VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Idle Tube Help

Hello,

Getting ready for some spring driving, I thought I'd go through and clean the carb, as well as address what I believe is a vacuum leak at the gasket. While in the carb, I noticed that the idle tube screw appeared to not be flush with the carb body. Someone had also somewhat mangled the slotted head. Thinking that may be part of my issue, I removed the tube, but appears that the top portion was either already broken (or is now....) and remaining in the body. Attached are some pics.

What are my options at this point?

Thanks!
Steve

The top of the tube is a press fit to seal it when installed. They sometimes break when you try to remove. So you have to extract the piece stuck inside and then install a new tube. The Filling Station has them for $22.50. Need to solder it into your original nut.

Thanks cabboy.

Question now is how to extract the remaining tip of the tube.

To remove the broken portion of the low speed idle tube from the Carter carburetor body, it will be necessary to remove the throttle shaft, the metering rod assembly, the pot metal venturi, the pot metal choke cone and the pot metal standpipe. To remove the pot metal venturi will take a special Carter venturi puller, and to remove the pot metal standpipe will require a special Carter removal tool. Removing both of those parts without breaking them requires much experience and the special removal tools mentioned above. And, on some of the updraft Carter carburetors that have not been serviced in decades the process may require a sequence of heating and cooling to loosen the parts for removal. On the heating process, the right amount of heat must be applied or the pot metal pieces will either crack, blister or melt. The job is better off left to those VCCA specialists that rebuild the Carter carburetors on a regular basis. These individuals also have the special Carter carburetor tools required for removal of the venturi and the standpipe.

There is a special puller that cuts threads into the broken piece and when enough threads are formed the "T" handle end can be tapped out pulling out the broken piece. Those pullers are very rare and hard to find. Without the special puller it is necessary to remove the parts the JYD posted above. Then it is necessary to have some long reach needle nose pliers to grab onto the broken piece and wiggle it out. I happen to have two of the special pullers. No neither is for sale. I use them when necessary on rebuilds.

Tools JYD mentioned.

cabboy,
The broken low speed jet puller looks sorta like the photo but the length is longer and there is a slot in the tip to help cut the threads. Don't think the length pictured is long enough to reach the broken piece. The venturi puller and square socket are exactly as pictured in the second post.

I deleted that post so incorrect information is not out there. Do you have a picture of the tool and what is its Carter part number?
Regards

Thanks all. A neighbor that has has spent more years working under the hood than I've been alive recommended drilling the remaining piece out. Got about 2 seconds in and thought "nope!", and politely declined to continue. Looks like I need one of the VCCA specialists, if someone would be so kind as to point me in the right direction.

Well Chipper has the tool so you should ask him.

Check the "Services Offered" section of your G&D and you will see two dudes listed there that specialize in restoring the 1929-31 Carter updraft carburetors.

By the way, you were correct in not attempting to drill out the remains of the low speed idle tube.

Thanks! Will do.

I echo the comment to NOT drill out the piece. I have repaired too many carburetors that have holes drilled in them. Also a bunch that are not repairable. Sent one back a few days ago that had a hole drilled in the side of the throat through the venturi. Never did understand the reason. Maybe in an attempt to adjust air flow for several parts used in other carburetors. Just because it looks right does not mean it is.

Drilling out any part is only recommended for the highly skilled and experienced. I have had to do it all too often particularly when Chinese parts break. If the person doing the drilling is not willing to stand behind their work and make it right, run fast with the part in our hand (possession if too heavy). The argument "It didn't work when you brought it to me so you are not out anything" does not cut it.

Along with the "highly skilled and experienced" is a professional that has a "tapered drill bit". Have you seen any of these advertised recently? As mentioned, there are other ways. The easiest, if one has or can make the tool, is to use the puller to remove the broken tube.

Either of the two dudes giving you advice (JYD and Chipper) can do the work for you, but both are too timid to toot their own horn so I will toot it for them.

Jon.

Thanks for the horn toot. We both feel that to self promote our rebuilding is not appropriate on a site like Chat. Both Skipper and I have been rebuilding these carburetors for a long time with a hundreds of satisfied customers. We rely on customers to let others know how satisfied they are with our services. We have known each other for many, many years. Both of us are dedicated to helping folks preserve and restore their old Chevys and keep them in driveable condition as long as possible.

Thanks also for the horn toot Jon.......both Chipper and I appreciate it!!!

That is absolutely true. Neither Chipper or I feel that promoting our services on this site is the thing to do or ethical. At any rate, as Chipper mentioned, we have known each other for decades and since this is a hobby and not a business Chipper and I work together on referring customers to each other and we also compare technical procedures with each other as needed.

I feel that a joint offering by both yourself and chipper in the "services offered by other members" would be appropriate and help people in need find you. It's not like shameless self-promotion and I feel it would be a very positive use of the forum. Others who want to recommend either of you can point people there.

I agree . That is what that forum is for and it is highly unused .

It also should be mentioned that Jon "carbking" also provides a valuable service with his website and frequent posts helping folks to better understand carburetors. He also has decades of experience rebuilding carburetors, supplying parts and knowledge. He is one that both Skipper and I have consulted with on occasion. Thanks again Jon.

I don't want to seem that I am beating a dead horse (sorry guys) but I have used both JD and Chipper, one for a generator and one for a carburetor. I have the utmost faith in them both and recommend either without reservation.

Jon should post there as well.

The forum is reserved for VCCA members.

I post as a guest on dozens of car forums including this one. Not economically feasible to join the club sponsoring all of these forums.

Have been in the old car hobby semi-professionally since 1967, and professionally since 1974. Posting is one method of thanking all my customers.

Jon.

It looks like the forum "Services Offered by Other Members" is not restricted to VCCA members only. I think you can post there. I feel confident the moderators wouldn't have issues with reputable people such as yourself.

Sorry Cabboy but it specifically states "Find other VCCA members who offer services for those difficult restoration tasks. " If a chat member only then they would not be authorized to post. Jons contributions to Chat are greatly appreciated however opening it up to non VCCA members could cause conflicts.

If you check you will see there is no restriction on who can post there. As long as you are a chat member it looks like you can post. It is not in the VCCA members section.