Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Yes ethanol is bad for old parts but many of the carbs I had to rebuild were well before ethanol was ever used. Parts that are meant to be soaked in fuel all the time will break down pretty quick when exposed to air. Diaphragms are especially sensitive to both ethanol and good old oxygen. They tend to either get all droopy or turn as hard as a rock. Sometimes both!

I never really had to rebuild many carbs, most just needed a good cleaning unless they sat for a really long time or it was just the rubber tip of the float needle disintegrating. I didn't really deal with a lot of CV carbs though either. By the time I started wrenching things had mostly moved to fuel injection. Pre-FI Vmax's were always fun to work on. The carbs never wanted to stay in sync. I was always tempted to locktite the adjustment screws to stop them from rattling loose but I never knew how long it would be before I saw that particular bike again.

[ScoobsMcGee]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Not sure how we ever managed to fix anything without a step by step manual and a YouTube video to follow! Although in fairness I guess a lot of the old stuff was easy to figure out and hard to screw up.

That and if the resources are available, why not use them?

[Sapphireho]

Worst stock carbs ever: original 240z.

I had a pair of Carter AFBs on my Chevelle I rebuilt and spent days trying to dial in. Finally gave up an bought a pair of Holleys.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ScoobsMcGee

That and if the resources are available, why not use them?

Didn't say otherwise. It was not a sarcastic remark I meant it.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

I never really had to rebuild many carbs, most just needed a good cleaning unless they sat for a really long time or it was just the rubber tip of the float needle disintegrating. I didn't really deal with a lot of CV carbs though either. By the time I started wrenching things had mostly moved to fuel injection. Pre-FI Vmax's were always fun to work on. The carbs never wanted to stay in sync. I was always tempted to locktite the adjustment screws to stop them from rattling loose but I never knew how long it would be before I saw that particular bike again.

I found the two SU carburetors on my old MGB-GT the most challenging to keep in sync. I could have them right on in the evening with my car in my garage in CA and check them in the morning and they would be out of sync - and I didn't drive the car anywhere -


humfrz

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Worst stock carbs ever: original 240z.

You shut your whore mouth.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

You shut your whore mouth.

No.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Not sure how we ever managed to fix anything without a step by step manual and a YouTube video to follow! Although in fairness I guess a lot of the old stuff was easy to figure out and hard to screw up.

Yep, I reckon.

And we didn't need a computer -

All we needed to tune an engine was a set of feeler gages, a dwell meter and a timing light.

I remember one fine day, under the shade of the maple trees in our barnyard, I had all my tune up equipment out on the fender of my car. My grandfather stopped over and asked me why I needed all that stuff. He said, "just listen to the engine, it will tell you when you have it right".


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, I reckon.

And we didn't need a computer -

All we needed to tune an engine was a set of feeler gages, a dwell meter and a timing light.

I remember one fine day, under the shade of the maple trees in our barnyard, I had all my tune up equipment out on the fender of my car. My grandfather stopped over and asked me why I needed all that stuff. He said, "just listen to the engine, it will tell you when you have it right".


humfrz

You had gauges, a dwell meter AND a tming light? You lucky bastard.
I had to make due with a duck feather, sticks and a rock

One of the best carb tuners I ever met used nothing but the sound and the smell from the exhaust.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You had gauges, a dwell meter AND a tming light? You lucky bastard.
I had to make due with a duck feather, sticks and a rock

One of the best carb tuners I ever met used nothing but the sound and the smell from the exhaust.

I still have my dwell meter and timing light. Still need the light for the porsche. Only car I have now with a distributor. I put a points eliminator kit in years ago.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You had gauges, a dwell meter AND a tming light? You lucky bastard.
I had to make due with a duck feather, sticks and a rock

One of the best carb tuners I ever met used nothing but the sound and the smell from the exhaust.

Yep, I even had a vacuum gauge -

OK, I understand the duck feather and the sticks - but, what did you do with the rock? Oh, wait up, maybe you used it to tap the cover of the voltage regulator to release the points, or to tap the side of the carburetor to unstick the float, or to pound on the battery terminals to make better contact - ??




humfrz

[Sapphireho]

My wife officially hates simon. I showed the badger video to my wife and son, now they are all walking around the house, "badger, badger, badger.....snake, snake......mushroom......

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, I even had a vacuum gauge -

OK, I understand the duck feather and the sticks - but, what did you do with the rock? Oh, wait up, maybe you used it to tap the cover of the voltage regulator to release the points, or to tap the side of the carburetor to unstick the float, or to pound on the battery terminals to make better contact - ??




humfrz

I still have a vacuum guage.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Hundreds of hours of my life!

It's amazing how your hobbies really mellow you out.

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

My wife officially hates simon. I showed the badger video to my wife and son, now they are all walking around the house, "badger, badger, badger.....snake, snake......mushroom......

When I visit Idaho, I'll be sure to stop by. How far from Emmet and how far from the Potato Museum are you?