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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:04 am Post subject: Power issue - I'm stumped |
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So I've spent the last two months getting my 73' Super just the way I want it and helping it rcover from an engine fire. Before the engine fire, it ran beautifully with power to spare. I had to replace the spark plug wires and air cleaner, along with some other wires, and now it has a different problem.
Symptoms: Starts great, choke works fine, idles fine, even revs while sitting fine. Put it into gear and it goes fine for about 100 feet, then it seems like its either dropped to half power or is missing alltogether on one cylinder. Barely gets moving from a dead stop without stalling and the same happens when I shift up.
Attempts to Fix: All of these were done after finding the issue. Checked and did valve adjustment to .006 as described in manual. Swapped between a few different distributors and caps I had around. Checked, rechecked, rechecked, adjusted, etc timing. Air/Fuel adjustment unsuccessful. All wires seem to be doing what their supposed to. Regapped and cleaned, then replaced spark plugs.
No change.
I'm in over $200 on this issue just in trial parts. If anyone can shed any light on my problem, I'll be sitting at this computer doing work all day and will drop everything to try your suggestions.
Thanks,
Tom
No longer stuck on the side of the road - if you remember that post. |
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TexasAircooledParts Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2008 Posts: 60 Location: Katy, Texas
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drscope Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007 Posts: 15273 Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:47 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like it may be starving for fuel as the demand increases.
Check your pump output and also the flow to the pump.
Or the float in the carb may be way too high. _________________ Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch! |
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miller0358 Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2007 Posts: 1200 Location: northford,ct
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: power issue |
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Maybe a vacuum leak? Jeff |
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rgm440 Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Margaritaville
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:38 am Post subject: |
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I don't know how bad the fire was but the fuel pump diafram or carb it self may have got hot enough to received damage. _________________ It's fun to be Crazy -- But damn it's expensive -- Besides - the devil made me do it -- make it a double this time |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: |
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Update: Took the carb off and apart. Everything seems to be in order there. No breaks or leaks in the diaphragm, float is still floating, and all jets and opening are open and clean as well as all gaskets in place.
Going to go back and check my valve adjustment now. Keep the suggestions coming, its only 2 in the afternoon here. |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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Valve adjustment revealed nothing wrong, maybe just one valve that was a hair too tight.
Seems like the vaccuum system is working properly and the fuel pump because there was gas coming throug even when I hand cranked the motor to do the valve check. Don't have the tools for a compression test, but can get them if things keep progressing at the same rate.
Still stumped. Gonna put it all back together and go for a ride and see. |
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miller0358 Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2007 Posts: 1200 Location: northford,ct
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: power issue |
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Check the jet in the carb. Had a little piece of rust blocking it. Would idle great, wouldn't run under load. Jeff |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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Check the jet again just to be sure, all clear.
Put it all back together and still nothing different. The more I think about it the more I think its a fuel pump problem. So, now I'm looking for some good tips and possibly a step by step on how o check that without too many fancy tools I have to go buy. Gonna search my literature too.
Thanks. |
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alex77 Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2006 Posts: 346 Location: Tijuana
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Did you take a look at the fuel pump _________________ 91 mexibeetle |
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rgm440 Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Margaritaville
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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Did you change the fuel lines after the fire? Did you take them loose from the fuel pump and maybe reinstalled them in reverse. Did the suction line to the pump get hot during the fire. I have seen the interlining of a fuel line collapse under suction and then alow fuel thru again after the pump is cut off. _________________ It's fun to be Crazy -- But damn it's expensive -- Besides - the devil made me do it -- make it a double this time |
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jlex Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2009 Posts: 2902 Location: NW Pennsylvania
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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When it starts to stall out on you, can you give it a shot of starting fluid or gas down the throat of the carb to see if its fuel starved? IF that straightens it out, then you'll be on the right track to solving a fuel problem.
If electrical, is your distributor advancing correctly at higher RPM's? I would imagine you checked this when you checked the timing... _________________ jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera |
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DeathTrap Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2004 Posts: 1757 Location: Sacramento/Vermont
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Put a new $3 fuel filter on it. |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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The fuel lines received no damage because I pulled them out to put the fire out. No leaks or anything from them and there is output from the pump when you turn the engine.
I have three distributors and caps and spent the better part of an hour swapping them around and trying all different kinds of timings. I can't really be sure what I should have the timing set at because I have an aftermarket engine and can't find a straight answer. I basicaly use the strobe and have my own 5 degree marks on the pully. Worked good before.
I'm gonna do the test suggested here by jlex in the morning as well as redo all the fuel lines on both sides of the chasis. Hopefully I'll get somewhere. Maybe I should start begging for a tester 30 pict-1 carb to see if I've been looking in the wrong place all along. |
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chiprodriguez Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2007 Posts: 273
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:11 am Post subject: |
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What kind of distributor? vac advance? Maybe the vac diaphram burned up inside an now not getting full advance. Timing an dwell are important. set the point dwell at about 45 and set the timing at 30 -32 degrees total advance and see what happens. |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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Its a regular distributor, Bosch with red cap(paid extra for it), also tested a generic distributor as well.
I think jlex was right. I started it up this morning and let it warm up and it was still doing the same thing so I took the air cleaner off, got my carb cleaner and starter fluid, pushed the throttle and it started to bog down. I first tried adjusting the air/fuel with no effect. Then I did as the nice person on here said to do and as it was bogging down I shot some starting fluid into the carb and sure enough, it revved like new. I was so amazed I revved it again after and it bogged down again, let up off the throttle, pushed it again and shot more starting fluid in and it did it revved again. I call that a successful test with verifiable results.
Now the question is...whats wrong??! I'm gonna start with my trusty pipe cleaners and the carb(not the craft store ones, look it up, very cool). Anyone have any other suggestions as well as where and which are the best new fuel pumps? |
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bigheadted Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2009 Posts: 79 Location: Oroville, Ca
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Even though you looked at the diaphragm maybe it could not be working correctly, have you looked into the carb as you pump the throttle to see if fuel actually squirts in ??? |
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Sinistar556 Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Orlando, Florida
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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yeah, saw everything. If I had to guess I'd say something isn't letting the fuel go as fast as it needs to. I'm gonna have to do more poking around to see if I can figure out anything new. |
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SkrapMetal Samba Hornblaster
Joined: January 18, 2006 Posts: 2558 Location: Dallas, TX
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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I may have skimmed too fast, but I didn't read whether or not you changed your fuel filter.
Maybe you have a blockage in the line, or your pump isn't putting out.
You could try starting and running from a gas container.
When your car dies, instead of starting it again, remove the top of the carb to see if there is fuel in the float bowl. _________________ oo9less since 2007
-72 Ghia- |
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jlex Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2009 Posts: 2902 Location: NW Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:38 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like you're getting close. If you have a fuel pressure tester, hook it up to see what the pump is (or isn't) doing. _________________ jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera |
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