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Topic: Starting problem  (Read 5763 times)

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2008, 09:35:12 PM »
The new cutoff valve didn't make any difference.  Still got the leak!

Gonna swap out the good float & valve from the Ghia's 34-PICT to see if that works.  If so, at least I'll know the rest of the carb is good.

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2008, 09:08:39 PM »
Today's update! At this point I'm just writing all this down so others can benefit if they have similar problems...

I took the top off the carb this morning and left it for the day to see how low the float went.  Hopefully this would tell me if the leak was due to the bowl being too full or if there was another problem.  Got back this evening and the fuel level was pretty low (see "low fuel level" pic).  This implies to me that the leak is not due to overfilling the bowl via a bad valve.

I took the carb off the car (again) and had a good look inside it.  The fuel level was just below two holes in the carb body (see carb holes picture), so my Sherlock Holmes skills lead me to believe that the gas is leaking through one of those when it shouldn't be.  I can't tell by looking at the carb what those two holes do.  Any ideas?

I filled up the bowl almost to the top with gas and left it standing out of the car for an hour.  Typically, no fuel leaked out.

When I saw fuel leaking before (when it was on the car) it looked like it was coming from the bit I've put an arrow to in the "leaky bit" picture.  I thought this was a vacuum connection for a vacuum distributor but I'm not really sure.

Anyway, I've swapped the needle & float from the Ghia's 34 in case all my deductions so far have been completely wrong so will see in the morning if the leak is still there.

Leaky bit


Carb holes


Low fuel level in bowl

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2008, 09:21:33 PM »
BTW, looks like I was right about that brass port being a vacuum port:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=185095

So.. why on earth is gas coming through it?

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #18 on: December 31, 2008, 08:17:00 AM »
Well... she still leaks.  Swapping the needle & float from the Ghia didn't fix anything.  Looks like I'll be buying a new carb :(

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2009, 08:18:41 PM »
New H30/31 carb came (2 day from CIP1.com, $158 ish), fitted and no more leaks.  She runs great now (after I replaced the throttle pump bit on the new carb - got bashed in shipping and it was all bent and was not moving smoothly!)

Thanks for everyone's help and input on this.  Case closed :)

Offline ASBug

  • Varnel, Ga
  • Joined: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 3032

Starting problem

« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2009, 09:52:47 PM »
Matt,
I like my new 30-31 as well.  Glad to hear it is going good.
KC :D

Offline Ret.Bugtech

Starting problem

« Reply #21 on: January 04, 2009, 11:19:47 AM »
Hey Virgo, Are you and FeeBee paying any attention here ? :roll:  :roll:

Offline ASBug

  • Varnel, Ga
  • Joined: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 3032

Starting problem

« Reply #22 on: January 04, 2009, 11:29:37 AM »
And the great thing is that Lamar in Dalton usually has at least one in stock, and usually will match the prices that the Mail order places have.
Just talk to him.
KC :D

Offline Zen

  • Show Chairman
  • Club Member
  • LaFayette, GA
  • Joined: Dec 2001
  • Posts: 8842
  • Liked: 2 times

Starting problem

« Reply #23 on: January 04, 2009, 12:00:20 PM »
I've bought two or three 30/31's new and all have been great carbs right out of the box with nothing more than bolting them on needed.

One word of warning . . . if it was made in Brazil, keep an eye on the 5 screws on the top, the 4 screws on the accelerator pump and also the idle cut off solenoid.  They have a tendency to work loose after a couple of months.  If they do, just tighten 'em back up and you'll be fine.  If it ever backfires through the carb with the air cleaner on, it might blow out the plug just above the throttle plate.  If that ever happens, stick the plug back in, peen the edges to lock it in and then cover it with a little epoxy.  If you can't find the plug, epoxy a dime back over the hole.  It'll be fine.

Again, they are GREAT carbs, but they are not always put together as tight as they should be.

Offline MattB

  • Joined: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 48

Starting problem

« Reply #24 on: January 04, 2009, 03:18:16 PM »
Hi Zen,

Thanks for the advice.  I've retightened all the screws anyway (I replaced the accelerator pump piece with my old one that wasn't bent and took the top off to look at the needle & float!)

I've read a lot about using a SVDA instead of my mechanical advance dizzy with the H30/31.  Will wait for now as I don't have any problems with hesitation from pull off but my upgrade at a later date.

Offline Ret.Bugtech

Starting problem

« Reply #25 on: January 04, 2009, 04:18:36 PM »
Yep there has been a lot of talk about dist and types of carb to use here lately , but I still say that a 009 dist. will just give you a lot of flak if you are running a 34mm carb.  We would use the 30-31 carb with the adapter and the 009 dist, slam the deck lid and enjoy driving around. If you are bound to use a 34mm carb, you had better get a vac. dist.
      A few post back there was someone with to much time on his hands and posted a few pages on what to use , what not to use and in what order to be used and enough charts on the "Coefficient of Suck" on every vac. unit and carb known to man. Great stuff if you are into such things. I just don't have time to deal with all of that. I'm having to much fun driving my buggy around with its S.P. 1600 with a 009 dist and  the worse carb that VW ever used. The 30mm-2.( '68-'69 )with all of its original size jets .It doesn't miss a beat.
      Like the old chief said in "Dances with the Wolves" ----I have said all that I have to say about that. :lol:

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