q-jet flooding,what did i do wrong?
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From: glace bay nova scotia
q-jet flooding,what did i do wrong?
last year i rebuilt my q-jet,it worked fine but i forgot to hook up the arm that opens and closes the small flap .it went into storage for the winter like that. this year i opened up the carb to hook it up, all went fine and looked good going back together.the only thing i changed was while i had it opened ,i removed some of the top gasket around where the 2 needles near the float were hitting on the bottom of the gasket(it was stamped to be removed). i also had the float and needle valve out.
anyways now the gas is spewing out the top of the carb.is this probably the needle valve thats attached to the float thats not seating right?any experience would be helpful.
thanks mike
anyways now the gas is spewing out the top of the carb.is this probably the needle valve thats attached to the float thats not seating right?any experience would be helpful.
thanks mike
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
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If you refer to the gasket area where the tee of the power piston comes through the gasket, thats a no-no. The gasket is cut,(not stamped to be removed), to fit around where the primary rods hang from the power piston.That part of the gasket seals to the airhorn.Could be your leak source.
Could also be a piece of gasket blocking the needle from seating in the jet which would certainly flood things.
Could also be a piece of gasket blocking the needle from seating in the jet which would certainly flood things.
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From: glace bay nova scotia
should the power piston w/needles have been put down thru the gasket in the same manner as the as the other 4 solid rods pass thru?
should this tee and needles be above the gasket?or should the whole unit press down far enough to get the top on without removing this piece of gasket? it worked last year without cutting the piece out but now it seems to set about 1/2 inch too high.i checked to make sure the needles are in the holes and they are.as i type this i'm thinking that the tee and needles should be inserted thru the gasket.did i just screw up the gasket.
on another note ,exactly where should the spring that holds up the needle valve(opposite end of float)be located?is there a cretain spot it should hook around?or does it matter.
should this tee and needles be above the gasket?or should the whole unit press down far enough to get the top on without removing this piece of gasket? it worked last year without cutting the piece out but now it seems to set about 1/2 inch too high.i checked to make sure the needles are in the holes and they are.as i type this i'm thinking that the tee and needles should be inserted thru the gasket.did i just screw up the gasket.
on another note ,exactly where should the spring that holds up the needle valve(opposite end of float)be located?is there a cretain spot it should hook around?or does it matter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Central KY
Look carefully at the air horn gasket. It should have a flap cut into it that allows you to gently insert the flap UNDER the installed power piston/main rod hanger assembly. You slide the gasket from back to front and the flap seats nicely under... Also be sure that you didn't screw up the float level and that the float is reinstalled correctly with the black plastic space filler also reinstalled over the float pin. Get a new gasket from the parts store and start over with that one. Be sure to take the old one to compare for exact match. Modern carb kits tell you to discard the small clip that goes on your fuel inlet piston and attaches to the front of the float... However, I am old-school in that I still use that little clip. Doug Roe's book on Rochester Carbs is excellent!
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From: glace bay nova scotia
well i guess i need a new gasket,in the immortal words of crusty the clown"aaargh...what was i thinking".bad news is,i have to buy a whole new rebuild kit as the parts stores around here do not sell the gaskets separately.
well i'm off to have hot wings and beer with my lady,i'll let you know how it works out later.mike
well i'm off to have hot wings and beer with my lady,i'll let you know how it works out later.mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Orange Park Fl
You can get gaskets alone at NAPA. When you hung the float needle pull clip, did you happen to hook it through the small holes on the float lever? That will cause the flooding you describe. You just hang it on the lever from the inside edge. Hooking it through the holes seems logical and more secure, so it is a common mistake, but it just doesn't work. God bless, Sensei
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From: glace bay nova scotia
you mean the wire on top of the needle valve? that attaches to the float arm?i'll check it when i go out.
the metal clip the holds the float in place does go thru the holes right?
the metal clip the holds the float in place does go thru the holes right?
Last edited by fast idle; May 10, 2006 at 05:55 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Orange Park Fl
Originally Posted by fast idle
you mean the wire on top of the needle valve? that attaches to the float arm?i'll check it when i go out.
the metal clip the holds the float in place does go thru the holes right?
the metal clip the holds the float in place does go thru the holes right?
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From: glace bay nova scotia
well i was back at it tonight,i found out that i had used the wrong top gasket when i rebuilt it
. the only diffrence was the size of the accellerator pump hole.(that meant i had the exact one i needed in the box of extra parts
.first i checked the float and needle by blowing thru the fuel line while lifting the float,all was well.i tucked the gasket in under the Tee like you guys said and re-assemblled it.i unhooked the distributor wires to get the oil around and check for gas geisers,no floods.i hooked up the wires and touched the key,it started almost instantly.about three seconds later the gas started welling up thru the middle of the carb.any ideas what is wrong? any help would be appreciated,mike.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
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From: North Bend Ohio
Did you reassemble the float and needle valve properly? The needle valve has a small hook on the top of it that hooks onto the INSIDE of the crossbar opposite the float. It should NOT be hooked into the small holes in the crossbar if they are present. Simply hook it on top of the crossbar in the middle. This seams rather precarious when you're trying to manage it but that is the way it goes.
BigBlockk
Later.....
BigBlockk
Later.....
Thread Starter
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From: glace bay nova scotia
yes thats exactly what i did,the wire on top goes up one side and over onto the center solid piece.the last time i tried it it flooded right away,this time nothing happened until i touched the gas .does this help with anyhing?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
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From: North Bend Ohio
Ok, how 'bout this. There are about half a dozen different float shapes for the Quadrajet. Maybe get one that is a little larger to get more buoyancy.
Also, the seat for the needle valve is tight in the carburetor isn't it? No cracks in the body around it?
BigBlockk
Later.....
Also, the seat for the needle valve is tight in the carburetor isn't it? No cracks in the body around it?
BigBlockk
Later.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Orange Park Fl
The problem must be somewhere in the float/ inlet needle I would think. Did you check the float level? Is your float damaged (filling with gas)? Is the plastic stuffer in place (I'm reaching here)? Did you replace the inlet needle and seat? If so, are they the correct ones? Is the inlet needle seating properly? Has any trash fallen into the needle seat? Is there anything that could be interfering with the float coming up when the air horn is installed? I would double check the assembly with your exploded diagram and be certain all is in place properly. good luck and God bless, Sensei 
Last edited by a1sensei; May 11, 2006 at 08:19 AM.
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From: glace bay nova scotia
i never removed any seats,the carb worked flawlessly when i had it on before,i just opened it up to hook up the little arm that closes the small flap(forgot it last year)i'm going at it again this p.m.and see if the needle and seat is o.k. i found it funny hat it didn't flood until i hit the gas, and now whenever you wind it , it gushes.
on a side note i harpooned the float with the secondary needle, but it seems to be made of foam. i can't see it leaking but i may be wrong.
on a side note i harpooned the float with the secondary needle, but it seems to be made of foam. i can't see it leaking but i may be wrong.
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From: glace bay nova scotia
well,out of "not knowing what to try next"i decided to try something that worked on my old chevy van,i tapped the carb lightly with a hammer on the side the float is.believe it or not,it worked.started right up without even pumping the gas since last night.
well another problem solved,i might even get this baby on the road this year.
thanks to all who offered their assistance,i really needed and appreciate it.mike.
well another problem solved,i might even get this baby on the road this year.
thanks to all who offered their assistance,i really needed and appreciate it.mike.