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Oil leaking from ZS carb

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AustinJim

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I had a hesitation problem on my 78 Spitfire. I checked the dashpot and it was empty. I added oil when I first installed the newly acquired used carb but it had leaked out. I added more (up to about 1/4" from the top of the shaft with the plunger installed) and on the first drive oil was all over the top of the carb, as if it leaked out the top of the dashpot. Is this normal? If so, why did I lose all of the oil?
Thanks!
 
Too much oil in the dashpot. The oil level should be well below the top of the dashpot. The 1/4 mark should be where you have significant resistance from the plunger as you re-install it. Not where the oil level should be.

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Hi Jim,

I am in Austin, too, and I have been working on a fuel injection retrofit kit for my MG Midget 1500 which has the same carb and engine as your car. I would love to test it out on a Spitfire once I have all the kinks worked out.

I should be ready to do some beta testing on other cars in about a month or two. Do you have any interest in being a beta tester?

Morris
 
If I have too much oil in the dashpot I can see why the extra was forced out but I think ALL of the oil was gone. How much should I have and should I fill it with the plunger in or out?
 
Morris,
Maybe. I'm still trying to resurrect this zombie from 11 years in a barn. I wouldn't mind talking to you and seeing what you've done so far. Send me pm and we'll connect.
 
After you fill the dashpot, reinstall the plunger and screw down. Then, with a rag around the over flow port, reach in the carb with a finger and pull the piston to the top. That will force any over fill out the port. (the oil should be at the optimum level at this point and you may want to unscrew the plunger to see the level and get a feel for what the proper level should look like).

You should not see any more oil on the top of the carb after you run the car.
 
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