Holley float setting
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Holley float setting
So according to holley's tech info on how to set a float you need to do so with the engine idleing... how do you do that if your engine wont stay running to begin with? I can keep it running but have to keep giving it gas or it dies... probably have bigger problems... When i loosen the lock screw on the front bowl gas shoots all over the darn place... back bowls let me set them no problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 174
From: Fort Wayne IN
If you have fuel spewing out when you loosen the nut, your float is either way off or the needle is jammed or obstructed. You have to have the car idling because the engine has to be running to work the fuel pump. It is fine to temporarily bump the idle up if you need to. If you have an electric pump, you can kind of set them with the car off I suppose but the engine needs to be consuming fuel to get it right. I would just take the bowls off, take the needles out, clean everything up, put it all back together, then set the floats.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Take the fuel bowl off and turn it upside down. Look through the sight hole. Adjust the float level so you you barely see the top of the float. Put back together and adjust in normal procedure. This is a rough adjustment that should get you close. Make sure your fuel pressure is regulated below 7 psi as the pressure will overpower the inlet valve/seat/float adjustment. Sounds like the float is too high or the pressure is excessive flooding your engine. Fuel should just trickle out of the sight hole when adjusted correctly.
Last edited by Street Rat; Mar 8, 2012 at 08:48 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
If you crank all the way down on the float adjustment and you can't keep fuel from pouring out of the sight hole, you have fuel in your float and need to replace it.
If that is the case, be sure to get the SOLID floats. Not the brass or plastic ones. They are black, solid plastic and are impervious to "going bad". Just one more thing you won't have to deal with again.
Also, you can't set your float height while the engine is running. You have to turn it off, adjust it down, re-tighten the lock nut, and turn the car on again.
Is this a car that has been running fine and suddenly you're having this issue? Or are you just wrapping up a rebuild and trying to get the initial settings?
I'm just offering that if it was running OK and now you can't keep fuel in the sight hole, I'd plan on buying two new floats. Just replace both while you're at it.
If that is the case, be sure to get the SOLID floats. Not the brass or plastic ones. They are black, solid plastic and are impervious to "going bad". Just one more thing you won't have to deal with again.
Also, you can't set your float height while the engine is running. You have to turn it off, adjust it down, re-tighten the lock nut, and turn the car on again.
Is this a car that has been running fine and suddenly you're having this issue? Or are you just wrapping up a rebuild and trying to get the initial settings?
I'm just offering that if it was running OK and now you can't keep fuel in the sight hole, I'd plan on buying two new floats. Just replace both while you're at it.
Last edited by keithinspace; Mar 8, 2012 at 11:42 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
If the car ran ok previously, and has been sitting, you probably just need to clean the needle valve.
This is the problem I was having every spring until I started using fuel stabilizer. Good luck.
This is the problem I was having every spring until I started using fuel stabilizer. Good luck.
