The Ford Barn

legacy · 04-09-2022, 08:41 AM

I have a 1928 Ford Model A Tudor with a Tillotson carburetor.
The car stalls when I come to a stop, causing some very stressful situations, like blocking a lane of traffic while I try to get the car started.
I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix this problem. I tried all the suggestions on this forum and even got an exchange rebuild carburetor from a reliable source. The problem continues and I stopped using the car.
I understand that Sears sold a carburetor, called the Sears Marvel 2405. It’s also called Allstate 2405.
Does anyone have any experience with these carburetors.

Y-Blockhead · 04-09-2022, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacy

I have a 1928 Ford Model A Tudor with a Tillotson carburetor.
The car stalls when I come to a stop, causing some very stressful situations, like blocking a lane of traffic while I try to get the car started.
I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix this problem. I tried all the suggestions on this forum and even got an exchange rebuild carburetor from a reliable source. The problem continues and I stopped using the car.
I understand that Sears sold a carburetor, called the Sears Marvel 2405. It’s also called Allstate 2405.
Does anyone have any experience with these carburetors.

There are many threads on the Ford Barn about the Marvel Schebler/Allstate 2405/Johnson JFA carburetors, both pro and con.

old ugly · 04-09-2022, 09:36 AM

i know nothing of the sears carb. sorry

that problem happens on the zenith as well. Tom endy has an article on it for the zenith re this issue but i don't know about the tillotson. maybe check his site it may be a similar fix.

i have a car with a zenith with that same problem. i have and still am fighting it. on mine it may be a throttle plate issue but am unsure as of this moment.
to compensate for that i adjust the gav open a little extra when driving in a stop and go situation.

burner31 · 04-09-2022, 10:26 AM

Check your float level

Aretino · 04-09-2022, 10:56 AM

The Marvel is a Marvel. My 31 coupe runs great with it.

VT Cruzan · 04-09-2022, 12:02 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My '31 Coupe has a Marvel as well. I know it has been on the car since at least 1954. There has never been a problem with it.

J Franklin · 04-09-2022, 12:22 PM

I doubt yoiur trouble is carb maker specific. any carb if set-up poorly can cause stalls. stalls on stopping could also be (Loose/worn) electrical in cause.

gdmn852 · 04-09-2022, 01:01 PM

Does sound strange that the problem continues even after changing carburetor. I seen problems like this in the ignition lock if the wire shorts out inside the armor cable or loose contacts . Maybe run a continuity check on electrical.

abachman3 · 04-09-2022, 03:40 PM

I have run thousands of miles using a Marvel. I prefer it to a Zenith. have in the way back past switched to a B carb to eliminate the stalling issue, as the float is oriented differently and does not have the same issues.

ndnchf · 04-09-2022, 03:48 PM

The Marvel is great - There is one on my 31 CCPU. In my humble opinion, it is the best carb out there. Mine runs beautifully, more pep, idles fine and never stalls at a stop. I like it so much I got another one as a spare, and sent it to Gary Johnston for rebuild. I got it back a few weeks ago. It looks great.

JKY · 04-09-2022, 04:15 PM

I have one on my B engined 29 Fordor. It keeps up with the B engine without a problem. It's been a great carburetor. It came from Gary Johnston also, he's Jim Bullock's son in law.

Y-Blockhead · 04-09-2022, 07:09 PM

I have friends that run Marvels from Jim Bullock/Gary Johnson and they run great. The problem I have with Marvels from Jim/Gary is they bead blast them and IMO ruin the finish. And why the allen screws?

jack backer · 04-10-2022, 06:56 AM

The Marvel is a later design than Zenith. It uses an emulsion tube istead of multiple jets. The emulsion tube design was used on Stromberg 97’s as well, a much simpler design than the Zenith.

All three carburetors mention flow about half of the CFM of the A engine. Matching carb air flow to engine air flow yields peak performance.

eagle · 04-10-2022, 08:33 AM

If the float level is adjusted properly, none of the carbs should die after hard braking. As others have said, if it has this tendency you can open the GAV a bit to help, but I would pull the carb off and adjust it properly. Another thing that people do to compensate for this is increase the idle speed with the hand throttle. This also has adverse affects on the shifting ease. Low idle speeds makes a much smoother shift.

Marshall V. Daut · 04-10-2022, 08:54 AM

Check your private messages in the top right corner of this webpage.
Marshall

Marshall V. Daut · 04-10-2022, 08:54 AM

Check your private messages in the top right corner of this webpage.
Marshall

DHZIEMAN · 04-19-2022, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacy

I have a 1928 Ford Model A Tudor with a Tillotson carburetor.
The car stalls when I come to a stop, causing some very stressful situations, like blocking a lane of traffic while I try to get the car started.
I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix this problem. I tried all the suggestions on this forum and even got an exchange rebuild carburetor from a reliable source. The problem continues and I stopped using the car.
I understand that Sears sold a carburetor, called the Sears Marvel 2405. It’s also called Allstate 2405.
Does anyone have any experience with these carburetors.

Only a suggestion..... it is important to determine if the car has a intermittent electrical issue or a fuel issue. If a reliable source carb has been installed and the problem remains the same, I would start looking elsewhere. A simple check would be to squirt starting fluid in the intake and then try and start, if it starts right away and then stops, that moves the problem possibly back to the fuel tank and a possible gas flow issue out of the fuel tank. A good way to see if there is a fuel blockage is remove the gas line to the carb and blow air back into the gas tank, reconnect and if the car starts and runs fine for a while again, there may be rust or sediment in the tank blocking gas flow. If the engine does not start, I would suggest moving on to electrical issues. ignition coils can fail once they get warmed up, by the way! Please let us know what you find out.

Dick M · 04-19-2022, 02:52 PM

I run a Marvel and prefer it to the Zenith. I carry my Zenith under the seat for a spare. The folks below are excellent rebuilders of Model A Carbs. I bought my Marvel from them.

Contact the folks below to purchase a perfectly rebuilt Marvel:

MARVEL SHEMBLER CARBERATOR 903-490-3725
976 COUNTRY ROAD 2310 —[email protected]
Gary Johnspon
TEXARKANA, TX 75503 CARBS/EXCELLENT WORK

fried okra · 04-19-2022, 03:20 PM

Has anyone compared how an "A" with a Marvel carb runs compared to the Weber downdraft kits?

I know they are totally dissimilar, and the Marvel looks more appropriate.

Does the Marvel offer any improvements in running though over a Weber?

JBill · 04-19-2022, 04:09 PM

I have run a Marvel in the past and probably would again if I could find the fitting mine required at the carb inlet in order to adapt it to a standard Model A fuel line. I haven't seen this mentioned. Was (is) mine just weird? The inlet on my Marvel is not the same size as on any of the half dozen Tillotsons or Zeniths that I have.

04-09-2022, 08:41 AM	#1
legacy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 15	Sears Marvel 2405 I have a 1928 Ford Model A Tudor with a Tillotson carburetor. The car stalls when I come to a stop, causing some very stressful situations, like blocking a lane of traffic while I try to get the car started. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix this problem. I tried all the suggestions on this forum and even got an exchange rebuild carburetor from a reliable source. The problem continues and I stopped using the car. I understand that Sears sold a carburetor, called the Sears Marvel 2405. It’s also called Allstate 2405. Does anyone have any experience with these carburetors.

04-09-2022, 09:36 AM	#3
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 585	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 i know nothing of the sears carb. sorry that problem happens on the zenith as well. Tom endy has an article on it for the zenith re this issue but i don't know about the tillotson. maybe check his site it may be a similar fix. i have a car with a zenith with that same problem. i have and still am fighting it. on mine it may be a throttle plate issue but am unsure as of this moment. to compensate for that i adjust the gav open a little extra when driving in a stop and go situation. __________________ old ugly my old father-in-law told me. "listen close when people tell you how to do stuff they may know something. then do it the way you want."

04-09-2022, 10:26 AM	#4
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 Check your float level __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

04-09-2022, 10:56 AM	#5
Aretino Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Dallas, TX, Angola, IN Posts: 157	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 The Marvel is a Marvel. My 31 coupe runs great with it.

04-09-2022, 12:02 PM	#6
VT Cruzan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Northeast Vermont Posts: 14	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) My '31 Coupe has a Marvel as well. I know it has been on the car since at least 1954. There has never been a problem with it.

04-09-2022, 12:22 PM	#7
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I doubt yoiur trouble is carb maker specific. any carb if set-up poorly can cause stalls. stalls on stopping could also be (Loose/worn) electrical in cause.

04-09-2022, 01:01 PM	#8
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 689	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 Does sound strange that the problem continues even after changing carburetor. I seen problems like this in the ignition lock if the wire shorts out inside the armor cable or loose contacts . Maybe run a continuity check on electrical.

04-09-2022, 03:40 PM	#9
abachman3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Western Springs, IL Posts: 324	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I have run thousands of miles using a Marvel. I prefer it to a Zenith. have in the way back past switched to a B carb to eliminate the stalling issue, as the float is oriented differently and does not have the same issues.

04-09-2022, 04:15 PM	#11
JKY Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 150	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I have one on my B engined 29 Fordor. It keeps up with the B engine without a problem. It's been a great carburetor. It came from Gary Johnston also, he's Jim Bullock's son in law. Last edited by JKY; 04-09-2022 at 04:16 PM. Reason: Adding source of carb.

04-09-2022, 07:09 PM	#12
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I have friends that run Marvels from Jim Bullock/Gary Johnson and they run great. The problem I have with Marvels from Jim/Gary is they bead blast them and IMO ruin the finish. And why the allen screws?

04-10-2022, 06:56 AM	#13
jack backer BANNED Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Chenango Bridge NY Posts: 433	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 The Marvel is a later design than Zenith. It uses an emulsion tube istead of multiple jets. The emulsion tube design was used on Stromberg 97’s as well, a much simpler design than the Zenith. All three carburetors mention flow about half of the CFM of the A engine. Matching carb air flow to engine air flow yields peak performance.

04-10-2022, 08:33 AM	#14
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 If the float level is adjusted properly, none of the carbs should die after hard braking. As others have said, if it has this tendency you can open the GAV a bit to help, but I would pull the carb off and adjust it properly. Another thing that people do to compensate for this is increase the idle speed with the hand throttle. This also has adverse affects on the shifting ease. Low idle speeds makes a much smoother shift. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

04-10-2022, 08:54 AM	#15
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,111	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 Check your private messages in the top right corner of this webpage. Marshall

04-19-2022, 02:52 PM	#18
Dick M Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ukiah, CA Posts: 477	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I run a Marvel and prefer it to the Zenith. I carry my Zenith under the seat for a spare. The folks below are excellent rebuilders of Model A Carbs. I bought my Marvel from them. Contact the folks below to purchase a perfectly rebuilt Marvel: MARVEL SHEMBLER CARBERATOR 903-490-3725 976 COUNTRY ROAD 2310 —[email protected] Gary Johnspon TEXARKANA, TX 75503 CARBS/EXCELLENT WORK

04-19-2022, 03:20 PM	#19
fried okra Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida Posts: 292	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 Has anyone compared how an "A" with a Marvel carb runs compared to the Weber downdraft kits? I know they are totally dissimilar, and the Marvel looks more appropriate. Does the Marvel offer any improvements in running though over a Weber?

04-19-2022, 04:09 PM	#20
JBill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 702	Re: Sears Marvel 2405 I have run a Marvel in the past and probably would again if I could find the fitting mine required at the carb inlet in order to adapt it to a standard Model A fuel line. I haven't seen this mentioned. Was (is) mine just weird? The inlet on my Marvel is not the same size as on any of the half dozen Tillotsons or Zeniths that I have.