running horribly rich
 

Here's the scenario:

1600 DP with a new SVDA dizzy from A/C.net, I believe it was a compufire
pickup I installed in it (also new), the valves were adjusted and then
checked after I started having problems and all was good. It started
misfiring and gradually running rougher over a period of time (about a week)
while I was installing a oil pressure guage, oil temp sender, air/fuel ratio
meter and all the senders. Next thing I know it won't start and I find the
oil smelling like gas! Drained and refilled the oil and changed the
seriously fouled plugs for new ones and it fires right up. Problem is it
will only run with the choke fully closed but the raw fuel smell coming out
of the exhaust has basically gotten me nauseous (sp?). This carb has been
rebuilt by me and set to the starting point as per several sites on the
internet and also the rebuild intsructions. It's such a simple carb I can't
see how I could have screwed it up. My neighbors and myself felt it was
probably carb related but after dropping on a known good carb it did the
same exact thing..... the only way we could get either to idle after the
choke started opening was to turn the bypass screw many turns out. The
volume control was set at 2 3/4 out on both.

I'm at a loss now...... the only thing I can think of now is the ignition
giving a weak spark. I'm open to any sugestions though of course. Two
things I forgot to mention, I replaced all the intake gaskets and seals and
had it purring like a kitten about a month ago (had an intake leak). I
also did a compression check with all the plugs out and got 160 across the
board. I was almost hoping to see one low just so I would know what the
problem was!

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions guys...... oh and Happy New Year!

Mac

75 Baja
70 Bus
70 Ghia

> I replaced all the intake gaskets and seals and had it purring like a kitten about a month ago (had an intake leak).

What were the symptoms you had that when you had a vacuum leak and replaced the intake gaskets? It sounds like what you
may have now, an intake manifold leak. If the engine won't run except with the choke closed then it's getting its air
from somewhere.(else)

>>>Mike

"Mike64Bug" > wrote in message
link.net...
>> I replaced all the intake gaskets and seals and had it purring like a
>> kitten about a month ago (had an intake leak).
>
> What were the symptoms you had that when you had a vacuum leak and
> replaced the intake gaskets? It sounds like what you
> may have now, an intake manifold leak. If the engine won't run except
> with the choke closed then it's getting its air
> from somewhere.(else)
>
>>>>Mike
>
>

Well when I had the intake leak it wouldn't idle well at all but it sure
didn't make my eyes water with the gas fumes out of the exhaust. Also I
fixed the intake leak with all new gaskets and boots and have only driven it
around my block a couple of times. That was about a month ago and the carb
behaved correctly and allowed me to tune it to specs right out of every book
I have read. This leads me to believe something else, which has nothing to
do w/ the carb, that is the problem.

TIA

Mac

Hi

It could be a float chamber problem, have you checked its ok ?

Rich

Mac wrote:

> Here's the scenario:
>
> 1600 DP with a new SVDA dizzy from A/C.net, I believe it was a compufire
> pickup I installed in it (also new), the valves were adjusted and then
> checked after I started having problems and all was good. It started
> misfiring and gradually running rougher over a period of time (about a week)
> while I was installing a oil pressure guage, oil temp sender, air/fuel ratio
> meter and all the senders. Next thing I know it won't start and I find the
> oil smelling like gas! Drained and refilled the oil and changed the
> seriously fouled plugs for new ones and it fires right up. Problem is it
> will only run with the choke fully closed but the raw fuel smell coming out
> of the exhaust has basically gotten me nauseous (sp?). This carb has been
> rebuilt by me and set to the starting point as per several sites on the
> internet and also the rebuild intsructions. It's such a simple carb I can't
> see how I could have screwed it up. My neighbors and myself felt it was
> probably carb related but after dropping on a known good carb it did the
> same exact thing..... the only way we could get either to idle after the
> choke started opening was to turn the bypass screw many turns out. The
> volume control was set at 2 3/4 out on both.
>
> I'm at a loss now...... the only thing I can think of now is the ignition
> giving a weak spark. I'm open to any sugestions though of course. Two
> things I forgot to mention, I replaced all the intake gaskets and seals and
> had it purring like a kitten about a month ago (had an intake leak). I
> also did a compression check with all the plugs out and got 160 across the
> board. I was almost hoping to see one low just so I would know what the
> problem was!
>
> Thanks for any ideas/suggestions guys...... oh and Happy New Year!
>
> Mac
>
> 75 Baja
> 70 Bus
> 70 Ghia
>
>

If the second carb you put on was known to be good but
you had the same symptoms then one would expect to find the
trouble somewhere else. I was thinking that perhaps one of
the gaskets you replaced starting leaking after everything had a
chance to heat up and cool off a few times, i.e something
loosened up somewhere.

>>>Mike

"Mike64Bug" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> If the second carb you put on was known to be good but
> you had the same symptoms then one would expect to find the
> trouble somewhere else. I was thinking that perhaps one of
> the gaskets you replaced starting leaking after everything had a
> chance to heat up and cool off a few times, i.e something
> loosened up somewhere.

Yes. Just where is the air/fuel gauge installed?

It might be a ruptured diaphram in the fuel pump. Then you have gas
entering the crankcase, through the bottom of fuel pump, diluting the oil
and filling it up. The overfilled crankcase will move this gas-oil mixture
into the combustion area through different means. You should also
experience oil being thrown out of the rear pulley.

Also make sure the idle circuit is clean, this also means that idle jet that
usually gets clogged with some dirt.

Oh and I could be wrong, so this it just a theory! ;-)
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


> Mac wrote:
>

SNIP SNIP

>> Next thing I know it won't start and I find the oil smelling like gas!
>> Drained and refilled the oil and changed the seriously fouled plugs for
>> new ones and it fires right up. Problem is it will only run with the
>> choke fully closed but the raw fuel smell coming out of the exhaust has
>> basically gotten me nauseous (sp?). This carb has been rebuilt by me
>> and set to the starting point as per several sites on the internet and
>> also the rebuild intsructions. It's such a simple carb I can't see how I
>> could have screwed it up. My neighbors and myself felt it was probably
>> carb related but after dropping on a known good carb it did the same
>> exact thing..... the only way we could get either to idle after the choke
>> started opening was to turn the bypass screw many turns out. The volume
>> control was set at 2 3/4 out on both.
>>
>> I'm at a loss now...... the only thing I can think of now is the ignition
>> giving a weak spark. I'm open to any sugestions though of course. Two
>> things I forgot to mention, I replaced all the intake gaskets and seals
>> and had it purring like a kitten about a month ago (had an intake leak).
>> I also did a compression check with all the plugs out and got 160 across
>> the board. I was almost hoping to see one low just so I would know what
>> the problem was!

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
m...
> It might be a ruptured diaphram in the fuel pump.

Not likely because I have an electric pump that I tested a couple of days
ago and putting out just over 3 PSI. Thanks for the input though....

Mac

"Mike64Bug" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> If the second carb you put on was known to be good but
> you had the same symptoms then one would expect to find the
> trouble somewhere else. I was thinking that perhaps one of
> the gaskets you replaced starting leaking after everything had a
> chance to heat up and cool off a few times, i.e something
> loosened up somewhere.
>
>>>>Mike
>
>

That's where I'm going to look today..... got too ****ed off about it and
had no enthusiasm for it the last couple of days.

Mac

"tricky" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> It could be a float chamber problem, have you checked its ok ?
>
> Rich


Yes checked that the float wans't leaking and that the correct sized washer
was under the needle valve on both carbs...... I know it has to be something
silly.

Mac