rebuilt the carb, gettin no gas

[Rc 415]

I just finished rebuilding the carb on my truck, and now after I put it back on and connected everything I'm getting no gas, should I just leave the ignition on a few minutes so the fuel pump can fill the bowl up?

[Dieselmech52]

I dont think that will work. You most likely have a mechanical fuel pump whick only pumps if the truck is running or cranking. What kind of carb? Are you getting fuel to the carb?

[chev74]

is your fuel filter facing the right direction? it only flows one way!

you may have to crank and prime with the pedal the first time

[Rc 415]

ok well I let it sit for about 10 minutes with ignition on, and tried to start the truck, it started perfect, and promptly died. Fuel filter is in the right direction, and I tried cranking and priming with pedal for a while to no avail. now the battery is dead from cranking too much...

[Dieselmech52]

. What kinf of carb? May need to tune it a little. If it started and then died, its getting fuel

[Thumpin455]

OK, sorry that I dont know your truck. What carb do you have? Do you have an electric pump or the stock mechanical pump?

[chev74]

sure your spark plug wires are in the right spot?

18436572

[Rc 415]

Spark plugs are correct, Carb is rochester E4ME, I have what ever fuel pump came stock with these trucks I'd assume, I do not know where it is so I could check...

[Rc 415]

Btw I just disconnected the fuel line, turned the ignition on, and pumped the pedal about 20 times, got no gas coming out of the line. But when I suck on the line I get gas fine..

[Dieselmech52]

thats because you have a mechanical fuel pump that runs off the eccentric lobe on your cam shaft. It only pumps when the engine is running or cranking. You can leave the ignition on all day long and you wont get any fuel. There is still a little fuel in the diaphram in the pump, that is why you can suck it through the line. Get your battery on a good charger while your cranking it. You need to prime the line and fill your float bowl. And every carb Ive ever rebuilt never runs perfect right after I slapped it on. Im sure your gunna have to do a little tuning

[swb85]

You should have a mechanical pump on an '83, which means the only time it's pumping fuel is when the engine is running. Turning the ignition on will not initiate fuel flow, and pushing the gas pedal will do nothing if the bowls are dry. You need to pour a little gas down the primaries and fire it a few times to get the motor running long enough to allow the bowls in the carb to fill up.

[Malo83]

to all above.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by Rc 415

Btw I just disconnected the fuel line, turned the ignition on, and pumped the pedal about 20 times, got no gas coming out of the line. But when I suck on the line I get gas fine..

HMMM, I would venture to say that you are not on the right path here. First of all pumpipng the gas pedal with the gas line disconnected from the carb is NOT going to get you gas out of the line. When you pump the gas pedal----all you are doing is wearing out the throttle linkage. The fuel pump has to pump the gas to the carb and then pumping the accelerator pump will charge the carburetor bowls and spray the gas into the intake flow orifices.

Take a look at the front lower corner of your engine (passenger side of the truck); is there a light colored metal item attached to the motor that has a couple of lines running into and out of it. If so, then you have a mechanical fuel pump---one of those lines is going to your carb. If you do NOT have that, then when you turn your key on, the fuel should just pump out of and all over your engine. If you do not have the thing on the motor and fuel does not come out with the key on, then your electric (IN TANK) fuel pump is probably defunct.
If you DO have the pump on the motor, then with the fuel line disconnected from the carb, crank over the engine with the starter and see if there is fuel sprayed out into the engine comparment (Preferrably into a bucket). If it does not, then the mechanical fuel pump is broken and is in need of replacement.

Who did your carb rebuild?---with the background that you have provided, I would hope that someone did it for you. It may be rebuilt wrong and is not put together properly.

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

HMMM, I would venture to say that you are not on the right path here. First of all pumpipng the gas pedal with the gas line disconnected from the carb is NOT going to get you gas out of the line. When you pump the gas pedal----all you are doing is wearing out the throttle linkage. The fuel pump has to pump the gas to the carb and then pumping the accelerator pump will charge the carburetor bowls and spray the gas into the intake flow orifices.

Take a look at the front lower corner of your engine (passenger side of the truck); is there a light colored metal item attached to the motor that has a couple of lines running into and out of it. If so, then you have a mechanical fuel pump---one of those lines is going to your carb. If you do NOT have that, then when you turn your key on, the fuel should just pump out of and all over your engine. If you do not have the thing on the motor and fuel does not come out with the key on, then your electric (IN TANK) fuel pump is probably defunct.
If you DO have the pump on the motor, then with the fuel line disconnected from the carb, crank over the engine with the starter and see if there is fuel sprayed out into the engine comparment (Preferrably into a bucket). If it does not, then the mechanical fuel pump is broken and is in need of replacement.

Who did your carb rebuild?---with the background that you have provided, I would hope that someone did it for you. It may be rebuilt wrong and is not put together properly.

I answered most of this above, but as to the last part, All I really did was take the carb apart, soak it, clean it, and replace the gaskets, pump plunger assembly, and the needle and seat assembly, and reassemble it, in the process the lean mixture screw was the only screw that I moved at all, and I think that must be the cause of my problems, i turned it in too far, but I would like a second opinion.

Btw, I am not really familiar with drive trains, but I am trying to learn, and I figured best way to learn is to do it myself, I am pretty good at taking stuff apart and putting it back together correctly.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by Rc 415

I answered most of this above, but as to the last part, All I really did was take the carb apart, soak it, clean it, and replace the gaskets, pump plunger assembly, and the needle and seat assembly, and reassemble it, in the process the lean mixture screw was the only screw that I moved at all, and I think that must be the cause of my problems, i turned it in too far, but I would like a second opinion.

Btw, I am not really familiar with drive trains, but I am trying to learn, and I figured best way to learn is to do it myself, I am pretty good at taking stuff apart and putting it back together correctly.

Carbs are a basic item in the world of engines, however if there is a slight difference in the internal parts, they might be finicky in operation. The idle air screws on the front are usually set at 1 1/2 turns from fully seated to get the idle started. The lean mixture screw is something that you will have to play with as the motor is started. I would look at the the fuel feed first. If nothing else pour some gas down the throat of the carb and see if the engine will run and STAY running. I have had carbs where the needle valves inside have stuck shut, and that was on a carb with two needles in it.

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

Carbs are a basic item in the world of engines, however if there is a slight difference in the internal parts, they might be finicky in operation..

How right you are, I took it apart again, compared the needle & seat with the old pair, and they are completely different in height, so back in the old one went, and my truck fired right up, so I am back on the road again! Thanks for your help everyone.

[chev74]

fuel pump is on the pass side down at the bottom of the block toward the front... right about where the lower radiator hose goes into the water pump


right here:

[Thumpin455]

Well you have a mechanical pump. Try leaving the fuel line off the carb, and running the line into a bucket or clear colored plastic jug. Then crank the engine and see if gas comes out. If you get it in good healthy spurts, the pump is probably ok. If it doesnt shoot gas into the jug, then the pump needs replaced.

The needle might be stuck, so you could gently rap on the front of the carb with a screwdriver handle, not enough to really break anything, just enough to move things around a bit inside.

If the pump is ok, then you need to check the carb. Did you adjust the float level in the carb? There should have been some directions in the kit about how to do that, and a small paper ruler to set the float level. If you dont have the float level right,it wont run right. If the float is causing the needle valve to stick, you wont get enough gas.

That carb also has the enrichment circuit with an electric solenoid, that wont keep it from running, but could cause lean or rich conditions if it isnt right.

Ensure there are no kinks in the line. I usually leave the small filter out of the inlet and run an inline filter between the pump and the carb.

[Rc 415]

Thanks guys, but I think I broke my starter just now, so I cant do anything at the moment..

[xtreme80]

You can tell if the fuel bowls are full by looking into the top of the carb and pushing the throttle linkage open. You should see squirts of gas going into the carb. If you see that, you're getting fuel to it.

Other than that, double check what everyone else said. But if you're getting fuel that way, then it's another problem.

[Captkaos]

fill the bowl full of gas with a small funnel and then it will pull it from there instead of pumping the gas to the bowl.

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

fill the bowl full of gas with a small funnel and then it will pull it from there instead of pumping the gas to the bowl.

really dumb question, but the bowl is the front (raised) butterfly right?

[Thumpin455]

Use a small funnel and put half a pint in through the bowl vent, its the round tube marked by the arrow.

[Rc 415]

Originally Posted by Thumpin455

Use a small funnel and put half a pint in through the bowl vent, its the round tube marked by the arrow.

I dont have a bowl vent...


It has an "air bleed valve assembly" in that spot.

[xtreme80]

The vent is right in front of that isn't it?