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Carburetor Trouble Shooting

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION
HOT STARTING SYMPTOM 
  • Engine cranks but will not start
1) Engine flooded, fuel level too high 1) Adjust float drop and setting; inspect needle and seat for proper seating; check for dirt
2) Fuel vapors in carburetor bowl 2) Inspect bowl vent operation and correct
3) Fuel line hot, touching engine block or exhaust 3) Inspect and reroute fuel line
COLD ENGINE DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM 
  • Engine stalls when put in gear
1) Incorrect choke vacuum kick setting 1) Inspect and correct
2) Fast idle RPM too low 2) Adjust fast idle RPM
3) Incorrect fast idle cam setting 3) Correct cam positioning
4) Improper choke adjustment 4) Adjust choke
  • Hesitation, stalling during acceleration
1) Defective choke control switch 1) Test, replace if needed
2) Incorrect choke vacuum kick setting 2) Adjust vacuum kick
Backfire 3) Low fuel/float level 3) Adjust float drop and setting; check fuel level
Stumble 4) Faulty accelerator pump or blocked pump discharge 4) Inspect, adjust pump stroke, plunger; test fuel discharge quantity; check pump spray direction
5) Secondary throttle not closed, wrong lockout adjustment 5) Adjust secondary throttles
6) By-pass holes and ducts blocked 6) Clean preheater assembly
7) Incorrect intake air preheater setting 7) Set to proper season
8) Incorrect carburetor synchronization; on dual carburetor models 8) Synchronize carburetors
9) Main and/or air corrector jets blocked 9) Inspect and clean
10) Faulty power valve 10) Replace
11) Plugged heat crossover system 11) Clean and test heat crossover valve; clean passages
WARM ENGINE DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM 
  • Low power, Surging high speed operation
1) Main jets clogged 1) Clean
2) Fuel filter dirty (restricted) 2) Replace filter
3) Pinched, blocked fuel line 3) Inspect and repair
4) Air cleaner dirty (restricted) 4) Replace air cleaner
5) Faulty power valve 5) Adjust or replace
6) Throttle linkage out of adjustment; not opening fully 6) Inspect and adjust linkage
7) Low fuel pump output 7) Replace after testing
8) Improper fuel level 8) Adjust float/fuel level
9) Carburetor seals leaking 9) Replace seals, gaskets
  • Carburetors cannot be synchronized
1) Weak return springs 1) Replace springs
2) Linkage binding, needs adjusting 2) Inspect, clean and adjust
3) Blocked idler jets 3) Clean jets
(Dual Carburetor models) 4) Faulty mixture control screw(s) 4) Replace screw(s)
5) Faulty carburetor seals 5) Replace seals as needed
6) Vacuum leak(s); Check for leak at brake unit 6) Locate and correct leak
7) Carburetors not tightened to intake manifold properly 7) Evenly tighten carburetor screws; check torque
  • High fuel consumption
1) Fuel system leak 1) Locate and repair leak
2) Wrong size jets 2) Install correct jets
3) Faulty fuel inlet needle and/or seat 3) Replace needle and seat
4) Fuel mixture setting incorrect 4) Adjust idle RPM and mixture
5) Dirty air cleaner 5) Clean or replace
6) Excessive accelerator pump discharge 6) Test and adjust fuel discharge quantity
7) Intake air preheater not ON or OFF according to season 7) Temperature above 50°F (10°C), preheater should be OFF
8) Enrichment system does not switch off 8) Free up vacuum plunger
9) Choke valve not opening all the way 9) Adjust choke valve
10) Secondary throttle opens too early 10) Inspect secondary throttle linkage, adjust or repair as needed