32/34 PDSI-3

Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:50 pm

Are my needle valves operating properly?

I drained the gas from bowls of my aftermarket carbs for winterizing. Each carb has a drain plug so I got a little glass jar and drained the driver's side carb first. The gas ran out of the bowl and stopped flowing after a 20 mls or so. Then I proceeded to do the same to the passenger's side carb, only this time after the main rush of gas, the gas would continue to trickle out. Puzzled, I replaced the drain plug to contemplate the situation later.

My first thought was that my passenger side needle valve is leaking, but now I'm thinking that it probably was working properly because the float was obviously droppen thus not closing the valve. But then does that mean that my driver's side valve is faulty because it was not letting gas in to refill the bowl?

Maybe it's just gas in the hose between the pump and the carbs?

It's been too dark after I return home from work to see what happens if when I needle valves with the ones that came with my rebuild kit.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:17 pm

IMHO it would depend upon the height of the fuel in the tank and the height of the fuel lines. If an air bubble got into the line and the fuel level in the tank is lower, it might sop the gas from siphoning. Also, you may have been seeing fuel stored in the lines leak out, with perhaps the passenger side has lines above it. The fact that the drivers side had fuel proves that the needle allows fuel in. But when you have time you might want to check out the needles anyway for debris. Winter is a good time to work on those kind of things. Look at where the fuel lines are to see if they could have affected the event.