[TR] Bad Gas?

wbeech at flash.net wbeech at flash.net
Mon Feb 10 21:13:25 MST 2014


I'd pull the carb tops first, probably the needle valves are froze shut.  

Or, if you have an electric fuel pump just give each float bowl an sharp
'rap' with a screwdriver handle while the key is on to see if that jars it
loose.  If that fixes it you still need to pull the carb tops and clean
everything up.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Greg Lemon
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 9:21 PM
To: triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: [TR] Bad Gas?

Sorry I am being a little lazy, and haven't delved into this issue as far as
I usually do before posting for help, but perhaps a few of you, like me, are
housebound with subzero temps out in the garage and might like to
participate in a little bit of mental exercise in tracking down a problem.

As usual I put up my car (TR250, ZS carbs from a TR4A) for the winter, and
last started it sometime in November.  A couple weekends ago it warmed up a
little bit and I tried to start the car to circulate the oil, burn off any
contaminants, etc.  It started and ran for a short time, then quit.  Got it
to fire again, started for an even shorter time and then quit.  No time for
further work that day so fast forward to last weekend.

Checked gas delivery, it squirted right out when I disconnected the fuel
line right before the carb.  Tried to start it again, got barely enough of a
catch to disengage the starter gear then nothing.

Pulled the air cleaners, pistons moving up and down freely.  I squirted some
starter fluid in, it ran on the starter fluid, then quit.

So it appears I have gas getting to the carbs, I have spark and presumably
compression.

Something appears to be wrong with the gas or the carbs, have never used
sta-bil or other gas stabilizers in the past, and never had any problems,
even with much longer periods of inactivity, but I noticed they are putting
ethanol into all grades of gas around here instead of just mid-grade at some
of the stations, I try to avoid it, and it is supposed to be labeled, but
who knows.
My only other thought is that the float valves are stuck shut, but I did
squirt some air through the line to the carbs, and that ended up shooting
gas out the carbs.

So here comes the question, short of draining the gas and replacing it, or
taking off the carbs and checking the float valves, any other tests or fixes
you might suggest?

Oh yeah, car was running fine when put up for the winter, and I did nothing
to any of the relevant systems, carbs fuel ignition, since parking it.
Pertronix if it matters, but this one sure seems like a fuel issue.

Greg Lemon

** triumphs at autox.team.net **

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
Unsubscribe/Manage:
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/wbeech@flash.net


More information about the Triumphs mailing list