I knew it was too good to be true: carb woes now

[77MidgetMkIV]

well, I have put over 200 miles on the midget since I got it back together and inspected, and it had been running great, even as recent as last night, when I hada great ride home from golf league. I went out this morning and started 'er up. No issues there, as it normally starts on the 2nd crank. I noticed some vapor coming from the bottom of the car, but thought it was water, since it was a very dewey morning. WRONG!! smelled of petrol! I killed the engine and popped the hood. there was a good amount of fuel dribbling out from what appears to be the bottom of the carburetor. Has anyone else seen this? I am going to have to tear it down tonight and see. Hopefully it is just a bad seal or something, but something tells me I am going to be getting to know ZS carbs a lot more in the next couple days.

just when I get it back together, it pulls this stunt.
ARGHGHGH$($(*&%$)$%*#$)#$&GHGHGHGHGHG#$(&U#$&*#)&*!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcatnite]

I haven't seen this personally but it sounds like it is either a gasket leaking or the float is stuck and the fuel pump is overfilling the bowl. Let us know what you find.
JC

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

Re: I knew it was too good to be true: carb woes n

yeah, that is what I am thinking too. The car sat for almost a year while I was working on it, with no fuel in it, so I am hoping for either a stuck float or a bad o-ring on the bowl plug. I will know tonight!

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

Re: I knew it was too good to be true: UPDATE

Well, I went home and got back at it...turns out to be really simple fix, I think. The float bowl drain plug had a bad O-ring. I replaced it with a spare that I had from other projects, and though it was not the exact size needed, the carb stopped leaking, even with the fuel pump running. I will eventually pick up the right size ring, but this is working fine for now. I ran the pump w/o the engine running for a couple minutes with no leaks or seepage, and then ran the car for a couple minutes with the same results. Cloudy with a chance of rain today, so I drove the truck to work, but I will take it out for a quick run tonight if it is clear.
On a side note, the plastic plug receptacle seems a little flimsy given what it's function is. Any other carb I have worked on had a metal plug that treaded in, no clip tabs to speak of. Oh well, another one of the hidden beauties of these creatures.