leaking carb 41 60 special

[mr41cadillac]

I have a Stromberg aav-26 that's leaking , drip drip every few seconds. I can see the drip from the front, back behind the 2 big screws on the front. we had taken the carb off because it was weeping gas , now its worse.  what exactly are the setting for the float level and float drop ? and here do you measure. could it be this ? I lost the paper that had this in the kit I ordered thanks ojhn 

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

John,

Is it leaking at the two screws or at the top of the bowl. Not sure where the leak is?

the Johnny

[mr41cadillac]

not at the 2 screws but past them and higher and between them. I can see the leak with amirrow  from a rounder knob john

[mr41cadillac]

and after sitting a while its stil l dripping. john

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

John,

there is a overflow pipe on top of the carb in the middle towards the passenger side. If this is dripping it may be that you have set the floats or float drop incorrectly.

Since you sign as 41 is the carb for the 41 Cad? Let me know and will provide data.

The Johnny

[mr41cadillac]

yes john its for a 41 aav-26 john

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

John,

There is a plug on the passenger side of the carburetor in the bowl. If you take this out gas should be level with the bottom of the threads or a little below. If gas comes out then you know the float is adjusted incorrectly.

for the 1941 AAV-26 with the gasket installed with the top inverted the float should be 1 5/16" from the gasket to the middle of the float.

As to the float drop, the bottom of the body of the carb is 1 3/4" so you might want to make sure that when the float is in the dropped position the end (lowest point) measure 1 1/2" so that it does not stick when the bowl is empty.

The Johnny

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

John,

I keep doing this --- THE PLUG IS ONE THE DRIVERS SIDE.

the dope

[mr41cadillac]

thanks john. when I take the plug out gas comes out. I will take off and reset per your specs. let you know later today. thanks john

[Steve Passmore]

If you find the flout level is good as per Johnnys instructions then its most likely the needle jet is not holding for some reason.

[mr41cadillac]

I took carb  car off and float level was 1.9/16 I adjusted to 1 5/16. it still leaks. also took off plug on side and gas ran out. jhn

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

John,

Steve had a good suggestion to make sure the needle seats and holds pressure against the seat.

Also make sure the floats do not rub against the side of the bowl that can hang them up.

Did the float drop look within reason?

the johnny

[Steve Passmore]

If the flout level is correct and the needle jet is holding theres only one other thing it can be, the flout has a flaw.  Remove the flout completely, gently dry it off and shake it near to your ear. If you can hear fuel sloshing about inside then it has a puncture.

I must have 4 Stromburg flouts with flaws and have tried a dozen methods of repair over the last 30 years and believe me none of them work. If you find a pin hole and are tempted to solder it up you will increase the weight and never get a correct flout level again.  Hardest part is removing the fuel inside, its probably taken months to get in there and will not readily drip out, any pressure on the flout to squeeze it out will result in another flaw somewhere else. These things are wafer thin and after 70 years very brittle.  Hope thats not your problem.

[Quentin Hall]

This is an unconventional trick i performed in an emergency on a 59 tri power float that became porous and seemed to get a new pinhole every few weeks regardless of how well i soldered the previous holes.
. Stuck on the side of the road and with a full float i punctured the top with a screw  to empty out the fuel. i had no way to repair the screw hole so just left it. I made it home and put it on my list of things to fix, but it never sank again. As it was above  fuel level it did not let fuel in. But also as the float was no longer expanding and contracting due to heating and cooling and causing fatiguing of the brass it no longer seemed to get any more holes. Maybe i was lucky but it worked.

[mr41cadillac]

latest on the leaking Stromberg carb. we think its leaking behind and up  where their are 2 drill passages that were plugged. we have  soldered and we are going to make a new gasket. thefloat was readjusted and not leaking. might finish today. my friend informes me that some carbureator floats could be adjusted from the outside.  was a little unclear about the the float measurement. I assume you measure from the top of gasket to to the top of the float at the middle of the float ? was this the only carb that can be used on the 41 60 special ? if so I ting I need to buy a spare.  john

[gary griffin]

I can not say as to the authenticity but many 346 flat heads have Carter Carburetors. I have a old one in the back of the shop I intend to rebuild and carry for
emergencies.

[mr41cadillac]

I adjusted carb to 1 8/32 with top inverted from the gasket to the top of the float at the middle of the float. is this correct? but it ran 5 seconds. I took the overflow side plug off and gas ran out so why is the level to high ? thanks john

[Steve Passmore]

Flout Needle jet is obviously not holding.  I have had new ones from a kit that didn't work.