Any ideas why carb isn't letting gas through?

[guyryan100]

Hey guys, any ideas?

The truck ran fine 3 weeks ago when I parked it, today it won't fire up. If I drip gas into the carb it will fire up fine, but otherwise, no luck. It's like fuel isn't getting through the carb (Edlebrok 1406). Gas supply is fine - I disconnected the fuel line and put it in a can, turned the engine over and the can has gas in it. And when I loosen the clamp fuel supply line from the side of the carb it wants to spray out gas, so seems there's plenty of pressure. Anything I should be inspecting on the carb? Everything's pretty new on the truck - gas lines, filter, fuel pump, tank, even the gas is only about 3 weeks old. And again, seems like gas is flowing.

I replaced the ignition wires (from stock Delco to Taylor) so I would expect I messed that up but again, if I drip gas through the top of the carb the engine fires up and sounds normal for a few seconds till the gas runs out.

What is most likely to prevent fuel flow in the carb? Any ideas?

[cdowns]

i'd take the fuel line off the carb and look in the inlet of the carb to see if there is crap in it// then i'd take carb cleaner spray with the plastic sprayer pipe thing and spray inside the inlet to try and dislodge if something is in there

[71meangreenc10]

1406 is a pretty easy carb to take apart, you may have something stuck in the needle seats or in the floats, I took mine apart after watching the video from edelbrock and it was a piece of cake, I had trash from the tank get into the carb....took it all apart, blew air through it and it was good as new.

Smitty

[AustinScott]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

1406 is a pretty easy carb to take apart, you may have something stuck in the needle seats or in the floats, I took mine apart after watching the video from edelbrock and it was a piece of cake, I had trash from the tank get into the carb....took it all apart, blew air through it and it was good as new.

Smitty

the 1406 is pretty easy to take apart, I have had mine apart 3 times now and its pretty simple.

[guyryan100]

are you basically taking the top part off the carb? Assume a new gasket is easy to come by. Will I know what I'm looking for when I get it open?

[71meangreenc10]

See if you can google the video and watch it, the top comes right off and its a snap, most part shops carry the rebuild kit for a 1406 on the shelves. You'll see if there is any problems once the top is off.

Smitty

[guyryan100]

Well, that was easy!

I found the video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rz_5AkFOCA

In the video he was able to re-use his gasket so I figured I'd give it a shot, which worked out okay - no new gasket needed.

There's some other Edelbrock install videos there too, I learned a couple of things about adjusting/setting it up, very helpful info.

Anyway once I got it open I found that the valves that allow the gas flow (operated by the floats) were stuck and just needed a good wiggle to break lose. Amazing how sticky gas-related things get.

Also found it interesting that the floats, which are brass, have some green corosion on teh bottom, and that there was puddle of very green gas in the bottom of hte carb (think Listerine color). My luck, the neighbor's cat probably climbed up there and peed in my carb while I had the air cleaner off. So anyway I got those valves loosened up, soaked up the gas/pee with a paper towel and reassembled the carb, all in about 20 minutes round trip.

Truck running fantastic now.

Thanks guys for the pointer.

[oldblue1968chevy]

I have had the 500cfm and 600 cfm, autozone stocked the 600 rebuild kit but didnt stock the 500 but they ordered it overnite, there pretty easy to rebuild lol im doing my 2nd one now (600 cfm man. choke)

[71meangreenc10]

Good stuff man, told ya it was easy...I am not a carb person, but even I can fix a 1406....

Smitty