[6pack] su carb needles

[Ed]

Jim:  

While you have been discussing SU problems, I have been questioning
whether to tell you about my recent experience with a pair of SU
carburetors.  

Well, here goes.

My longtime friend had a non-Triumph car in his backyard for 15 years.
It was parked under a pair of pine trees, looking ugly, rusty and awful.
I hated to see it go to the crusher because there were only 16,000 of
these cars built.   So, I called a tow truck and had it dragged over to
my place.  

One day I wondered if it would star, so I hooked up the battery out of
my truck, cleaned the distributor cap and rotor; checked out the wiring
and found three real good wires and one so-so.  Checked out the coil.
It was Ok.  Then I removed the tops off the SU's.  The pistons were
stuck.  I sprayed them with oil and carburetor cleaner, and worked them
free.  Then I washed the pistons and needles in fuel injector cleaner,
and got them so they would move up and down near freely.  Next I hooked
up a lawnmower gas tank hanging from the hood.  I gave each carb a shot
of spray ether, and turned the motor over--and it fired right up, and it
ran;  and purred like a kitten. 

If you are wondering, the car is a 1955 MG Magnette Sports Saloon which
has been fitted with a pair of 1 3/4" SU's probably from a TR3.

Ed Bratt
Regina, Saskatchewan

1976 TR6



On Sat, 2008-07-26 at 15:59 -0400, Jimandruthhome at aol.com wrote:

> Forgot to mention that the long spring inside the carb comes in different  
> spring rates, which makes a difference also in how the carb performs.   
> Basically the spring slows the rise of the piston, affecting air/fuel mix  when 
> staring from a dead stop and in other sudden demand situations.  I've  also heard 
> of, though never felt the need myself, of folks shortening the spring  to 
> "custom tune."
>  
> On my su's, with spring biased KN needles, the spring is yellow (the  
> different rate springs are color coded).
>  
> If you can get a copy of the Haynes SU carb manual, it explain the theory  
> better than I.  It also has a long list of needles with their dimensions  and 
> original applications.
>  
> Also give Joe Curto a call.  He is a pleasant and helpful  guy and knows more 
> about British carbs than anyone else I've ever met.  His  shop is in the 
> Bronx, he advertises in the usual places.
>  
> Jim
> 
> 
> 
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