Sticky carb float

Johnnybgood

Member
The carbs on my V8 were rebuilt a year ago and have been ok since until......it's been standing a week or 6. And starting it today the nearside carb poured petrol on the drive. I stripped and cleaned out the carb, but no change. The float is sticking and I can't see why. I tried it without the float valve in but it's still got a point where it almost feels as if it's catching on something but all seems clear. Has anyone else suffered this or has any ideas? This petrol leak is getting expensive!
Thanks
 
Thanks for the reply. They are HIF6s. I guess I need 2 new floats and pivots then to be sure? Are there any places to avoid when looking for these parts?
 
I always order from Burlen in the UK. Or Joe Curto in the US. Not had any problems with either of their parts.
 
Is your leak from the carb body or the tube that runs to a drain off, I have fuel dumping like mad from one of my tubes, had the carb apart, all seems well? does a faulty float cause this, as the actual jet does not seem to overflow, ( looking down the air intake ) The other nearside carb is OK.
This has only happened since I cleaned out the fuel filter, a glass bowl type, this has an internal pressure relief diaphragm, But I would have thought that would effect both carbs
Some earlier owner fitted an electric pump.
Thanks
Regards
Brian
 
You should have two separate overflow pipes, one from each carb, running along either side on top of the intake manifold and down the front of the timing cover, so that if one or both carb floats sink they spill safely to the street.
 
Is your leak from the carb body or the tube that runs to a drain off, I have fuel dumping like mad from one of my tubes, had the carb apart, all seems well? does a faulty float cause this, as the actual jet does not seem to overflow, ( looking down the air intake ) The other nearside carb is OK.
This has only happened since I cleaned out the fuel filter, a glass bowl type, this has an internal pressure relief diaphragm, But I would have thought that would effect both carbs
Some earlier owner fitted an electric pump.
Thanks
Regards
Brian
It was
 
It was the float that caused the problem. The plastic gets old and flexes, so it sticks. That makes the carb flood. A float kit and float pin seems to have cured the problem. The carbs were rebuilt with new jets and seals a year ago and were fine til the float problem. The fuel comes out of the overflow tube and certainly makes a mess.
 
thanks for the reply, but why is it only effecting the one carb, are these pipes an overflow, or breather system

regards
Well I cannot answer that one, but I had only one carb that liked to flood when I ran an inlet pressure over 3 psi, dropping the pressure cured it.
The pipes are overflow, but probably vent as well, but not 100% sure.
Thinking about it, my flooding carb was always the left hand one, the one that got fuel first.
 
I hope I have fixed the problem by lowering the pressure, but until I can sort the ignition light out, I cannot run the engine to find if I have lowered the pressure to much.
I dismantled the alternator, full of corrosive white powder, cleaned it up, no difference. Removed dash, multi pin at the back, the light is connected to this by a copper strip, as with the other warning lights, having said that, I notice the fuel light was on very faintly as well.
Back to the alternator, I will replace that, so if a member has one for sale, or a recommendation to purchase? I would appreciate it.
I also need a rheostat, (more corrosion) for dash lights
Regards
Brian
 
I hope I have fixed the problem by lowering the pressure, but until I can sort the ignition light out, I cannot run the engine to find if I have lowered the pressure to much.
I dismantled the alternator, full of corrosive white powder, cleaned it up, no difference. Removed dash, multi pin at the back, the light is connected to this by a copper strip, as with the other warning lights, having said that, I notice the fuel light was on very faintly as well.
Back to the alternator, I will replace that, so if a member has one for sale, or a recommendation to purchase? I would appreciate it.
I also need a rheostat, (more corrosion) for dash lights
Regards
Brian

Do you have a strip speedo ?
Rover P6 2000/2200SC/Auto, 2000TC/P6B 3500 to '70, Panel Light Rheostat, 551181 | eBay
 
I had this fault on my 3500S. Happened after fitting a new water pump ( not connected, I know, ) Only one carb leaking. I checked floats; both seemed good and the same, Both valves seemed good. Burlem suggested changing the floats, as the ones fitted were "old style" ( identified by the colour of the float, white or brown, I cannot remember which was correct.)
New floats from Burelm fixed the fault, but be careful when you fi them, do not disturb the main jet.
Why these things happen suddenly, I have no idea, but I was told that it often does after some other, not connected, work on the car.
To mu inexpert eyes the old nd new float looked to be identical. so ask the experts, and take their advice.
 
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