Fuel Issues On 1904's

[Robert Kenney]

I have been having some odd carburetor. The symptoms were like it was running out of fuel. Mainly she was hard to start after sitting for a week or more. Once running it was just ok but after driving for a while and going through a moderate right hand it would try to stall as if running out of fuel and a quick choke application and off again it would clear up for 10 minutes or so.

It had a chronic tendency to ping/clatter upon application of more than 1/2 throttle after driving on the highway for any length of time.

So I added a semipermanent fuel pressure gauge that I could view while driving. It was perfect, 4 pounds no matter if it was running crappy or not.


So I yanked the old mixer off and pulled the bowl . Below is what I found. The cork bowl gasket was swelled up like a fat tick and disintegrating, shedding pieces of cork... The problem ended up being that the gasket being a little out of position and swelled created float interference. The float would hang up. This would not allow the float to fall and the bowl was thus drained due to a shut inlet valve.

I installed a new gasket and figured the new gasket would eventually swell also so the see through glass visi-flow bowl is on so I can monitor the gasket. Looks cool though

now that I think about it I May have made this gasket.... May be a non fuel resistant material.

running fuel level

Compromised gasket

 

[Michael Mayben]

I did two 1904 builds (both Ford apps) in the last two days Robert. Both had the same issue!

But...in both of those cases, the gaskets were homebrew out of plain old cork sheet that looked like bulletin board material (at least they weren't cereal boxes!).

All the "clearances" of the float system in these 19xx mixers are very tight. Same thing can happen if you don't perfectly center the fuel needle seat when tightening the retaining screw with the two different size copper washers in place.

The cork-type gaskets found in some service kits for these carbs are the correct composite material (cork/viton mixture). The typical cork sheet found at the parts house will not hold up to any gasoline (not just e10). I do have the "good" cork sheet here in bulk that I use to cut similar gaskets when I have to, I did one just today for a Holley aa1 that I had no choice but to make several gaskets.

The gasket in your pic does appear to be the composite stuff however, does it have the black "flakes" melded with the cork chunks??

If you are going to make similar gaskets for these mixers, look for some interface solutions n-8094 in 1/8" thickness at the parts house in bulk form. That is the best stuff and is a vegetable fiber/rubber composite, same stuff sued by Holley today on their non-impregnated gaskets such as throttle body-to main body, etc. Rol is the distributor of the interface solutions line of materials.

Do you have the "thin" gasket between the glass bowl retainer ring and the glass itself?? The retainer ring should not bear directly on the glass.

I just came into one glass bowl in perfect condition but I'm missing two of the four screw stabilizers.

 

[Robert Kenney]

The material seemed to have the black rubber binder but I suspect it in not the viton/cork sheet. I replaced the bowl gasket with an oem one from an ihc kit. I didn't realize/remember the gasket was one that I had made till I viewed the photo and saw the cut marks.

Runs like new again. I also tweeked the acelerator link while I was at it so it tipped in more aggressivly. Ain't run this good for a year or so.

 

[Robert Kenney]

Do you have the "thin" gasket between the glass bowl retainer ring and the glass itself?? The retainer ring should not bear directly on the glass.

Ohh yea, it's there. I would hate to break this thing..

I just came into one glass bowl in perfect condition but I'm missing two of the four screw stabilizers.

I have seen those clips seperatly in bakersfield at the chrr. If I run across them I'll pick them up for you if you want.

 

[Michael Mayben]

ohh yea, it's there. I would hate to break this thing..



I have seen those clips seperatly in bakersfield at the chrr. If I run across them I'll pick them up for you if you want.

By all means, score any parts for the visi-flow bowls when ya find 'em! As long as the cost is not totally out of hand!

I have tons of the secondary gaskets for the glass bowl as they are not needed on the zinc bowl carbs.

 

[Rhodes]

I have seen those clips seperatly in bakersfield at the chrr. If I run across them I'll pick them up for you if you want.

What is the chrr? Do you know any where or good swaps close to here for these 1904/1960 parts? I'd love to get my hand on a couple spare 1960's, but they are hard as hell to find.

 

[Michael Mayben]

what is the chrr? Do you know any where or good swaps close to here for these 1904/1960 parts? I'd love to get my hand on a couple spare 1960's, but they are hard as hell to find.

California hot rod reunion, ya just missed it!

Held every year at famosa out towards mcfarland:

auto club famoso raceway

You can keep up with this vintage/nostalgia stuff here:

http://www.bangshift.com/blog.html

And of course here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/

Which serves as the gateway to the h.a.m.b forum.

 

[Rhodes]

Crap! So it's like a show/swap or something?

 

[Robert Kenney]

The chrr is a nostalgia dragracing event sanctioned by the nhra/ heritage series. It is a place where low budget teams can have fun racing and such. A buddy and I own and campaign a nostalgia blown alcohol funny car. Lots of time between passes to walk through the auto swap meet looking for crap to hoard I mean collect. :d

 

[Rhodes]

^I will definitely be there to join you in the hoarding.........errrhrum, that is collecting, next year if that's ok with you.