[AT] Ford 1841 fuel problem

[Mike Sloane]

My "trick" for locating a vacuum leak is to start the engine and run the 
head of an unlit propane torch, with the valve cracked open, slowly 
around the various parts of the intake system. The vacuum will suck the 
raw propane into the combustion chambers, and the engine will speed up 
momentarily. You have to move slowly because it takes a couple of 
seconds for the stuff to get from the carburetor to the combustion chambers.

A couple of thoughts on your problem:

1. when you say that you "cleaned the carburetor", did you completely 
disassemble it and ream out ALL of the jets? The crap they are selling 
for gas these days doesn't hold up in storage and leaves all kinds of 
crud inside carburetors.

2. likewise, the quality of some of the replacement manifolds coming in 
from the Far East these days varies considerably. It is not unusual to 
find surfaces that are not flat or pinholes in welds. You might have to 
pull your new manifold and check both the block and carburetor surfaces 
with a straight edge.

Good luck,

Mike

On 7/20/2011 12:53 PM, Lew Best wrote:
> Got a problem that's really baffling me. I drove my Ford 1841 (gas) into the
> shop to change out its cable steering set-up to a conventional one. It sat a
> couple of months&  suddenly when I pulled it out the only way it'll run is
> with the choke pulled mostly out&  then only for a short time. I drove it
> about 60 or so feet to its "new parking place"&  had to fully choke&
> restart it 3 times.
>
> I've since cleaned out the gas tank, replaced the internal strainer, cleaned
> out the carb, replaced the manifold (it had a hole burned in the exhaust
> portion) replaced the gasket between the carb&  intake (I don't know WHY
> they don't include this with a carb kit or the new manifold), but it still
> acts exactly the same as it did when I pulled it out of the shop.
>
> I'm thinking vacuum leak but with all new gaskets, etc. it really has me
> baffled. It is gravity feed so I'm thinking about putting an electric pump
> on it (fuel flow to carb seems adequate though) but they do cost about 45
> bux these days so would prefer to leave it gravity since it used to run fine
> that way.
>
> Anyone have a "good trick" for locating vacuum leaks? I'm told that WD40 is
> re-formulated so just spraying it around (used to cause a speed change when
> you hit the leak) don't work anymore.
>
> Any insight appreciated!!!!!
>
>
>
> Lew near Waco, TX