As I have been in the process of restoring and testing the Kingston Gasifier, I have also been reading my dad's 1927 Dykes manual in regards to how the carburetor works and troubleshooting. On page 121 it lists four reasons indicating a rich fuel mixture:
1. Spark plugs foul quickly;
2. Exhaust gas causes one's eyes to burn;
3. Black smoke issues from the muffler;
4. Engine operation is uneven, causing "loading up" or "loping," as previously explained. On a Ford, a rich mixture will cause he rear axle o have an uneven hum which is distinctly heard at 13 m.p.h.
My question is in regards to #4: why would a rich mixture cause the rear axle to hum? Does it have to do with vibrations that transfer from the engine through the driveline to the rear axle? Has anyone experienced this? I never have and though I never run too lean, I have been guilty of running too rich from time to time. Could this be because I have always had a Ruckstell?
Well, "loading up' or "Loping" also known as "hunting" at our end of the world, is a rev variation on a set throttle position, ie, running to rich or sucking air on the manifold, when driving, that in turn, gives an uneven load on the drive train, result, "Humming"
Seen this at 14 MPH, but never at 13............I can't wait to hear the ideas on this one. I was with them until the Ford section of #4.
I think someone at Dykes was smoking something that day.......
I have a Dyke's also. It's a fun read especially the camping chapter but there's some very weird/questionable stuff in there. And it can be vague as hell when looking for something specific.