Carb tuning my 1971 XKE Coupe

Magoo · Jan 22, 2001

New guy here,
I bought a 1971 Coupe last year and would be driving it still except it was blowing lots of BLACK smoke. Since this is indicative of overly rich mixture I stopped driving it until I can adjust the twin Stromberg carbs. Have a book on SUs are the adjustments the same? ie How is mixture adjusted on Strombergs?

------------------
Bill Magee
1971 Jaguar XKE Coupe

Jeb · Jan 26, 2001

Bill,
There are a couple of things that could be causing your problems.....

First, check and make sure that the chokes are disengaging.....the cables and the pivot arms on the choke mechanisms get sticky and bind....

Also over time, the floats get perforated and/or saturated and affect the float level..

Third, these carbs have the emissions needles and sometimes the split pin or the crimp in the needle holder go missing, allowing the needle to retreat up into the piston and that will cause it to run rich as well....

Hope this helps....

Jeb

Basil · Jan 27, 2001

Jeb,
Do strombergs have a mixture adjustment? I didn't think they did, but not 100 percent sure. More familiar with the SUs.

kcadams2 · Jan 28, 2001

Bill,
You didn't state whether your E-coupe was a six or twelve. '71 was the year they came with both engines, so we must know which. Please repost !!
Come to think of it the inital tests will be the same for both engines. Still might need to know in the end.
Fuel pressure should be between 2&4 psi. should be no evidence of flooding,(look down the throat while running, there should be only be a fine spray from each jet and about equal on both or all four, 6 or 12) Remove the dome from each carb and inspect the diaphragm for tears and be sure the pistons move up and down freely when reassembled.
let me know what you find.

Thanks,
Ken

Basil · Jan 28, 2001

Originally posted by kcadams2:
Bill,
You didn't state whether your E-coupe was a six or twelve. '71 was the year they came with both engines, so we must know which. Please repost !!
Come to think of it the inital tests will be the same for both engines. Still might need to know in the end.
Fuel pressure should be between 2&4 psi. should be no evidence of flooding,(look down the throat while running, there should be only be a fine spray from each jet and about equal on both or all four, 6 or 12) Remove the dome from each carb and inspect the diaphragm for tears and be sure the pistons move up and down freely when reassembled.
let me know what you find.

Thanks,
Ken

Since I know Bill, I can tell you it's a 6.

Jeb · Jan 30, 2001

Originally posted by Basil:
Jeb,
Do strombergs have a mixture adjustment? I didn't think they did, but not 100 percent sure. More familiar with the SUs.

Yes, the early CDs had a jet holder on the bottom of the carbs....

The CD 2s have a little adjustment down through the center of the piston that you use a 3mm long allen wrench to adjust....

You can't really adjust them enough to get into trouble, but you can fine tune the mixture if all else is right...

Cheers,

Jeb

kcadams2 · Jan 31, 2001

Jeb,
The adjustment you refer to at the bottom of the piston guide/resivor is not present on all Strombergs. If there is no hex for your allen wrench to go into, you are out of luck. I beleive the E-Types didn't have it, and relied on a trim screw on the side which didn't do much of anything!! However sometimes you can cheat a little by loosening the needle holder clamping screw at the bottom (oposite the alignment groove of the piston) and reposition the needle and holder assy. Also if you are really brave you could move the jet head in the carburator body (but just a bit!!)
He is still probably working with a basic problem, and not adjustments.
see ya,
Ken

kcadams2 · Jan 31, 2001

Jeb,
I re-read your last post about the Strombergs and realized that I mis-interpeted your intent about the mixture adjustment. Sorry! I had already sent it and couldn't take it back. I had thought you were refering to the E-Type carbs. Again my apologies. I don't want it to sound like I was correcting you.
Thanks so much,
Ken

Basil · Jan 31, 2001

Originally posted by kcadams2:
Jeb,
<snip> I had already sent it and couldn't take it back.

Au Contraire, Ken. One of the neat things about this UBB software I use for the forum is that users can edit or delete their own posts. In the header of your post, you will see several Icons (Profile, Reply with Quote, etc.) On of them (the one that looks like a paper with a pencil)

is the edit/delet function. With this, you can either edit a post you make, or delete it all together. Isn't technology great!

Cheers,
Basil

See! It says below that I edited this very post (had to correct a typo)

[This message has been edited by Basil (edited 01-30-2001).]

Jeb · Jan 31, 2001

Originally posted by kcadams2:
Bill,
You didn't state whether your E-coupe was a six or twelve. '71 was the year they came with both engines, so we must know which. Please repost !!
<snip>

Well, at risk of being accused of being a smart-ass, he did say coupe and the Series III cars were 2+2s.....8> )

Cheers,

Jeb

Basil · Jan 31, 2001

Originally posted by Jeb:

Originally posted by kcadams2:
Bill,
You didn't state whether your E-coupe was a six or twelve. '71 was the year they came with both engines, so we must know which. Please repost !!
<snip>

Well, at risk of being accused of being a smart-ass, he did say coupe and the Series III cars were 2+2s.....8> )

Cheers,

Jeb

Click to expand...

Basil · Feb 6, 2001

Ok now Magoo - you have had some answers, now get back on here and reply or we shall visit you in the small hours and put a bat up your night dress

Basil

[This message has been edited by Basil (edited 02-05-2001).]

Gene · Feb 6, 2001

All the Strombergs I have dealt with, including the four on my 74 12 cylinder have a mixture adjustment down through the top. However, this is for minor fine tuning - probably not the problem if black smoke is present. There is tool made just for this adjustment which is important because it holds in a notch in the piston while the incorporated hex wrench turns the adjustment. Otherwise, with a hex wrench alone, you are likely to tear the diaphram.

Magoo · Feb 7, 2001

Sorry Guys,
I got too busy with other stuff here at work and couldn't find time even for short replies. Thanks you all for your good words; I'll be cruising the Sonic by Easter.

Magoo

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
	Carb Tuning for Cold Starts	Austin Healey	2	Mar 1, 2023
D	62 tri-carb tuning question	Austin Healey	8	Jun 2, 2018
M	Carb Tuning	Austin Healey	40	May 23, 2018
M	Carb tuning [again]	Austin Healey	2	Aug 20, 2017
	TR2/3/3A SU Carb Tuning	Triumph	17	Jul 20, 2017
	TR6 Stromberg CD 175 Carb Tuning	Triumph	8	Jul 1, 2016
T	tuning carb timing	Austin Healey	17	Mar 18, 2011
	Effect of elevation on carb tuning	Austin Healey	7	May 17, 2009
	HD-8 carb tuning and engine timing	Austin Healey	7	Sep 17, 2008
I	Setting up / Tuning an HD6 Carb	Austin Healey	3	Jun 25, 2008
I	TR6 69 TR6 carb tuning help	Triumph	8	May 9, 2008
B	TR6 TR6 carb tuning vs. HP	Triumph	12	Dec 7, 2007
S	Trouble with carb tuning, idling	Spridgets	15	Oct 21, 2007
G	Vacuum advance with Weber carb, some tuning issues	Spridgets	8	Jun 26, 2007
	Interesting Carb Tuning with Colortune article	Triumph	6	Feb 19, 2006
C	Colortune carb tuning	Austin Healey	2	Aug 2, 2004
	ZS carb tuning	Spridgets	5	Jun 17, 2004
C	LCB header with 1500 single carb inlet manifold	Spridgets	1	Apr 3, 2024
	TR2/3/3A Carb balance woes	Triumph	6	Apr 2, 2024
K	TR2/3/3A Adjusting the H6 SU carb jet?	Triumph	1	Dec 7, 2023
S	Weber carb set	Other British Cars	7	Oct 15, 2023
S	Spitfire Triumph Spitfire 1300 engine SU carb problem	Triumph	10	Oct 13, 2023
S	Carb Problem	Austin Healey	13	Oct 7, 2023
S	Leaking HD6 Rear Carb	Austin Healey	10	Oct 1, 2023
	Carb Rebuild Necessity	Austin Healey	3	Sep 11, 2023
M	New Member with an HD8 Carb Question	Austin Healey	1	Aug 16, 2023
J	TR6 Stromberg Carb Mixture Adjustment	Triumph	6	Feb 9, 2023
G	HD8 Carb Leak	Austin Healey	7	Dec 2, 2022
K	TR2/3/3A RE: Pulling the choke knob all the way out....the carb jets should be down how far?	Triumph	5	Nov 13, 2022
G	HD8 Carb Banjo Bolts	Austin Healey	2	Oct 31, 2022
K	TR2/3/3A Setting the SU carb jet again.......	Triumph	2	Oct 23, 2022
	SOLD!! SOLD - Tri-Carb Exhaust manifold for a 3000	Austin Healey Classifieds	0	Aug 2, 2022
P	MGB Zenith 175 cd carb damper oil	MG	2	Jul 23, 2022
P	MGB 1980 MGB carb and oil questions	MG	3	Jul 20, 2022
K	TR2/3/3A TR-3B carb question	Triumph	13	May 19, 2022
E	MGB MGB ZS Carb 175CD	MG	4	Apr 26, 2022
T	Air Filter Recommendations for My Tri-Carb	Austin Healey	7	Apr 11, 2022
	For Sale Tri-Carb Complete Set including manifolds	Austin Healey Classifieds	13	Feb 19, 2022
D	Carb Choke Cable	Austin Healey	9	Nov 15, 2021
T	TR2/3/3A Photo of front TR3 carb linkage	Triumph	11	Nov 3, 2021
G	TR6 Carb Spacer	Triumph	4	Oct 30, 2021
S	Carb Float Levers	Austin Healey	9	Sep 15, 2021
R	TR6 Throttle/Carb issues 73 TR-6	Triumph	40	Sep 9, 2021
D	TR2/3/3A Another Carb question.	Triumph	22	Jul 22, 2021
K	TR2/3/3A Dist vacuum pipe to carb.....	Triumph	5	Jul 15, 2021
M	TR2/3/3A Paltech SU Carb Rebuild--Problem	Triumph	3	Jun 10, 2021
	TR5/TR250 SU carb ID help	Triumph	6	Jun 6, 2021
	Tri-Carb Throttle Controls	Austin Healey	4	May 30, 2021
	MGB V6 carb help	MG	14	May 9, 2021
	TR2/3/3A TR3A SU Carb rebuild opinions requested	Triumph	12	Feb 24, 2021

Carb tuning my 1971 XKE Coupe

Share this page

Magoo

Freshman Member

Jeb

Member

Basil

Administrator

kcadams2

Freshman Member

Basil

Administrator

Jeb

Member

kcadams2

Freshman Member

kcadams2

Freshman Member

Basil

Administrator

Jeb

Member

Basil

Administrator

Basil

Administrator

Gene

Senior Member

Magoo

Freshman Member

Similar threads