Is there anywhere that the carb float settings are listed? i have seen where the L-4 is 7/16" another carb was 15/64", and measured from where.I am adjusting a L-4 and was wondering what it should be set at. Thanks for the information.
Rick
Measure from the machined flange to the top of the float. L-4 should be 7/16". I made a gauge.
Mike
Mike, thanks
Rick:
The 15/64's measurement is for the NH Carb.
What is it for the Holly Vaporizer?
Here's a general rule that has always worked for me. I have probably done 50 or 60 carbs, marine, aircraft, motorcycle, and auto. In every case after carefully setting the float level to spec, when turning the carb upside down the float is always parallel to the carb flange.
Odd shaped floats usually have a seam that goes parallel to the flange.
See Mike Zahroic's picture above.
For the last 10 year or so I haven't even looked up the float setting spec. Just set them parallel. No problems yet.
Some may disagree and there may be exceptions - I just haven't found one yet!
Val:
I use the same setting for the Holley Vaporizor. Interesting thread, as I had the same problem a few years ago using repro parts, my solution then to switch to conventional intake and NH.
Got my interest again..... will be working on my Vaporizor soon.
Bob, I had an NH on my car when I got it and the car ran fine. Not that I am a purist, but I wanted to run the correct carburetor on the car as that is what I do on my other cars. I quickly regretted my decision as I had trouble starting cold and much less power than I had with the NH. I rebuilt the carburetor and got no better results. I finally got another Vaporizer at Hershey last year from a fellow who runs them on all his cars. That one ran well until a couple of weeks ago when it developed an annoying hesitation when accelerating. However, even though it ran well, cold starting has always been an issue. None of my other cars have starters and I am used to cranking by hand but it is almost impossible to start cold by hand. It starts easily when warm and often gives me a free start but no matter how much you crank it just does not draw enough gas to start unless you spin the crank rapidly for several revolutions. All in all I think they are more trouble than they are worth and if I was not so stubborn I would go back to the NH I had on there before!
Val: When all air leaks in the Vaporizor system are sealed and everything lines up, they do run great.. In fact, except for staring off from a stop, I would compare my Vaporizor experience on on par with the regular intake system.
Don't give up, you'll get it to work.
Hint: I install the intake and exhaust manifolds first, next the carb/hot plate section, lastly the top mixing chamber, tightening the threaded connector after everything else is snugged up.
Val - My '27 had a vaporizer on it too, and I could NEVER start mine by hand cranking either. And I was told by a member of the Long Beach club that the original owner of my '27 depot hack (Pete Cosner.R.I.P.) always used to carry a can of starting fluid with him everywhere he drove the car, because it was so hard to start when cold. Best decision I ever made was to replace the vaporizor with a Holly NH! To start by hand cranking when cold,....two pulls with choke starts on third pull every time! On a nice warm day, one pull choking does it, then starts on second pull! To those that will say the the vaporisors are just fine, I have to say that I have heard too many times from too many people that even when in good shape, those vaporisors are hard starting when engine is cold!
Vaporizers run really good when they are put together right. I had one on the '17 Torpedo for about ten years. It would always get a free start if I cranked it three 1/4 turns with the key of and the choke pulled cold.
Warm, a Vaporizer will crank up every time with 1/4 turn upward pull on the crank with the throttle wide open. They tend to be a bit rich at idle.
It's all a matter of technique.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/390050.html?1380324326
I am not going to give up but these Vaporizers are an awful lot of trouble. It seem like they just have too many weak points and will only run right when everything is just so.