Broke down again

[tobydog]

Called RAC out who was very helpful, ignition and spark.ok, fuel delivery to carb ok. He went as far as removing the carb from engine down to float chamber and cleaned jets. Also removed in line cone filter (the one that sits in the inlet to the carb)which was clean but remains out for now. After all this engine started first time and behaved itself on return Journey.

Crap back in the carb.....?
 

[TONYT25T25]

I was hoping fuel filters would prevent that including the inline cone one which was clean. How else is debris introduced to cause the breakdown and how can it be prevented.

[tobydog]

Fuel lines breaking down and water in fuel

[TONYT25T25]

The plot thickens, as posted earlier the clearing by tbe RAC that got me going again was great, but can this be prevented in the future and what action can be taken.

[tobydog]

When were your fuel lines last replaced?

[TONYT25T25]

Hi, fuel lines either side of plastic piping to fuel pump feed were replaced a couple of years back, when I removed the fuel filter from the engine bay, leaving the other fuel filter near the fuel tank in place after changing it. Cone filter into carb also checked recently which was clear. Just prior to this recent breakdown the when driving at about 50mph, the engine faltered but picked up then later on same trip the problems started as mentioned in first post.

[mioba]

No way the RAC man cleaned the carb at the roadside. To clean a carb it needs stripping and all the jets poked with strands of copper wire then blasting carb cleaner.
Put back together with new seals.

A propr clean of the carb would be my first point of call.

[TONYT25T25]

Thanks, I wasnt watching him all the time, what i did see was the top of the carb removed, exposing the float chamber and rubber gasket, unsure what can be accessed there but he removed and cleaned what there was. After replacing carb, engine started first time. Still going ok but wary about taking it out due to previous probs.

[tobydog]

all the jets poked with strands of copper wire then blasting carb cleaner.
Put back together with new seals.

A propr clean of the carb would be my first point of call.

I use a steel wire pulled from a wire brush, the hardened type. I'd be concerned about breaking a (soft) piece of copper wire.

I'd check the carb internals personally.

[silverbullet]

Don't discount the effect of ethanol crystals growing in fuel if its been left standing, these can block the jets. Ethanol is also hydrophilic so it takes up water from condensation and this promotes corrosion in both steel and alloy/zinc components.
The best solution is to use the van more frequently, stale fuel is nobody's friend.

[tobydog]

I add this to the fuel for the van and the Moto gucci:

https://classicoilsshop.co.uk/classic-ethaguard-plus

" Etha-Guard is an additive that counteracts ethanol’s hygroscopic nature, preventing moisture and subsequent acidity in your fuel system."

I've stripped carbs before and found stale petrol turned to a gel like consistency

[mioba]

all the jets poked with strands of copper wire then blasting carb cleaner.
Put back together with new seals.

A propr clean of the carb would be my first point of call.

I use a steel wire pulled from a wire brush, the hardened type. I'd be concerned about breaking a (soft) piece of copper wire.

I'd check the carb internals personally.

Jets are made of soft metal - steel wire will enlarge any holes.

[tobydog]

Not if used judiciously

[DM164]

Could there be a blockage in the fuel pump itself?

I broke down in France a couple of days ago (still waiting for breakdown to find a garage with availability) and checked the fuel filter and it was letting fuel through. Thought it might have been an airlock in the system so collected some fuel after the filter and it had bits of rust in and wasn’t getting any fuel out of the pump when clicking the ignition

[Stesaw]

Carb cleaner with a flexi nozel and blast them (when cold)

You can remove the idle jet with a flatblade.. just use one that fits snugly otherwise you'll damage it.

I use a strand of thin copper wire from some electrical cable to put down the main and secondary jets.