Is this normal?

[Tranham]

I've heard of this issue but wanted to check how common it was.  Run the track hard for a while then stop for gas or whatever. Come back to start it and it won't unless you push your foot to the floor and then 3-4 try's.  When it fires up black smoke for a bit then back to normal. I understand the fuel is getting cooked in the line by the block and forcing fuel into the engine. Is this how this goes for everyone. Granted this is many miles running 40 mph on a 90 deg day

Robert

[steve1973]

Mine does the same at times. I just keep my foot on the gas peddle till it starts. That usually does the trick for me.

Steve A.

[cpetronis]

    I'm in the same boat Robert. Once I shut it down and take off the air horn, I can see fuel slowly dripping into the manifold. Needless to say I've checked the float setting and rebuilt the carb with a new needle valve assembly and all that jazz. Still I have the same problem. I just crank it through until it catches.
     My biggest issue comes when I shut it down and let it sit for a week or more. So now all of the fuel is gone from the lines but there must be a ton of it sitting in the manifold. So it takes forever to start because part of it is flooded but I'm guessing the bowl is empty so now the pump has got to get it charged again. Then when it starts it smokes for a little while.
     I'd actually like to buy another carb so I can compare and contrast performance but I believe the last quote I got from Gary was $450 plus my core. I'd rather not take a $450 chance that this may or may not fix my problem. If somebody has a decent carb they'd be willing to part with cheaper, let me know. I might be interested.

- Chris

[Tranham]

I put a fuel cut off switch under the drivers seat.  It's useful to work on the fuel system, keep fuel from continuing to flow past the carb and as a security feature. I've got an original tank switch valve mounted behind the drivers seat but it kept leaking in the cab and I am only running one tank. It was NOS but I could not keep it from dripping.  Also my carb was rebuilt from Gary in the last year. I don't know if you will find a new carb to solve your issue.  If it works 100% otherwise I wouldn't recommend it


Robert

[Outsider]

I just installed a carb that "Then and Now Automotive" rebuilt on my friends HT and it worked great out of the box. I don't know what he paid to have them rebuild his, but it looked like a new carb when we put it on.

On my HT I turn off the fuel when I go to shut it down and run it out of fuel. It seems to help with the restarts.

Steve

[Jason Barnett]

I deal with vapor lock in antique vehicles all the time here in sultry Houston, TX. Modern gas is very 'light" and has a tendency to boil rather easily, especially with ethanol now in it. Make sure you wrap your fuel lines with insulation. I use the burlap like stuff that is made for exhaust pipes on the fuel lines. If your exhaust pipe is anywhere near the lines, make sure you wrap the pipe too. One of the other modern additions is to install a fuel pressure regulator just before the carburetor.  If the fuel does pressure up too much in the line, this keeps it from pushing past the needle valve in the carb and flooding the engine. If it does it at a stop, then it is probably pouring to much gas down the carb when you are driving too.