Carburetor Problems and Maintenance

[steve1973]

I've been having carburetor problems since I drove it in the snow this last winter. At first it was easy to start but when I stop the engine it would flood. Now it is very difficult to get starting and floods often. Because the track is at my house it makes it easy to take it over to my "halftrack" mechanic Matt who is very old school and has helped much in the past. So, yesterday I took the track over and he found that it was time to have the carb overhauled. I planned ahead for this and got a rebuild kit from Carbs Unlimited, part # AF2008. I also went ahead and ordered a Pertronix electronic ignition module and coil for the distributor (I have a non-shielded distributor, 1110174 10750, and using a Pertronix 1168LS kit with a 40511 3.0 ohm coil) for a better spark. I've always had a weak spark even with all new tune up components. It is a simple instal on that. Remove the points and condenser, clean base plate, install module, run negative wire to negative side of coil, run positive to positive side of coil and your done. No more points to deal with. With that getting done I also ordered a choke and throttle cable from Ron Fitzpatricks to install. I had an aftermarket choke and worked fine but no throttle cable. Warming up the track was time consuming without the throttle cable.The last thing for the engine is to install a thermostat as my track doesn't have one in it. Matt is also doing an oil change and changing the gear oil in both axles and transmission/transfercase along with greasing up all the fittings. I will have it back Monday just in time for the Rhody Day Parade on May 20th in Florence, Oregon.

Steve A.

[sdmvp]

I read about your carb problem on your half-track and thought about when I had mine (sold back in 1999) I was having carb problems also. One of my mechanic friends hit on the idea of using an old two barrel carb off one of the 1968-69 Chevy trucks in the yard. It bolted right on then we reversed the bell crank on the throttle linkage on the fire wall to change the throttle direction operation. The choke hooked tight up and it atarted everytime, and a carb kit cost $10.00. I don't remember if it was a Carter or a Rochester we used. A short piect of exhaust pipe (2-3 inches) contested the carb to the orginal air cleaner. I ran that set up for over 6 years and never took the carb off again.

David P.

[G102]

So much for restoring a vehicle the way it was built

The stromberg carbs work just fine
The problem with most of them is Dirt and bad fuel filters Ann junk gas tanks

I offer a restored/rebuilt carburetor that looks like it just came from the factory and always works perfectly

I have seen many engines with all kinds of modification and different carburetors on the manifold and not 1 so far ran lol
Gary

[HMVYoungster]

I had gotten a "rebuilt" carb...... Right. There were some interferences with the quality of the rebuild.
Need less to say I had to take it apart and go through it a couple of times to make it work right.
Stick with it. There is several little ports and seals that have to be just right for it to work. The "new fuel" is real good a making a mess out of any old carb.
Clean fuel for sure!I have two filters after the tanks.
It sucks when they don't work right. Like you can just push it to the side of the road!

[steve1973]

Got the track back today and it runs better than ever. Lots of power now that I have a rebuilt Stromberg carburetor and I think the Pertronix module helps to. It was no problem getting it up to speed going down the road. The fluid change made a difference in shifting to, Much easier. The only bad news is that I discovered that my shim that has been talked about before is at the bottom of my differential. I will have to take the pumpkin out when I remove my rear section in July. who ever did this was at least smart enough to adjust the bolt up against the ring gear. It will have to do for now. Now its ready for the Rhody Parade this weekend. Now to finish up on my M10 trailer.

Steve A.