VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1941 Carburetor Problem

This will cover about all Carter W-1 carburators and 216 engines, I suppose. Anyway, here's my problem:

The engine on my 41 coupe runs good with about a third choke. But won't idle. Even when warmed up. No matter how I adjust the idle mixture and the setting stop for the throttle arm, it won't idle unless there is a lot of choke. This in turn causes it to rev way beyond what a normal idle should be.

I never have been a carburetor man, so to speak but it seems to me that there is no gas going to the intake without the choke. If I stop at a stop light and think I can push the choke in a bit to reduce the high reving engine, it will die.

I'm going to take it (carburetor) apart Monday and see if I can clean it up and get it working right.

Question: Given the sympthoms described above, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I need to concentrate on to get the results I need?

Thanks,
Charlie

Sounds as though you have a plugged low speed jet tube.
Before disassembly try swapping the #3 and #4 plug wires and run it for a few seconds to see if the backfire thru the carb might dislodge whatever is plugging it. This has been discussed in other post.

Thanks, I'll try that.

Charlie

Sounds as if it could be a vacuum leak.
f all else fails I would send it to one of the VCCA members that rebuild W-1's

Thanks, Gene.

I'll check that out, also.

Charlie

Vacuum leak is a possibility, so is internal leak (particularly at low speed jet seat), incorrect parts, plugged passage. Sometimes diagnosing a W-1 can be a daunting task.

Hi, Charlie ...I too was having a similar W-1 problem you describe...Remember after finding that bent/clacking push-rod, I retarded the timing...? Well, that solved my low idle problem, too. The motor now idles so low now that I'm amazed every time I come to a stop light...I'll swear the motor has died...Until I push on the gas a let out the clutch...And away I go...S*** eating grin and all...

I found that by retarding the motor to 10 degrees or less BTDC...It also runs nearly 10 degrees cooler...

I'd guess it had something to do with the "physic's" of the thing as a whole...Perhaps the motor just doesn't want to idle that low with that much "advancement" ( firing too soon ) in the low RPM's...I did lose overall horse power but it runs smoother all around...And I now enjoy the low idle...Good luck , my friend...

The idle on our 41 Chev (with the Carter carb) is so smooth that it is becoming problematic. My dad's hearing isn't so good these days, so when he sits at a red light he becomes convinced the engine has died. So he routinely engages the starter with the motor going. Dad's going deaf and the car is losing its teeth.

Karl

With my new hearing aids I can now hear the motor on my 1925. Trouble is, you hear too many things you don't want to.

Same here! When I first got hearing aids and took my 37 up to speed,it scared me!

Charlie, I have had idle problems a couple of times (mostly rough Idle). I screwed the idle screw clear out of it and gave it a blast of air. It seemed to help but some times the problem will come back and I have to do it again. It is easy to do and might be worth a try.