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05-06-2021, 01:06 PM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 6
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Zenith "B" Carb Leak
This is my first post. Never had issues before. I have a 31 Sedan with a Zenith "B". The car is not new to me I've owned it more than 50 years.
Starts great, idles great, runs great. After running the carb dry it stays that way for about a day then I start to get a fuel drip from the GAV needle (aka Fuel Adjusting Needle). I'm stumped. Why is it doing this? Help greatly appreciated. |
05-06-2021, 02:16 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia
Posts: 848
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
Hi David:
It sounds like your shut off valve might be leaking. If your valve is close and you disconnect the line in the carburetor and it still drips then the shut off valve is defective. I am changing mine this weekend. Hope this helps.
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Henry' s 31 |
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05-06-2021, 04:19 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,088
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
I agree with Henry, your fuel shut-off is leaking. But with that said your carb should not leak because the shut-off is bad.
Chances are you have dirt under the float needle valve that is causing a secondary drip. Take the carb apart and clean it and you might be good for the next 50 years. Drain the tank and install a new shutoff and make sure you have a pencil filter installed. |
05-07-2021, 08:42 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
1. i ALSO VOTE FOR Dirt from gas tank ... Pencil filter in shutoff valve will stop dirt from getting into carb and shutoff valve.
Dirt in valve will damage it making it hard to turn and make it leak. 2. My experience is that if you have Ethanol gas which is more that 3 to 6 months old it turns to "goo" and makes float valves leak and plugs up carb jets and etc. This problem is worse in humid weather. Last edited by Benson; 05-07-2021 at 08:51 AM. |
05-07-2021, 11:34 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sioux City Iowa
Posts: 196
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
The '31 coupe I am currently doing some maintenance on has a leaky carb. on it after the engine ran the carb. dry with fuel petcock shut off. I removed the shut off valve to rebuild it. Found out it is a reproduction valve so my rebuild kit won't work on it. Could blow air through the valve with it closed from my lung power. Took the valve apart to find a little bit of debris in the valve, cleaned that out and reassembled. Tested again it is fixed. Need to give the carb. a little attention next. Installed the parts using Permatex aeronautical grade sealant, the old teflon tape had disintegrated and left behind a mess.
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05-25-2021, 12:03 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: May 2021
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 6
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
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Replaced gas tank valve with new. That solved half the problem. Valve closed and no gas runs through to carb. However, when open I still get fuel leakage out of the GAV on the carb. Will now move to plan "B" to see if I've got something in the carb itself causing the problem. All these years never had this issue. I'm open to any other ideas/suggestions anyone may have. Thanks folks. |
05-25-2021, 12:26 PM | #7 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,043
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
Quote:
Also - check to see that your float is not leaking. After removing it from the upper half of the carb, shake it to see if you hear liquid inside. You should also immerse it in hot (just shy of boiling) water to see if you see bubbles escaping. Either of these conditions indicates a leaking float, and it should be replaced. Hope these give you some direction. If you are a member of MAFCA, there's an interesting article in this month's Restorer magazine about Zenith carburetor leaks. Good luck. In case you haven't figured this out by reading these posts, leaking carburetors are a popular topic. JayJay
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JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan |
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06-15-2021, 02:58 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2021
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 6
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
My thanks to everyone. Leak problem solved. Broke down carb and cleaned all jets. Everything fine now. Thanks again.
This by the way is my first car. 1964 I wanted a hot rod dad talked me into buying this car. Paid $450.00 and it ran but what a mess. We restored over the years. I drove this car all through college. I was the hit of the fraternity. Can't bear to part with it. Do have some other issues have to correct before it goes to my son's family. My tail lights only work when the cowl lights or the high beam lights are on. suggestions anyone? Check all wiring all connections seem sound. |
06-15-2021, 06:47 PM | #9 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,043
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
Quote:
Down at the bottom of the steering column is the can that attaches the wiring harness to the bottom of the steering column. If you open that can you'll find the wiring harness connected to a flat plate with a bunch of copper contacts. As you rotate the light switch the contacts in the can (that engage the spider on the light switch rod) contact various of the copper contacts on the contact plate. I'd look to both sides of that connection - the contact plate on the harness and the contacts in the can - to be sure that all the contacts are corrosion-free, clean and grease-free. On the back (wire side) of the flat contact plate in the wiring harness the wires connect to the terminals that go through the contact plate. Make sure they are all still solidly connected. JayJay
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JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan |
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06-16-2021, 03:15 PM | #10 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 6
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
Harness I checked but not the rod. After all these years you'd think I'd remember the little things. Thanks for the tip.
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07-01-2021, 10:38 AM | #11 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 6
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Re: Zenith "B" Carb Leak
Thank you Jay. All is well. All is working. Car runs like a top as they say.
Regards to to you. E. David |
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