55 CA - engine dies after about 30 seconds

[Bill C - SW MO]

I have a 1955 CA and the engine has started dying after running about 30 seconds or maybe 75 to 150 feet. Sight bowl is full and it will immediately start again and run another 30 to 40 seconds
 

[old]

Did this start doing this all at once or did you just do a tune up or other such thing?? If you just did a tune up the condenser is bad as in new ones are junk about 50% of the time. If on the other hand you did nothing to it and it has just started to do this out of the blue pull the carb drain plug and make sure you have a good steady of gas for a few minutes. Catch the gas to make sure it is not full of rust or dirt or water. SW MO so where you at I am at the Lake of the Ozarks
 

[Bill C - SW MO]

Thank you for your reply. I have done nothing to it as far as a tune up. It just started doing it the last several times I have run it. And it restarts immediately, as soon as you pull on the starter. I will try the drain plug tomorrow and let you know if I find something. I am located between Nixa and Springfield. Bill C
 

[steve(ill)]

its not electricall, your running out of gas or air. Drain the carb bowl and see if the inlet keeps running. See if the suction tube in the gas tank is plugged. See if the vent in the gas tank cap is plugged. PUll the cup off the bottom of the air cleaner and see if it is plugged up. Pull the cap off the air cleaner inlet tube and see if mud dobbers have plugged air inlet holes.
 

[Bill C - SW MO]

I want to thank both old and Steve for your suggestions. I have a CD with service manual on it and it shows two types of carbs and I think mine may be a Zenith. The photo shows two drain cocks, one on the left side sort of on the end of a horizontal tube in the botton and one that I presume is supposed to be verticle on the side of the carb closer to the block. Mine just has bolts instead of drain cocks and I removed the bolt on the left side and gas drained freely and was clear with no rust or dirt particles. The back verticle bolt was very tight and I did not force it. The sight glass bowl remained full. Not sure where the suction tube in the gas tank is, presume above the sight glass going into the tank? Did drop the pan on the oil filter, the bottom of the filter seemed a little dirty, cleaned that off, the tube was clear, no mud dauber nests in cap. Gas cap probably not original, but I loosened it to make sure air flow into tank. Still have the problem. Plan on tomorrow pulling the air filter and flushing it out, it does not seem to want to drop out or be pulled out. Bill C
 

[bjb in TX from Ne]

Almost sounds like you have the wrong carburetor (or it is missing pieces). The one that is vertical is your drain. The other one that comes out of the horizontal "tube" should have a needle valve (per your drawing) in it and is NOT a drain. If it is plugged then it means some one removed the needle valve b/c it leaked or the carb you are using is for something like a power unit that has a fixed main jet (as opposed to adjustable) although usually the latter case wouldn't have a hole there at all.