Fuel not getting into both carbs - HELP

[paulandchez]

Right.....think I've found the answer to my running problems. Last night I removed both carbs and blew out all the jets etc just incase I had a blockage. The van has been running great until after about 5 mins I lose power and cannot get above 30 ish.
Today I checked the supply. With pump on, fuel arrives into the engine bay no problem. If I connect the brass splitter and the 2 pipes going to the carbs, fuel prioritises one side and doesn't supply the other, but if you block the end of the flowing pipe, it swaps over and then both run fine. Then I refitted the carbs after emptying the float bowls and turned pump on again. After pumping the throttle a few times and running the pump for about 30 secs, I removed the tops off the carbs and the right one was full and the left empty! So would this basically mean after using whatever fuel gets into the left carb, that one stops and I'm basically running on 2 cylinders.....hence no power?


How can I get it to feed both sides all the time?

[bigherb]

If the pump filled one carb up then when the float valve shuts the fuel has to fill the other carb so it is most likely you have insufficient fuel flow from the fuel pump to fill both carbs and run the engine.

[paulandchez]

That's what I thought but the pump is a brand new facet one and supplies a good pressure. Could it be as simple as I've used a y piece and it's creating an airlock? Would a tee piece be a better solution?

[bigherb]

Is that a fuel filter top right? It looks like a fuel injection filter which will need higher pressure to push through.

[paulandchez]

Yeah it is (off a ford KA) as recommended by a garage who specialise in vw buses....so didn't have reason to doubt him tbh. I'll see if I can get hold of a pressure gauge and see what pressure I'm actually getting.

[bigherb]

Just remove the filter and see if it runs properly. The filter is in the wrong place anyway it should be before the pump (the pump needs clean fuel as well)
Like this.


Then move the fuel pipes down, they should not be above the carbs to stop syphoning.

[paulandchez]

I already have a filter before the pump. This one was put in to help take finer particles out. The van runs the same (badly) even if I remove this filter and the float bowls fill up or not as described above. So that filter isn't changing anything. Normally my lines are lower, I just moved them so you could see the connections better in the pic

[bigherb]

You ran the fuel line through the bulkhead by the filter to take a picture?

[paulandchez]

Oh right.....no sorry. I thought you meant how id lifted the lines up towards the top of the bay. My fuel line has always entered the engine bay where you can see it now. Should it enter somewhere else?

[faggie]

the fuel line should come through the rear piece of engine tinwear through a gromit

[paulandchez]

Cheers Faggie. Found the hole and grommet.....mine had the alternator cable going through it! So I've rerouted that and put the fuel cable through.

Anyway......fingers crossed I've sorted it now. After fiddling and doing various tests I think the float was set at the wrong height, even though it was set the same as the other side. I've took a washer out and just went for a run and it sat happy at 65 without any hiccups.

Can't believe I missed that but I'm still learning about these carbs and at least my lines are in the right place now!

Thanks Bigherb and Faggie for your help

[clem]

you sure firing order is right ?

[Oldiebut goodie]

?

[paulandchez]

Yep firing order is fine. Looks like the 3&4 carb was being starved of fuel due to me not setting the float correctly. Live and learn eh. I'll be giving it a good run though tomorrow just to check.....cause you never know!