Probably going to sound dumb…

[Jmunden]

My dad and I bought a replacement carburetor for our 801. We weren’t sure of what the float level adjustment was to be set at. Well my dad figured just we’d just put the carb on and go from there. Well at first it seemed to be leaking a little bit of gas. But my dad ran it for a bit and he said it seemed to have stopped and was fine. Well it’s been a few months and it’s been sitting since we need to tinker a little more with it before putting back together. Today I decided to start working on it. Well, as I went to start it, it would turn over but that’s it. But I noticed a small gas flow from the carb. I have picture from the video I took. It looks worse than what it was, the photo isn’t that great. Is this because we didn’t adjust the float properly? And if so, what is the recommended setting or is there a guide to follow?

 

[a49deere]

Original marvel carb was 1/4" from machined surface to top of float with carburetor inverted or just about flat looking at it from the side!

 

[Sean in PA]

Gas dripping after cranking with no start is pretty normal on those updraft carb systems. When the engine turns it sucks gas up into the intake but if it doesn't start and you stop cranking the starter the gas in the intake has to go somewhere.

 

[Jmunden]

Gas dripping after cranking with no start is pretty normal on those updraft carb systems. When the engine turns it sucks gas up into the intake but if it doesn't start and you stop cranking the starter the gas in the intake has to go somewhere.

That makes sense and that’s exactly what was happening. Apparently the battery didn’t have enough juice and quickly died right after so I had it on a charger and will try again. Does this mean I don’t have to adjust the float at all and the carb is good right out of the box?

 

[a49deere]

That makes sense and that’s exactly what was happening. Apparently the battery didn’t have enough juice and quickly died right after so I had it on a charger and will try again. Does this mean I don’t have to adjust the float at all and the carb is good right out of the box?

 

[Jim.ME]

That makes sense and that’s exactly what was happening. Apparently the battery didn’t have enough juice and quickly died right after so I had it on a charger and will try again. Does this mean I don’t have to adjust the float at all and the carb is good right out of the box?

Time will tell. You won't know what if any adjustment it needs until it is running.

 

[Jmunden]

Time will tell. You won't know what if any adjustment it needs until it is running.

That’s fair. Well I thank you for the help!

 

[john in la]

If I bought a replacement carb and the float was not properly adjusted right out the box I would be mad.
That would be like buying an alternator that the internal voltage regulator was not right.

You might need to fine tune the mixture screws to your engine but anything past that should be good right out the box.

 

[MarkB_MI]

The carb is doing what you would expect it to. Gas is coming out through a sintered bronze plug whose purpose is to let fuel drain from a flooded carburetor. Now, if fuel drains out of the carb BEFORE you try to crank the engine, that is an issue. More likely a bad needle-and-seat valve than a mis-adjusted float.

 

[Hemmjo]

The carb is doing what you would expect it to. Gas is coming out through a sintered bronze plug whose purpose is to let fuel drain from a flooded carburetor. Now, if fuel drains out of the carb BEFORE you try to crank the engine, that is an issue. More likely a bad needle-and-seat valve than a mis-adjusted float.

On my old 860, that bronze filter plug is plugged up. When my needle/seat went bad. Fuel kept leaking until it filled the carb throat and intake hose and leaked out around the choke shaft.

 

[MarkB_MI]

On my old 860, that bronze filter plug is plugged up. When my needle/seat went bad. Fuel kept leaking until it filled the carb throat and intake hose and leaked out around the choke shaft.

Same thing happened to me. Those sintered bronze plugs aren't easy to find. I eventually got a plug from Roberts Carburetor and replaced mine.