Valve Cover (was) filled with gasoline

[Das Ding]

The float stuck on my Chinese Solex 34 Pic 3 carburetor last week. I caught it quick, and changed the oil, put some sea foam in the carb and it started right up in the garage. The float was unstuck.

I tried to start it today and "ca chunk." I stopped real quick and turned the motor over by hand. It will turn counter clock wise but it would not go clock wise.

I pulled the valve covers and gasoline pours out.

What the crap over?

With both valve covers off I work the engine by hand counter clock wise and now in turns freely clock wise.

What happened here?

What is my next step?

There's no gas in the oil.

The valves look fine.

I do not want to damage the engine trying to get it going.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Zane

[germansupplyscott]

Fuel could have filled the intake via the carb then passed into the rocker box via a valve, but the only way (I think?) it could take this path is through the valve guide which is a small passage but I guess it's possible, especially if the guide is worn.

If this were my engine I would drain the oil and refill. I would remove the plugs, inject some engine oil into the cylinders via the plug holes and turn the engine over by hand. If that seems OK I'd then turn the engine over (still no plugs) with the starter. I would not use the carb again.
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SL

[Glenn]

Could be the fuel pump dumping gas directly into the case.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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[germanbilly]

Fuel Pump, the diaphragm dries out and splits, have seen it many times. Once saw it light the fuel and blow both valve covers clean across the shop.
GB

[germansupplyscott]

He says “no gas in oil” which points way from pump failing and leaking into the case. Also if the engine is sitting and fuel is leaking into the case from the pump, how could it fill the rocker cover? (it can't?)
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SL

[Glenn]

[germanbilly]

I miss read that there was no gas in the oil.
Will not answer so late at night.
GB

[germansupplyscott]

[Das Ding]

The fuel pump was replaced last year.

There is gas dripping out of the carb and forming drops on the throttle linkages.

The attached photo fails to capture the droplets.

I will order a kit and rebuild the carburetor.

[Wildthings]

Pull the airhorn and check the weight of the float and also verify the float is adjust properly. Don't know the spec for the weight off hand but someone here probably does. The float adjustment is in the Bentley. You can also remove and inspect the needle valve and replace just it if need be. I reuse carb airhorn gaskets all the time if the old gaskets aren't ancient or obviously degraded in any way.

[volkybus]

Is it possible it happened when the float stuck? Did U check the valve covers then? Mine filled the crankcase on my van when one carb top loostened up but I didn't check the valve covers either. Plz let us know...I changed my oil & drained the filter and everything seems ok but who knows.Good luck Bill ...73 thing,76 Westy+ 3 Waterpumpers now

[Nitramrebrab72]

Gasoline leaks out through the piston rings over night .It is less dense than oil so it will float on the oil and decanter off into the rocker covers through the pushrod tubes as the pushrod tubes are higher than the max oil level in the engine.

[Nitramrebrab72]

You also had a hydraulic lock issue, as only some cylinders where full of fuel I guess just one side ,the hydraulic lock would only of be on the compression stroke of that side , when you inverted the stroke the piston was moving away from a valve closed compression you then rotated the engine the other way now an open valve stroke ejecting the fuel into the exhaust pipes freeing up the engine. Fuel is uncompressable.

[Das Ding]

UPDATE:

My float was full of fuel.

I purchased a rebuild kit, however it did not have a new float.

So I bought a new float.

I put the new float in the carb and installed it on the car.

WAS hoping to get lucky and not rebuild the carburetor.

I made sure not to move any of the adjustment screws.

With a new gasket, I tightened everything down and tried it out.

Car turned over strongly, would run for a few seconds and die.

It was not responsive to the throttle the brief time it ran.

Throttle linkage is tight.

I pushed the car to the side of the garage, and will try it again later.

Am I missing something obvious?

Should I just take the time and rebuild the carburetor?

WHAT A PIA!

[Joe 20]

IDK your problem but maybe some carb cleaner? When I've suspected a stuck float (on other non VW cars) I would strike the side of the carb with a wrench or something other than a hammer a couple times and see if it then started and ran. If it did, I knew it was the float and could go from there.
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"Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy

[Wildthings]