H6 carbs -jets sticking

I've acquired a 3A which has sat for a long time - the carburetors are in very good shape but they were sitting for so long the floats had to be unstuck from the bowls when I did the first startup in about 4 years.

The car is running, but I find I can't lower the jets via the choke cable, and if I pull the jets down by hand they don't want to retract. I've not had H6 carbs before - can I carefully pull the jets out and clean everything, or in doing so will I damage the cork seals? Any thoughts on trying to lubricate the assembly without pulling everything apart?

I vote to replace ALL the seals in those carbs. The seal kits are <$10 and it's not that tough a job. You can clean those gummy old carbs inside-and-out when you do it. Any car that's sat for so long probably needs that job.

TR4nut said:

I've acquired a 3A which has sat for a long time

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Got pics?

I'm inclined to agree with Moses. If there was crud in the float bowls, then there is also crud inside the jet housings. And if it has sat that long, then the seals between the float bowls and body almost certainly need replacing.

Since you don't know the history for certain, I might also replace the springs inside the jet housings, and the jet return springs on the linkage. Folks sometimes decide to modify them and they never work right again.

That said, I have sometimes removed and reinstalled the jets without damaging the seals.

While the jets are out, polish them until they shine. A nice gloss will make the choke work easier and the seals last longer. Ordinary toothpaste and your fingers will work, if you don't have anything better handy. Obviously, clean them thoroughly afterwards, as there will be polishing compound inside.

Thanks gents. Yes, I think it may just be worth it to take it all apart. I was trying to avoid it because its not the age of the car, the carbs are rebuilt, but its the time the car sat forgotten that hurt it.

Here's a teaser pic:


I'm trying to keep up with tdskip!

I agree with the various posts here, should take them apart and clean/rebuild them, and should polish the jets, clean everything to get the old gas varnish off of course first, then polish, I have even started with some very fine sandpaper, such as 1000 grit, then polish with as Randall said, toothpaste, or rubbing compound.

It not only helps the jet move, it helps the cork (or O-ring) gaskets seal, and will keep them from wearing as much over time.

BTW, the TR3 looks great, quite a find.

I agree with all the posts here, except I wouldn't use sandpaper (even very fine sandpaper) on your jets. May be OK, but I'd use a jeweler's cloth to polish them.

I have read somewhere (can't find the reference right now) that if your jets are sticking, one thing you can do before you take on the more extensive work is to remove the jets, polish them, and put a little vasoline jelly on them. You might even pull them out but not all the way and smear on a little of the vasoline and work the jets up and down carefully and slowly to see if that helps lubricate them through the cork seals.

This worked for me... for a while... before I decided to go ahead and rebuild the carbs.

Using the vasoline (sparingly) won't hurt anything... might solve the problem ... and if not, you can move on from there.

Randy, It appears your're going to have to be more specific when you start talking about which one of your cars you are working on. With me, it's 'only' the TR6 and the TR3, but I've lost track of how many cars you have... Perhaps your signature needs updating.

It was good to see you and Val out yesterday (in the TR4). I doubt you made it home without getting wet. Who would have thought that an event showing off American muscle cars, would only have Triumphs in attendance? -and a good showing at that!

You had me at

TR4nut said:

I've acquired a 3A

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Pictures?!?!

TR4nut said:

Here's a teaser pic:

I'm trying to keep up with tdskip!

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Wow, she looks great.

(and you've got some way to go to catch up, which makes you smarter than me. ha.)

tdskip said:

(and you've got some way to go to catch up, which makes you smarter than me. ha.)

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Nope, definitely not smarter than you Tom! That's part of the fun, I have to have a goal to shoot for!

Randy

TR4nut said:

tdskip said:

(and you've got some way to go to catch up, which makes you smarter than me. ha.)

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Nope, definitely not smarter than you Tom! That's part of the fun, I have to have a goal to shoot for!

Randy

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Ha. Game on Randy. So, are you going for total Triumphs owned at one point? Total models owned at any point, or "just" total classics?

(Can you tell I'm looking for a reason not to sell the '66 TR4a)

But enough of this - tell us more about your new TR3! And don't sweat the HS6, you'll come to love them. A couple more buts than what you are used to but not bad, and more control over them. I'd just rebuild them as others have suggested.

She looks really nice. Definitely tell us more!

Scott

Thanks, but first I have to keep this thread about the carbs - pulled them apart, nothing very bad in the jet assembly but the previous rebuild used o-rings and from appearances they may be swelling a little with the ethanol as they made everything too tight. I've replaced with cork and still need to work it. Much easier to lower the jets now, but when I hook up the choke cable it really doesn't want to pull those jets lower - way too much force needed. Need to study it some more.

Now on to the car(s):

Some confession time, a couple months ago I looked at a TR3A project which had stalled out - paint was done but assembly remained. I liked the project, and while I was looking at it my wife looked at the completed red TR3A which was there too - a full frame off resto that had about 800 miles on it but was idled for over 4 years. My wife looked at me, I looked at her, and two weeks later, two car hauls, and one uhaul truck full of parts I wound up with two 3As and about another one in parts, plus other stuff I haven't inventoried yet.

Here's the project car parked sideways in my now stuffed garage:


My goal is getting the red one ready for VTR nationals this October, which my club is hosting. Quite a few things left to do on the punchlist, like getting it running again What little driving I've done with it so far though has put a big grin on my face, it rides nice on Coker Classics (like new but unfortunately 10 yrs old tires).

The white car will hopefully be going by next year, which may be wishful thinking!

Whoo hoo! Now we're talking Randy. Redundancy - a wonderful thing.

TR4nut said:

My wife looked at me, I looked at her, and two weeks later, two car hauls, and one uhaul truck full of parts I wound up with two 3As and about another one in parts, plus other stuff I haven't inventoried yet.

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Your wife must give you quite different looks than the ones my wife gives me when I talk about buying more cars, after the look I go from adding one to adding zero, not adding one to adding two!

Ok is the white one or the red one the "parts car"?