VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Priming the carburetor

I have a 32. If the car sits for a couple weeks, I have to pour a small amount of gas in the carb to get it to start easily. There is no apparent leakage of fuel anywhere.
At Hershey, I spoke to Dave Sylvain, the 33 tech advisor, who has a couple 32's as well. He said he experienced the same problem and added an electric fuel pump. He has it mounted near the tank and turns it on for about ten seconds to push gas into the carb and then turns it off. He still pumps thru the stock fuel pump.

I would like to keep things stock if possible but may have to go that direction.

I have the same problem with my 54, 70,and 74. I have been told by a person that has answered many many of our questions that it is todays gasoline evaporating. I use a shot of WD-40. It works well and lubricates as well as helping start the engine. No chance of spilling the gasoline.

Jim, Do you remove the air cleaner and shoot it in or go thru the air cleaner intake?...With some of my cars the air cleaner is a pain to remove or the car is parked in the garage in such a way the the hood can't be opened.Starting fluid should give the same results.
I have been using the long engine cranking method as it a good battery load test

I have the same problem with my 35 I was thinking
perhaps an inline check valve would solve the problem.

Gary

Adding a gallon of kerosene to the gas tank would slow the evaporation...a check-valve will not do it as the gas in the bowl has no way to flow out.

I have this problem with two cars with Carter W-1's, a single barrel Rochester, A 4 barrel Rochester (was the same with a 4bbl Carter) and a Corvair with two "little" Rochester single barrels.

Adding a gallon of kerosene to the gas tank would slow the evaporation..Also the keresene will help to prevent vapor lock....a check-valve will not do it as the gas in the bowl has no way to flow out.

I have this problem with two cars with Carter W-1's, a single barrel Rochester, A 4 barrel Rochester (was the same with a 4bbl Carter) and a Corvair with two "little" Rochester single barrels.

Adding a gallon of kerosene to the gas tank would slow the evaporation..Also the kerosene will help to prevent vapor lock....a check-valve will not do it as the gas in the bowl has no way to flow out.You could add a glass bowl fuel filer in front of the carburetor and position it up-side-down.As the fuel in the carb. evaporates the gas in the filter will refill the bowl.....as long as it (the filter gas) lasts.

I have this problem with two cars with Carter W-1's, a single barrel Rochester, A 4 barrel Rochester (was the same with a 4bbl Carter) and a Corvair with two "little" Rochester single barrels.

I dont think the problem is evaporation. I think the problem is fuel draining back into the tank. The carb is quite a bit higher than the tank and I think over time it drains back.

Gary

Gene, I remove the air cleaner. I back my cars in the garage most of the time. Next summer I think I'll try the kerosene to see how that works.

The fuel can't drain back to the tank with a W1 carburetor since the fuel remaining in the float bowl is below the gas line inlet.

JYD, wouldn't the gas drying out make for some future problems in the carb.?

Would it be better to install a shut off valve (somewhere hidden) and run the carb. dry when you put it away for a while?

That's what I do when I park my bulldozer. I turn of the gas and let the dozer run until the carburetor is dry. Been doing that for years and I haven't had any more flooding problems with the carburetor on the dozer since then.

Thats one of the reasons that is is better to not start and run the car during the winter or when not being driven.You are filling the bowl and the gas is evaporating over and over , causing deposits to form in the bowl.