Saturday we took Elwood to cars and coffee. We were leaving early so we could stop and get some breakfast on the way.

Betty started the car up, and we left. We didn't make it off our street before we started smelling gas and Betty said that there was no power. So we turned around and pulled back into the driveway.

I immediately took off the air cleaner, and found that the rear float had stuck open on the right hand carb. The bores were full of gas, and there was a nice geyser out of the vent tube when the pump was on.

I immediately unplugged the CD box, and using a rubber mallet and some targeted percussive maintenance, I was able to un-stick the float. So now I have to clear out all the gas.

The gas had gotten down into the cylinders and the engine was hydraulically locked. So I pull the plugs on that side to empty out the cylinders.




So we can join the action as Betty and I try to clear the flooded cylinders, courtesy of our ring camera:




View on YouTube




And that, my friends, is another reason for me to hate carburetors!

Great choice of shirt, Betty

Clay -- I'm glad you're alright and didn't get an eye full of gas or worse. You've had a rough year.

But you gotta admit that video is funny.

1) Wife helping push -- You did well. Betty is a keeper. Any woman that will help with repairs or help push is awsome partner.

2) The gas geyser itself. I had carbs on my original teener for a decade and never had anything like that occur. I probably wouldn't have belived you but the video is priceless.

Again, very sorry all of this happened but thanks for posting it. It really made me chuckle! You gotta love the quirks of vintage cars and carbs. I agree with you on FI being the cat's meow. However, the failure mode of FI is that a crank sensor just dies randomly and then your walking. Not exactly an ideal failure mode. Fortunately, it is a very rare occurrence but I've been there done that too!

I also need to commit percussive maintenance to my list of sayings that are priceless.

No gas in the eyes..... that is a small advantage of wearing glasses.

Betty is a 914 person. She has owned one longer than I have, and she has done maintenance on them when I was unable. She can handle almost anything I can on a car. She admits that I am much faster, though.

And yes, the video is funny. That's why I wanted to share it with friends.

Clay

Not to play devils advocate, but while troubleshooting a no start issue on my 914 djet engine I thought it was the battery that had failed and that's why it would not turn over the engine. Upon further diagnosis, after buying a new Optima Red top, it was acting like it was locked up. I removed the spark plug to see it soaking wet letting me know the injector had failed and was filling up the cylinder with fuel. I also jetted gas out the side of the plug hole when turning it over to clear it out. Just an example of how it can happen with the other intake style. This doesn't make what happened any less crappy. Glad you were able to get the float unstuck.

Haters gonna hate " pete rose"

Amazing clarity and volume of your Ring. That was funny but only because you were OK. Carbs are cool but I got over that 30 years ago. Glad no damage was done to either party.

Ah, but at least those of us in Texas both Saturday and Sunday got to enjoy some GREAT weather....hence, you could have been quite hot and sweaty AND smelling like gas!

Yea but it’s a six man! Gotta do what you gotta do!

Thanks for sharing and good work Betty!

As they say, carburetor is French for __________. (Fill in the blank)

Only because you create great shirts!

One must always match and accessorize according to the type and color car they are driving!

I'm just embarrassed I squeaked like a girl when it happened.

In the sordid world of 914 porn that's the money shot!

I had a similar thing happen on my /4 when it was carbed. No geyser, but the float failed to close and gas flooded the bowl and the gas was bubbling out the stack. Didn't lock the engine though, so that was nice.

Was just another straw added to my back that was pushing me away from carbs towards Microsquirt.

Guess that makes me the b1tch.....

Glad the issue was found quick. How can you be sure it won't happen again?

With carbs, you can never be sure. So I have all the tools to unstick the float if I need to do it again.

It/s right in Paul Abbott's tech notes of how the float's valve lever arm can wear a divot in it that's prone to catching on the gross jets needle causing it to stick open.

The Italy weber ebay guy has amazing rebuild kits that include new floats.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/WEBER-40-IDA-IDTP-P...jYAAOSwImRYKmWI

But there have been reports of E10 attacking the solder of the metal floats and they suggest you replace them with the plastic/foam (Spansil) floats if you can only get E10 gas in your area.
You can buy just the floats but for the price why not just a whole kit.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/WEBER-40-IDA-IDTP-I...ukAAOSwqktdK-Je

You can buy just the Spansil float for $25 each
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/WEBER-40-IDA-IDS-ID...UkAAOSwj9JcTKLg

Fuel Injection

Had a stuck float on a 356 not just a few months ago. Scary! The smell of fuel and loss of power was quick. Knew right away what it was. Shut the car down and prepped for potential fire. Luckily, caught it really early, bumped the carb, float freed up.

As much as I love the simplicity of carbs, they are metered fuel leaks at best.

Just wondering if you add a return line for carbs, is it going to help not to flood when float getting stuck?

No, even with a return system the circuit at the carb has to have 3-4 psi to fill the bowl.
Only real solution is a new needle, seat and/or float, plus proper float level setting.