Wcfb 1960

[Philip P.]

When I depress the throttle shouldn't there be shot of gas seen in the carb. The car will not start unless I give it some gas externally into the bowl then starts and runs.
I have removed the dust cap from the top of the carb and when I work the throttle nothing moves inside. The shaft is not broken and all the linkages inside are tight. Am I missing something.
Thanks
Phil
283/230

[Joe M.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

What model WCFB are you running on your 1960? You should be seeing gas squirt out of both sides of the pump jet cluster when you operate the accelerator rod by hand. Sometimes the pump plunger seal gets dry and shrink up enough that it does not pump as it should.

[Philip P.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

It is a 3059S or pretty sure no tag. There is no gas squirting at all. When you depress the throttle the shaft that connects to the pump. this is all under the dust cover, does not moves.
I think you are correct about the pump but I think that the shaft should move the pump. I can not even move the pump down by pressing on it with my finger. The shaft is not frozen where it goes into the area where the metering rods and pump are located, but nothing rotates when you depress the throttle.
I am not totally sure how this works but it seems like the pump should go up and down with the movement of the throttle.
Thanks
Phil

[Tom F.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

Phil:

Quick question: Are you getting fuel up to carb from from fuel pump?

I had a similar problem last year and had both a problem with the fuel pump and 3191S WFCB Carb.

Check this web site out www.carburetor-manual.com it will give you everything you ever wanted to know about Carter WCFB Carburetors.

[Philip P.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

Tom,
I can put a little gas in the carb and it will start and run. I am going to check the fuel pump, but I have something jammed/gummed up in the acellerator pump as it does not move so I don't get that squirt to "prime" it at startup. I have ordered a rebuild kit and it is to be here in a few days so I will take it all apart and see what gives.
I contacted Joe at Rare Corvettes and he verified my problem, in that the pump should be moving.
I did take the car out for a drive after I got it running and seemed to run fine after its winter rest, then it started snowing here so I have time to get this sorted out.
Phil

[Tom F.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

Hello Phil:

When I was having problems with my carb last year, I couldn't see any fuel entering the carburetor when I opened the accelerator. I had an old timer at a local shop rebuild the carb. I was told that you may not see any fuel getting into carb when engine isn't running.

My brother in law lives in Mt. Vernon, Washington and he told me that he's been cutting his lawn. We just got rid of all the snow in Connecticut.

[Tom F.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

Hello Phil:

After writing the last e-mail something came to mind, check the fuel filter located behind the large nut on the inlet into the carb. They are made of ceramic or just a screen. If the vehicle has been sitting through the winter months sediment could have dried and possibly blocking fuel flow. Pressure from the fuel pump to the carb is only around 3.5 to 5.0 lbs. If restricted this may be why a no start condition.

[Jack H.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

Remember, in order for a carb to work properly, the fuel bowl HAS to be vented to the atmosphere to equalize air/fuel pressure. That means, unlike modern cars that are fuel injected, when you let the car sit in storage, the carb will out-gas and vent the fuel that's stored in the bowl...

Without fuel in the bowl, there's nothing to spray for that cold start! You have to either manually fill the bowl (squirt down the vent tube) or crank/stop, crank/stop to get the fuel pump to re-fill the bowl. Do not LAY on the starter and crank the engine into oblivion!

Figure the fuel in the bowl will naturally evaporate within a week of dis-use... Also, the proper cold starting proceedure includes gently depressing the accelerator pedal ALL THE WAY to the floor to set up the choke AND spray that startup stream of gas.

Only indict a carb for malfunction when you KNOW the fuel bowl is full and you don't see the power valve deliver that start-up stream!

[Philip P.]

Re: Wcfb 1960

I agree with all that has been posted, the car will start and run without running out of fuel if you prime it ie put some gas in the carb. The rod that casuses the acelerator pump to "pump' is either jammed or gummed up. I do not get that initial squirt into the carb that you can see by opening the throttle on start up. The choke sets properly when cold and opens when warmed up so that portion looks like it is working properly.
I ordered a kit will see how my rebuilding skills are, have not done it for some time, worse case is I will need to send it for rebuilding. Why spoil all the fun. it problably could use it anyway. Will let you all know the outcome.
Tom,
My daugther lives just north of Mt. Vernon in Burlington, we are on the other side of Washington (Spokane)and we had about 1/2 inch of snow yesterday all gone now. We lived over on the west side for about 15 years not to far from Mt Vernon

Phil