unlucky, unlikely or unleaded? | FerrariChat
Buy

unlucky, unlikely or unleaded?

Discussion in '206/246' started by Nickrry, Apr 17, 2013.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Nickrry

    Nickrry Karting

    Jan 4, 2009
    156
    #1 Nickrry, Apr 17, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    So there I am in the thick traffic of morning rush hour. Then came the overwhelming smell of petrol; no change to the engine performance in the heavy traffic just the strong smell.
    Fortunately I was only a few hundred yards from my car park and I have a fire extinguisher in the cabin (thank goodness for track day regulations) so made the decision to press on. When I parked and opened up the bonnet the smell was serious, but the usual suspects of pipes and joints looked fine and dry. However, I could see pools of fuel bubbling and boiling in the V of the engine under the carbs. When the fuel pump was running however all was revealed. A blanking plug placed at the bottom of the float chamber on the carb at the distributor end had fallen out - fuel was just pouring out!
    OK so I can repair it but what I am interested in is why? has anyone else had this problem? it seems unlikely but could this be a symptom of the ethanol in fuel?
    Regardless of anything else;check yours and carry an extinguisher!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. dignini

    dignini Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2005
    1,348
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Luigi Marazzi
    #2 dignini, Apr 17, 2013
    Very scary, very lucky to have the extinguisher and not need it!
    There have been claims that ethanol attacks rubber plugs gaskets etc. and there are products that claim to stabilize fuel. And yes with carbs now 40 year old....its worth exploring. Thanks for the heads up and glad all is ok.
     
  3. GermanDino

    GermanDino F1 Rookie

    Aug 14, 2007
    3,488
    Germany
    Full Name:
    Matthias
    #3 GermanDino, Apr 17, 2013
    We had two cases here in Germany in the past 5 years.....
     
  4. Dino Club Germany

    Dino Club Germany Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2008
    549
    Germany
    Full Name:
    N. Schumacher
    #4 Dino Club Germany, Apr 17, 2013
    This is eays to repair: I had the same years ago and bought small lead balls for fishing.
    They fit perfect in the whole in the carb, just push soft with a hammer and it´s tight again.
    BR
    Nicolai
     
  5. dignini

    dignini Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2005
    1,348
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Luigi Marazzi
    #5 dignini, Apr 17, 2013
    Sounds like a working solution, do you have a supply of those to be available?
    What was the purpose of the holes in the first place?
     
  6. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2002
    6,641
    Toronto / SoCal
    Full Name:
    Rob C.
    #6 Nuvolari, Apr 17, 2013
    Lead balls are available from McMaster Carr and are cheap. Just put 'lead' in the search window and it will take you right to it. I'm not sure the size but with a carb in hand it can't be hard to figure out.

    The lead plugs are there because when the carbs are cast it is impossible to make all of the passageways in the casting. As such the carb is cast and then all of the passages are machined in a seperate process. The access holes are then plugged with lead.

    It is good practice to check the tightness of these plugs when re-building the carbs but it is quite rare for them to fall out. I cannot comment though if fuel has anything to do with it.
     
  7. swift53

    swift53 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2007
    8,362
    E.S.
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    #7 swift53, Apr 17, 2013
    I had a Weber DCOE sink the float in the good old days when floats were made out of brass.

    Stumbled into the local dealership, they tried a compression test and....kaboom.
    The mechanic had his hair catch on fire (long hair days) and fortunately, nothing happened beyond that miraculously, as the flames that shot out were over 2ft.

    Fuel is really dangerous stuff, and you were really lucky Nick!

    Food for thought, definitely. There should also always be an extinguisher(s) in the garage.

    In this crazy country, of all things, it is a LAW to carry one in the car.

    Regards, Alberto
     
  8. Nickrry

    Nickrry Karting

    Jan 4, 2009
    156
    #8 Nickrry, Apr 18, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I cant resist showing you how I got it running again on the day - the recovery truck couldn't get down our narrow lane and it is a hill so pushing was out. I am actually a dentist and used silicone impression material to effect a quick seal! It worked a treat.
    I have resisted the temptation to place an amalgam filling in the hole but now I see it is just a bit of lead, I suspect this might be the best solution of all!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. dgt

    dgt Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jan 14, 2011
    1,292
    Northeast, USA & Oz
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #9 dgt, Apr 18, 2013
    The hard fuel pipe that attaches the fuel hose pulled out of the weber casting once on a relatives Dino, no fire luckily.
    I think these are an interference fit so check they are tight. I've seen pipes pulled out of carbs due to bad engine mounts/engine movement on other cars but I dont think that could happen on a Dino. More likely someone fighting with a stuck fuel hose while replacing it loosened it.
     
  10. dignini

    dignini Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2005
    1,348
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Luigi Marazzi
    #10 dignini, Apr 18, 2013
    Thank you for that info, I thought the plugs were rubber...so now I know....
     
  11. dignini

    dignini Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2005
    1,348
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Luigi Marazzi
    #11 dignini, Apr 18, 2013
    I wonder if that stuff will be part of your emergency tool kit from now on?
     

Share This Page