TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:29 pm

I'm in a bit of a pickle. Drove my bug to school today and now I am ready to get home and my car reeks of gas. Checked and my carb is leaking gas from the bottom (throttle arm and accelerator cable). I've read that my needle and float valves are the culprit.

Is there a quick fix to close the valves so I can get the car started and get it home? Currently I am stranded so it would be great to get it home where I can more permanently fix the problem.

Thanks

Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:58 pm

You may want to reconsider driving it home.

If it's flooded with fuel, there is a risk of hydraulic locking of the engine. That is when too much un-compressable liquid ie fuel is in the cylinders and the engine is started or turned. That can bend the connecting rods at worst.
There is also the fire risk involved. It's just turning dusk here, and if you don't have any light be careful how you work around this problem.
If you must try something then take the air cleaner off and make sure the choke stays fully open. You might have to loosen the screws and turn the element back.
If the needle and seat just started doing this, it may free up by tapping on top of the carb with a screwdriver handle. Rap the carb top gently at the end of the boss where the fuel line enters. The needle and seat are under there and a few taps may un-stick or seat the needle better.
If it has been doing this very long there may be excessive fuel in the oil too, so check it and see if it's overfilled and has an odor of gasoline to it. Too much dilution of the lubricating oil with gasoline can cause internal engine damage.
It's going to be flooded, so hold the throttle open wide if you do attempt to start it.

If you are a member, now might be a good time to use your AAA card.
Good luck and best wishes to you and the car on making it home quickly and safely.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:20 pm

your carbuorator needs to be rebushed, the small seals on that shaft are leaking

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:58 am

you live in Cali= buy a new carb or get good used. If you have a nice carb, I would do what the others said and rebuild.

Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:51 pm

Spoke with jordanw on the phone last night.
The engine was recently rebuilt including the carb.
The car was parked on a hill with the engine on the low side, so that only made the symptom worse.
He is in touch with his mechanic, and is arranging to have the carb re-checked and repaired.
Hopefully he will update this post when a resolve is found.

Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:33 pm

Good point! If he paid someone to recently rebuild his engine and carb, that shouldnt happen and the mechanic should remedy the issue. Then again, things DO suddenly happen on these cars and usually need adjustments before they are right. It is probably a really stupid small issue that he might of overlooked. Happens to all of us.

Don't panic Jordan, it is a small issue.

Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:10 pm

jordanw

Please update when you can, I have similar issue, whenever I park on incline and the tank is higher than the engine, it will drain my tank. I think my problem is the carb also; I spent a day last weekend clearing out heat riser's (they were plugged) hoping to fix the issue of when its cool out bug runs terrible when you take off and at low RPM's.

Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:02 pm

Little update:

Took my carb down to the mechanic who built the engine to have him look it over. He took it apart in front of me, inspected it, and tested it. It showed no signs of problem with the float or needle valve or any other areas.

He suspected that the fuel pump was giving off too much pressure and sent me home with another fuel pump and rod to see if that alleviated it.

Got everything put back together and it seemed to be good until today when I parked on another hill and sure enough it started dripping of the throttle rod again. I left a message with my mechanic and we will see where we go from here.