[E-Type] Here's one for the archives

E-Type
1

I’d like to contribute a unique problem / solution to the e-type
library. About time I could contribute something rather than just
suck on the brain trust.

Lester - you may remember that I was frustrated with my ignition
system, thinking I had a couple of cylinders that had weak spark.
Well, that wasn’t the problem.

As background - I rebuilt my entire engine about 18 months ago -
pistons, valves, etc. and had sent out my carbs for a rebuild. Joe
Curto had at that time about a 4 month waiting list, so instead I
sent them off to a guy in Ohio, who did a good job replacing jets,
needles, etc.

However, the engine never seemed to run well, with the front two
cylinders in particular having heavy carbon deposits on the plugs.
I had also installed a Pertronix unit, and I was suspecting that
this was malfunctioning. Anyway, long story short, out of
exasperation I took the car to a jag specialist I know in
Minneapolis, and he puzzled over it for quite a while. He felt the
front carb (Stromberg 175 CD2 SE) was running rich. The rear carb
was perfectly tuned. However, both were set up precisely the same,
and he carefully measured jet height, needle profiles, etc. and
everything was the same. But one carb was rich, and the other
wasn’t.
He put the engine on the scope, and the ignition and timing was
perfect. So he went back to the carb again, and this time he
disassembled the cold start valve (choke) and noticed that the
surface of the disk was pitted - not severely, but enough to cause
him to swap in a different disk. And sure enough - that was the
problem! Evidently the pitting was allowing more fuel to sneak
past even with the choke closed.

I don’t remember seeing anything in the archives about this, so you
can this to your list of things to check if your Strombergs are
running too rich. I’ll be posting a photo showing the pitting in a
minute, and will add a link shortly.–
Tom McCanna 1969 2+2, 1995 XJ6 Minneapolis
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

2

Ahhhhh… So simple, but so elusive. That’s the kind of tip that will save someone a bundle of time some day. Thanks.
LLoyd

My driveway is long enough that you can appreciate the conflict between the desire for privacy and the terror of being completely lost .----- Original Message -----
From: “tmac” tmccanna@comcast.net
To: e-type@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 5:16:28 PM
Subject: [E-Type] Here’s one for the archives…

I’d like to contribute a unique problem / solution to the e-type
library. About time I could contribute something rather than just
suck on the brain trust.

Lester - you may remember …

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

3

In reply to a message from tmac sent Fri 22 Jun 2012:

Yet another reason to ditch the Strombergs whenever
possible, and go to SU’s. Okay, so ZS carbs can possibly be
made to run ‘okay’ for a while, but…–
Tom Hishon, 69 E-type 2+2, 69 E-type OTS, 85 XJ6, '03 X-type
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

4

In reply to a message from kassaq sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

Tom, That is just a ‘‘ckeeky’’ jab at the ZS carbs.From what i
have read here the SU’s can come up with some equally
intricate hick-ups! My 4 ( soon to be 6 ) ZS carbs work very
reliably thank you…after complete refurbish/rebuilds however.–
The original message included these comments:

Yet another reason to ditch the Strombergs whenever
possible, and go to SU’s. Okay, so ZS carbs can possibly be
made to run ‘okay’ for a while, but…
Tom Hishon, 69 E-type 2+2, 69 E-type OTS, 85 XJ6, '03 X-type
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

–
John M Holmes 1973 E Type SIII Supra 5Sp, 70 SII OTS 05XJ8L
Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

5

In reply to a message from John M Holmes sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

Had a 5-year-old set of SUs on my '66 Spitfire when the car
developed a HUGE flat spot on anything over light
acceleration. Checked everything I could think of - ended up
swapping my old set of clapped-out SUs back on to the car.
The front one on the newer set had a massive vacuum leak
which I never could pinpoint. Ended up putting a pair of
Keihins on it - no problems since.
Put adjustable jets in the ZS carbs on my E (obligatory Jag
content).

Ken Edgar
Hudson, NC USA
'71 E-type FHC
'75 XJ12C
'85 XJ6
'02 VDP–
The original message included these comments:

Tom, That is just a ‘‘ckeeky’’ jab at the ZS carbs.From what i
have read here the SU’s can come up with some equally
intricate hick-ups! My 4 ( soon to be 6 ) ZS carbs work very
reliably thank you…after complete refurbish/rebuilds however.

–
metalbasher
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

6

Yet another reason to ditch the Strombergs whenever
possible, and go to SU’s. Okay, so ZS carbs can possibly be
made to run ‘okay’ for a while, but…

As in most “carb problems” the real problem is typically in the hands
of the owner!On Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 3:36 AM, kassaq kassaq2k@mtaonline.net wrote:

–
Les…'68 S1.5 2+2

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

7

Yeh, sure.
I rebuilt/tuned my Strom’s about 14 years ago (maybe 15k miles) and they are still perfect. Just keep oil in the dampers. Nothing should come “unadjusted”.
LLoyd

My driveway is long enough that you can appreciate the conflict between the desire for privacy and the terror of being completely lost .----- Original Message -----
From: “kassaq” kassaq2k@mtaonline.net
To: e-type@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2012 12:36:17 AM
Subject: Re: [E-Type] Here’s one for the archives…

In reply to a message from tmac sent Fri 22 Jun 2012:

Yet another reason to ditch the Strombergs whenever
possible, and go to SU’s. Okay, so ZS carbs can possibly be
made to run ‘okay’ for a while, but…

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

8

In reply to a message from tmac sent Fri 22 Jun 2012:

Here’s the photo of the cold start disk I promised. You can see
the pitting and how it could lead to fuel sneaking through.

Car runs great now. FINALLY!!

http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1340412883--
Tom McCanna 1969 2+2, 1995 XJ6 Minneapolis
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

9

In reply to a message from tmac sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

I’ve been using Stroms on Triumphs and now the Jag since 1973.
More than once I’ve had issues with those choke discs. I sandwich
aluminum foil between them and the carbs for Smog checks for
example.

Point is, all of these carbs are old and worn by now. I too damned
the design until I installed two brand new ones for a friend of
mine. I admit I was stunned by the difference as I’d never
considered the carbs as wear points.–
The original message included these comments:

Here’s the photo of the cold start disk I promised. You can see
the pitting and how it could lead to fuel sneaking through.

–
Steve in Las Vegas
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

10

In reply to a message from Steve in Las Vegas sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

Good info. My '69 has had a problem with too rich of a
mixture in all cylinders and fuel pooling in the intake
manifold. I have so far been unable to resolve it and am in
the process of rebuilding and putting new floats in the
Strombergs and refurbishing the intake manifolds. The car
has been off the road since 1989 so could have many issues.
When I rebuilt the first carb I noticed the pitting in the
choke and read that it was prone to corrosion, but did not
find mention of this contributing to a rich mixture. I now
have another idea of what might be happening.–
DrewScherz, 1969 FHC
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

11

In reply to a message from DrewScherz sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

I also had pooling of fuel in the manifold. After you have
checked your linkage, needles, jets, oil level, fuel
pressure, and the other more common issues, this is the
next logical culprit. Good luck.–
The original message included these comments:

In reply to a message from Steve in Las Vegas sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:
Good info. My '69 has had a problem with too rich of a
mixture in all cylinders and fuel pooling in the intake
manifold. I have so far been unable to resolve it and am in
the process of rebuilding and putting new floats in the
Strombergs and refurbishing the intake manifolds. The car
has been off the road since 1989 so could have many issues.
When I rebuilt the first carb I noticed the pitting in the
choke and read that it was prone to corrosion, but did not
find mention of this contributing to a rich mixture. I now
have another idea of what might be happening.

–
Tom McCanna 1969 2+2, 1995 XJ6 Minneapolis
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

12

In reply to a message from tmac sent Fri 22 Jun 2012:

Tom!
That is one hell of a good mechanic that you have.

Usually finding the problem is half the job.

When I took my choke plates apart some years ago,
I polished all the plates and found some corroded,
when I assembled the plates I wiped them all with
graphite grease so they would’nt corrode.

                            Walter--

The original message included these comments:

I don’t remember seeing anything in the archives about this, so you
can this to your list of things to check if your Strombergs are
running too rich. I’ll be posting a photo showing the pitting in a
minute, and will add a link shortly.

–
Walter Schuster 78XJ6 FI Ser.II
Albuquerque/New Mexico, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

13

In reply to a message from W. Schuster sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

I checked the websites for the usuals and couldn’t find a
Stromberg choke. Call Joe Curto and ask him I presume?–
DrewScherz, 1969 FHC
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

14

In reply to a message from tmac sent Sat 23 Jun 2012:

Tom, I have never seen a ZS carb component that corroded
…ever!!! anyway, glad you you have shared this for us all
to ‘‘enjoy’’, and also glad the problem is resolved. Thanks
for the heads up.I was passing through Minneapolis on
WED…made it to ON… 750 miles that day in the XJ8…travel
in style Eh!!–
The original message included these comments:

Here’s the photo of the cold start disk I promised. You can see
the pitting and how it could lead to fuel sneaking through.
Car runs great now. FINALLY!!
http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1340412883
Tom McCanna 1969 2+2, 1995 XJ6 Minneapolis

–
John M Holmes 1973 E Type SIII Supra 5Sp, 70 SII OTS 05XJ8L
Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

Search the archives & forums - http://search.jag-lovers.org/
Subscription changes - http://www.jag-lovers.com/cgi-bin/majordomo
Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php