VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Fuel supply problems on 23 sedan

My 23 has a Stewart vacuum fuel system. Since I got the car in April it hasn't been starting and running fine. I've installed new plugs, wires, cap and rotor and it has been starting even easier. Then a couple of days ago it stopped running while it was idling. Soon was clear the carb was getting no fuel. I primed the vacuum unit and the car started immediately and then ran until it used up the gas I'd primed it with. I figured maybe there was junk in the fuel line and so I cleaned out the sediment bowl back near the tank and then disconnected the fuel line into the Stewart tank and ran compressed air through the line. Hooked everything back up and the car started right up and ran for a few minutes. Just when I was congratulating myself on having fixed the problem it died again. The sediment bowl showed that new gas had been drawn from the tank. Once again the car will start when primed but then dies when the gas runs out. Any ideas or should I just keep trying to blow stuff out of the lines?

Sorry but the first line should read that the car has been (not hasn't been). Sorry for the poor proof reading.

You need to check to see if the brass insert has fallen out of the die-cast cover. If so just put a drop of supper glue on it and slide it quickly back in place. If the insert is in place then check the functioning of the vacuum tank by checking the valves and bottom valve on the inside tank. If the bottom valve seals the tank and the vacuum and vent valves are operating and the float still floats then the vacuum tank should work just fine.

Of course that assumes that the gas lines and fittings don't have an air leak or are not free flowing.

Chipper

Are talking about the filter on fuel intake line? Otherwise I'm not sure which part you are referencing. If I do need to take off the top of the tank, what is the best type of sealant to use when I reinstall it?

You should be running a G&G vacuum tank. The Stewart was not available until 1924. The G&G was available on the very early 1925 cars and was discontinued in 1925.

Chipper has provided some good advice. Check for any loose connections in the lines from the carb all the way back to the tank. Just a small leak fouls the system. Since you are using the SW vacuum tank check the cover. It is made of pot metal and in many cases it is warped. This renders it as junk at that point.

I do not use any sealer to remount the cover. A new gasket on a very clean surface is all that is needed.

Interesting about the model date for the Stewart system. The car is titled as a 23. The serial no starts with 6B which I thought was consistent with a 23. However in comparing manuals for the 23 and 24 my dash layout is more consistent with the 24. Maybe I have a late model 23?

Thanks for the ideas on my problem.