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Old 09-09-2017, 08:56 PM   #1
Greg in Edmonds
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Default Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

I am looking for some suggestions for the likely culprit to my current problem. My almost original 1940 Ford decided not to start. It appears to be starved for gas. If I pour some gas down the carburetor, it will run for a few seconds and dies. This happened to me 3 years ago when I then discovered a pin hole leak in the flexible gas line which I replaced and it ran fine. So I thought it may be the same thing again. By the way, I replaced the carburetor with a new #94 from DC (part 59A-9510) at the same time since the original carburetor had developed some minor seepage around its gaskets. So I have checked the likely culprits:

1. steel gas line to the tank is not blocked and I can draw gas to the firewall with a small suction pump.
2. flexible gas line has no holes and is not collapsed
3. fuel pump works fine and filled the glass bowl when the car was trying to start. Just to be sure I installed my back-up pump and it did the same thing.
4. steel line from the fuel pump to the carb is not blocked or crimped.

So that leaves me with an issue with my almost new carb. From what I can gather, the needle valves sticking closed may provide these symptoms. Does anyone have an opinion on that? Or any other suggestions for a cause? I am not a carburetor guy but if I have to tear into the carb to clean the needles valves I will. Where are they in this carb? Do I remove the upper half to access them? Suggestions for cleaning them? I have not found any schematic that would shed some light on this. If I do take the upper half off, will this mess with any other adjustments like the air/fuel mix ratio? Like I said, I am not a carburetor guy so please bear that in mind.
Thanks for any insight you may provide!
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Old 09-09-2017, 09:13 PM   #2
G.M.
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

I had a problem with sticky needle valve lately. I think it was due to old
gas and sitting a while. I took it apart several times and had trouble
freeing it. Carb cleaner, rust buster didn't get it. Finally I was able to
get MMO into the bowl where the float is. Left it over night and MMO
in the gas and it smooth running now. I drove it 50 or 60 miles Friday
and it never skipped a beat. G.M.
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Old 09-10-2017, 08:30 AM   #3
Greg in Edmonds
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Thanks, G.M. It is worth a try.
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Old 09-10-2017, 08:47 AM   #4
G.M.
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

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Originally Posted by Greg in Edmonds View Post
Thanks, G.M. It is worth a try.
I just remembered, There was a thick coat of sticky varnish
in the carb but the MMO took care of it. G.M.
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Old 09-10-2017, 09:39 AM   #5
flathead4rd
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

What about the needle and seat. I've heard some have had trouble with the needle that has the vitron coating on it. The coating gets soft due to the ethanol in todays gas and sticks. I changed all mine to the solid steel type.
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Old 09-10-2017, 10:32 AM   #6
scicala
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

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It's easy to remove the top of the carb once you take the fuel line off. Just the five screws on top. Then lift off the top with car to not tera the gasket. Should be re-useable. Then pull out the float pivot pin and float. That will reveal the fuel valve needle and seat. I would replace with a steel needle version as flathead4rd said in post #5 above.
when reassembling hold the carb top upside down and set the float height to 1 9/32" above the gasket surface. and the float drop to 1 17/32" from the gasket surface.

I think Charlie ny on the Ford Barn may have the steel tipped needle and seats.

You will not mess up any adjustments by removing the top.

Sal
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Old 09-10-2017, 11:09 AM   #7
G.M.
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scicala View Post
It's easy to remove the top of the carb once you take the fuel line off. Just the five screws on top. Then lift off the top with car to not tera the gasket. Should be re-useable. Then pull out the float pivot pin and float. That will reveal the fuel valve needle and seat. I would replace with a steel needle version as flathead4rd said in post #5 above.
when reassembling hold the carb top upside down and set the float height to 1 9/32" above the gasket surface. and the float drop to 1 17/32" from the gasket surface.

I think Charlie ny on the Ford Barn may have the steel tipped needle and seats.

You will not mess up any adjustments by removing the top.

Sal
On the Stromberg carb you can run the car with the top of the
carb off and see what's going on with fuel flow and if the float
is at the correct height. Be carful and have a fire x handy. I
prefer the Goss ball valve from Uncle Max. The ball valve acts
fast and once the float level is set it don't vary a 1/16" in fuel
level. G.M.
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Old 09-10-2017, 02:57 PM   #8
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

I do a fair bit of carburetors and one of the biggest enemy of the carburetor is ethanol.
If you run any sort of fuel that has ethanol (alcohol) in it and you let the car sit longer than a week between runs, you better start introducing a fuel stabilzer lke SeaFoam or Sta-Bil to your fuel.
What happens is the ethanol in the fuel is hygroscopic and attracts moisture right out of the air. Between the corrosive effect of ethanol and the moisture, the needles corrode to their seats and stick shut.
Best bet is to pull the needle and seat, clean or replace them, run non-oxygenated fuels and a fuel stabilizer.
My $.02 worth anyway..
Good luck!
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Old 09-10-2017, 02:59 PM   #9
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by G.M. View Post
On the Stromberg carb you can run the car with the top of the
carb off and see what's going on with fuel flow and if the float
is at the correct height. Be carful and have a fire x handy. I
prefer the Goss ball valve from Uncle Max. The ball valve acts
fast and once the float level is set it don't vary a 1/16" in fuel
level. G.M.
I think he said he had a 94....
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Old 09-11-2017, 08:40 PM   #10
Greg in Edmonds
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Thanks for the suggestions. One note is that I normally start the car weekly. When it wouldn't start, it happened to be on the second week. Previously, it had never been a problem to skip an occasional week. It was hot for several days. So perhaps sitting a couple weeks in the garage was enough for the gas in the carb to evaporate causing the valves to stick and to give me grief. By the way, the gas around here is up to 10% alcohol (either in the summer or winter, I don't remember which). You have no choice, that is all there is to purchase. Time to track down some fuel stabilizer and tear the top of the carb. Thanks again all for the suggestions!
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Old 09-11-2017, 09:56 PM   #11
AnthonyG
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

X2 what big foot said! Used to happen me as he said if not started more than a week sometimes less if very high humidity things will gum up. I keep a stabilizer to compensate for the ethanol in my fuel always. No problems since. Ethanol mix gas absorbs water from the air & gets gummy quick.
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Old 09-12-2017, 11:43 AM   #12
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

this works great
http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-t...ategory_id=587
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Old 09-12-2017, 12:38 PM   #13
scicala
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Big-Foot View Post
I do a fair bit of carburetors and one of the biggest enemy of the carburetor is ethanol.
If you run any sort of fuel that has ethanol (alcohol) in it and you let the car sit longer than a week between runs, you better start introducing a fuel stabilzer lke SeaFoam or Sta-Bil to your fuel.
What happens is the ethanol in the fuel is hygroscopic and attracts moisture right out of the air. Between the corrosive effect of ethanol and the moisture, the needles corrode to their seats and stick shut.
Best bet is to pull the needle and seat, clean or replace them, run non-oxygenated fuels and a fuel stabilizer.
My $.02 worth anyway..
Good luck!


As far as I know, the only metal ethanol will corrode is aluminum. There should be no issue with ethanol in fuel causing corrosion or sticking in the fuel valve needle and seat especially with a brass seat and steel needle.
Also, the ethanol absorbs (mixes with) the water to avoid corrosion elsewhere in the carb.

Sal
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Old 09-12-2017, 04:03 PM   #14
AnthonyG
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Gotta go with past experience. What ever happens with the ethanol blends in all my pre '70's vehicles & all my small 4 stroke motor equipment like snow blowers, power washer, etc., any that sit with the ethonal blend for more than a week I have a hell of a time starting. Using a stabilizer or product like http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-t...ategory_id=569 or gas with no ethanol is the only things that keeps them running right. What ever it does it seems to fowl my vintage cars and small engine equip.
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Old 10-14-2017, 11:32 AM   #15
Greg in Edmonds
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

A quick follow-up: Yep, a sticky needle valve was the culprit. Took the top off the carb, let the float chamber soak a week with MMO (even though the chamber looked clean), blasted it with carb cleaner, made sure there was no hesitation in the needle valve movement, and reassembled. It started right up. Live and learn!
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Old 10-14-2017, 12:32 PM   #16
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

I keep MMO in the fuel @ 4oz per 10 gallons. I can't prove it but it seems like it provides some protection to carburetors or the fuel from gumming up. It can't hurt anything, other than your wallet. It definitely helps keep piston rings and hydraulic lifters from gumming up.
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Old 10-14-2017, 01:00 PM   #17
1931 flamingo
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Glug-glug-glug More MMO won't hurt anything.
Paul in CT
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Old 10-14-2017, 02:03 PM   #18
19Fordy
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

I found that replacing the standard needle and seat with Grose Jet to be a great problem solver.
https://jimsgarage.wordpress.com/200...the-grose-jet/
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Old 10-14-2017, 07:30 PM   #19
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Default Re: Sticky needle valve in my almost new #94 carb?

Three 97 carbs, no problems sticking or flooding - since replacing viton float valves with Grosse steel ball type valves. Also add 4 oz of MMO with every fill up.
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