Gummed up PMOs. Advice please.

[whackit]

I went to start my car which had been sitting for about 6 months because life got in the way. I realized I had loaned the car to a friend and when he filled it he didn't put in fuel stabilizer. GRRR. When I tried initially turning over the car it seemed starved. I got that thing when it seems to catch at about quarter speed but never really catches -- as if the starter just speeds up. I checked spark. All good. Then I pulled the filters and gave the linkage a few cycles. I just get a drip out of the accel injector which is usually a solid squirt. So I'm guessing the works are gummed up. Do any of the carb gurus have a tip on how I should proceed? I woiuld prefer not to tear them down and am hoping for a spray can solution! I will of course drain the tank and add new fuel. Float levels look good and PSI is good (3).

Thanks!

[zedsn]

If you don't want to pull the carbs you should pull the tops off where the flats are and see what the bowls look like. You might get away with cleaning out the bowls and pulling the jets and blowing air through the passages and then cleaning the jets themselves and that might be good enough to get it running well again.

[GeorgeRud]

Or spend the money and send them to Paul Abbot at Performance Oriented. Today's fuels really turn to jelly over time - ask me how I kow!

[theiceman]

so ... how exactly do you kow ?? this should be interesting

[DanielDudley]

Get the fuel out of the bowls and get some carb cleaner in the spray can with the nozzle.

Gotta start somewhere.

[E Sully]

In the past 2 weeks I have cleaned out 1967 912 Solex, 1964 356 Zenith, Honda power washer carb, and a Polaris carburetor. One Solex had an emulsion tube that was really difficult to get out.
The gas alcohol today, when left to sit too long and evaporates, turns into a difficult to clean white powder. You may get lucky, but carb cleaner alone does not seem to do a thorough job getting it all clear. I use a tooth brush, fishing line, and thin copper wire to clean the small passages.
I beg my friends and family to use Stabil. I guess the only way is to put it in for them, or ignore their calls.

[john walker's workshop]

The top gasket has to come off with the carb top and floats, so take your time so you don't damage it.

[toddu]

I just went through this, for the same reason. Take them off and tear them down. It's $90, get the new "hatchet" acell pump arm, new needle valves, etc. It's easy, and you'll learn a ton about your carbs.

My car fired right up after putting them back on. Drained my tank too. Gas was horrible.

Todd

[Gordo2]

Before you take them apart:

- Are your fuel bowls filling? They should be at the half level in the window when you checked the accelerator nozzles (i.e. is the fuel pump delivering fuel)?

Did you cycle the accelerator pump a few times (ensure the pump is primed / pushing fuel)?

I would give these a try before you disassemble anything.

If you decide to take them apart - here's a link that may help:Gordo's PMO Carb Tuning

Good luck,

Gordo

[whackit]

Thanks Gordo,

I'm getting 3 psi at gauge and bowls have fuel (dot in window) when I cycle the throttle all I get out of the injector is a drip, not the squirt I would expect. Just not sure where to begin.

[toddu]

Here's the problem, if the accel pump circuit is gummed up, everything else is. You can try cleaning jets, etc., but if you want to start fresh, take them off and spend the time\$90.

Todd

[Gordo2]

Originally Posted by toddu

Here's the problem, if the accel pump circuit is gummed up, everything else is. You can try cleaning jets, etc., but if you want to start fresh, take them off and spend the time\$90. Todd

No doubt - seems a bit drastic that the accelerator pump / circuit could get that bad since the openings are relatively large as compared to other circuits (nozzle vs. jets) and are pressured by the access pump (jets are vacuum drawn).

As such if the accelerator circuit is truly gummed up - the carbs in general and the other circuits need a good cleaning (jets removed - passages sprayed out with carb cleaner).

The link I provided should help you get started.

Gordo