No fuel from carb drain plug

[RUHokie]

Newbie here...1950 8N side dist... I can pull fuel line from carb and run a boat load of fuel quickly into a pint jar. Re-attach fuel line and remove the bowl drain plug from the bottom of the carb and gas just dribbles VERY slowly into a pint jar. I removed the elbow fitting going into the carb and it was clean, so that's not the problem. I'm guessing the float valve is stuck maybe? How's the best way to un-stick this valve?

All answers are appreciated!

 

[Gantt]

pull the carb, remove the needle seat and replace seat, gasket and needle. verify float level and make sure the float moves freely. might as well do a full disassemble, clean and rebuild while its off.

 

[HFJ]

on the cheap, the easiest way is to try tapping the carb bowl with a chunk of wood

 

[Bob - MI]

Cheap/easy way is to remove carb drain bolt. Then remove fuel line and screen and shoot carb cleaner into the port. This will force whatever is restricting the needle out of position and at the same time will clean the fuel passage, MAYBE.

I had a similar situation and chose a different route. Drain the carb and remove it from the manifold. Open the float bowl and see what the restriction is and remove it spray all passages with carb cleaner and re-assemble. Should take less than 45 minutes and you will have a fresh starting point should other issues come up.

Carb cleaner is cheap and a great tool when used properly.

Best of luck.

 

[Hobo,NC]

If you are going by the drain make sure its not plugged up...

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Did you remove the brass elbow fuel line inlet on the carb? The third screen in the fuel system is attached to the elbow fitting inside. It filters debris as a last defense against contaminants from getting into the carb and is often neglected as part of the PM procedure. Remove fuel line, remove elbow. Observe screen. Soak in cleaner and gently blow off. Reassemble, try flow at drain plug again. If still slow or none a all, time to pull and rebuild the carb.

FORD N-SERIES CARB & ADJUSTMENTS:

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FORD N TRACTOR CARBURETOR FUEL INLET & SCREEN BRASS ELBOW:

Tim Daley(MI)​

 

[HFJ]

"Did you remove the brass elbow fuel line inlet on the carb?"

from his first post:

"I removed the elbow fitting going into the carb and it was clean, so that's not the problem."

 

[RUHokie]

I have removed the carb and separated the bowl from the body. Removed float, needle valve and seat. Cleaned all with one full can of carb cleaner. Re-assembled all and blow into fuel inlet. Right side up allows good air flow through inlet. Turn carb body upside down, no air flow when blowing through inlet. However, when I turn the body right side up, the needle does not drop down to allow air through. I have a gap of about 1/8" between needle and float flange. I can shake the carb body and the needle will drop, but that's not going to be a solution once it's mounted on the tractor. What is making this needle hang up in the seat? Any ideas?

 

[soaked]

If your needle has the black colored
Viton tip, suggest seaching in "Modern
View"-- lots of posts of sticking viton
needles.

Wikipedia has some interesting reading
about "Viton".
Here is a quote:

"Viton is generally compatible with
hydrocarbons, but incompatible with
ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl
ketone, ester solvents such as ethyl
acetate, amines, and organic acids such
as acetic acid."

Maybe soaking the needle in gas will be
helpful.

I have had the same sticking as you
describe. Time, and a couple taps with a
2?4 resolved the issue.

John