VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 31 quit running

This morning I had planned to take my '31 coupe for a spin. I got in and started it, but it ran only for a second or two. I could smell gas, so I opened the hood and found gas dripping out of the carburetor. When the dripping stopped I tried starting again, and it did the same thing, run for a second and quit, and gas was dripping out of the carb. It has spark. MY guess is the carb is the problem. Your thoughts?
Sid

Needle valve stuck?

Tap the carburetor with a light hammer. Increase the size of the hammer until it gets unstuck and straightens up and flies right. That's what 37 and 38 owners do.

No point in cleaning anything. Just put the hammer in the trunk in case it happens again. If it does, you merely take the hammer out and show it to the carburetor. It'll remember. Will too.

Think about a tall upgrade to a 41.

Charlie

Your carburetor is flooding. Since Charlie is not of any help, do the following:

Remove the float and check to see if it is full of gas inside. You can tell by shaking the float back and forth. Also, your float needle might not be seating completely due to some debris which would cause the carb. to flood, so check that as well. If it turns out to be the needle not seating and there is no debris present, and if the needle has a Viton tip, replace it with a metal needle.

Thanks Dog and Charlie. I might try the hammer first, but very lightly.
Sid

The hammer worked! I tapped a few times, and the car started and ran well. The downside is I was so exited to take a ride that I forgot about the tools I had left on the right running board. I retraced my route with no success. MY multi-meter was the biggest loss. Oh well, at least the car runs now. Thanks again for the help.
Sid

Junkyard,

See? Now who's of no help?

Charlie

I really appreciated the Dog's advice too, but I was glad I didn't have to go that far. I'm still recovering from my stroke, and I probably would have put off the carburetor work for several months. So, I was very pleased that the hammer fixed it.
Charlie, I already have a '41, and I like it very much too. So far it hasn't needed the hammer.
Sid

Tapping the float bowl gently with a very small hammer is a good idea....I have done it myself in the past with both good and bad results. However, suggesting to increase the size of the hammer (joking or not) is not good advice since a large hammer could damage the carburetor and someone could possibly take you seriously. Besides, what does upgrading to a 1941 Chevrolet have to do with a carburetor flooding on a 1931 anyway....especially since 1941 carburetors can have the same flooding issue as well.

Dog: Back in the doghouse, now!
Charlie: Stop poking sticks at the dog!

No dessert for either of you.

All the Best, Chip

Chip,

I don't see why you are a-counseling me. I was just asserting that my suggestion did help, at least as a temporary fix. Remember he started it when he said, "Since Charlie is not of any help..." That right there was unfair and unwarranted. Big time! Was too. I'm still a-pouting. Am too.

I ain't poking no stinkin' sticks. It only bothers JD because the carburetor wasn't taken apart as he suggested when a light tap would do - and did do - the trick. The notion that a too heavy a hammer would be used and thus bust the thing is ludicrous and grabbing at straws to justify not acknowledging my suggestion as a good (helpful one). A suggestion that he now, belatedly, acknowledges he has used with success. Go figure.

JD is a great guy and knowledgeable about a heap of things. Is too. Makes you just want to hug him. Don't it?

See you at Fletcher.

Charlie

"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example."
Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) 1835-1910

It has been done before by naive hobbyists that have no experience with working on old cars or mechanics....especially when they trust someone like yourself who does have experience and who suggests banging on the carburetor with a big hammer.

If the notion that too heavy of a hammer being used is ludicrous then why did you suggest it?




Correct. But I also said with "bad results" as well.

Thanks Chip for getting ole Charlie up and running again with another one of his essays......

Always happy to help a buddy!

You guys are a kick!

WLB

I always advise to use the handle of a screw driver and "Tap" the gas inlet. It is harder to damage expensive parts with a screwdriver handle. Of course the old adage of "Hit it with a hammer, if that does not work then use a larger hammer, if it breaks it needed fixing anyway" can be used if you have deeeeeeppppp pockets.

Here is my hope Sid, that you have a full recovery and all gets better for you. Strokes are no fun as I can attest to!!

Jim.

Thanks Jim, I'm getting better every day.
Sid