I’ve been fighting fuels leaks for quite some time now and
I’m really getting frustrated.
I’ve used the Grose needle and seats on an XJ12 and they
worked well for many years. But on my Etype I haven’t had
much luck with them at all. They would leak so often I just
gave up and fit 4 new standard needles and everything seemed
OK for a few days and now its started leaking again. I can
wack it a few times with a rubber hammer and it might stop
leaking or it might start leaking. How on earth did people
drive these cars when new??? The floats were changed a few
years back with the black ones from XKs unlimited.
Is fuel pressure an issue on these cars as they age? I’m
thinking of fitting a fuel pressure regulator and gauge to
see whats going on.–
1973 XKE - http://v12stealthhunter.blogspot.com/
San Jose, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
Have you verified that the fuel pump is not putting out too much pressure? It’s gotta be something simple and dumb. Not much there to go bad.
LLoyd----- Original Message -----
I’ve been fighting fuels leaks for quite some time now and
I’m really getting frustrated.
In reply to a message from V. Ambrose sent Tue 23 Aug 2016:
Did you thoroughly clean the new valves before installing?
It probably seems like something that isn’t needed but some
brass parts I have seen arrive with a slight coating. I
always clean them (e.g. with acetone) prior to installing.–
The original message included these comments:
gave up and fit 4 new standard needles and everything seemed
–
Geo Hahn 1969 OTS 4.2
Mt Lemmon, Arizona, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from Geo H sent Tue 23 Aug 2016:
Hi, I have exactly the same setup as you, and it does not
leak.
What height did you set your new floats at? This is quite
critical.
Regards
Mark–
The original message included these comments:
gave up and fit 4 new standard needles and everything seemed
–
Mark Brown 71 S3 Etype
Ohope beach, New Zealand
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from 42southern sent Tue 23 Aug 2016:
Mark, My float heights are roughly 17mm. I am considering
increasing the height to see if it would help too. What are
yours set to?
Geo, No, I don’t think I cleaned the new needle and seats. I
installed them dry, straight out of the air sealed packaging
thinking someone has cleaned them for me I will clean
them well now.
LLoyd, Given there is a fuel return line coming off the fuel
‘‘rail’’/pipe, I don’t even understand how fuel pressure could
build up. Unless of course the fuel return restriction
required more than 2psi of pressure to return to the tank. I
will fit a regulator and gauge just to see whats going on
anyway.–
The original message included these comments:
Hi, I have exactly the same setup as you, and it does not
leak.
What height did you set your new floats at? This is quite
critical.
In reply to a message from V. Ambrose sent Tue 23 Aug 2016:
Hey Noel,
As you know the XJ12 and E V12 are pretty
similar engine wise. So why one car got this
problem and other not?
If you have repeated overflows then I would
point finger at debris in fuel line…some old
rubber breaking up etc.
They didn’t do this when New…–
Dave S3E,RR SS, BMW’02,Tr4a,Elise, http://www.xketype.com
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from David Lacey sent Tue 23 Aug 2016:
As the tapping with a hammer makes the symptoms go away I would
also suspect debris, or slop in the mechanism.
I would check the pump pressure (although most of the time when
pumps fail the performance goes down, rather than up), and fit an
inline filter immediately before the carbs and keep an eye on what
kind of crap that collects.
Andrew–
The original message included these comments:
If you have repeated overflows then I would
point finger at debris in fuel line…some old
rubber breaking up etc.
They didn’t do this when New…
–
1968 3.8S
Zurich, Switzerland
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
Well… duhhhhh. yes, you have the v-12.
LLoyd@ReadingComprehentionFlunkie.com----- Original Message -----
LLoyd, Given there is a fuel return line coming off the fuel
‘‘rail’’/pipe, I don’t even understand how fuel pressure could
build up. Unless of course the fuel return restriction
required more than 2psi …
In reply to a message from 42southern sent Wed 24 Aug 2016:
I last set my floats to 18mm on Series II Strombergs. No more
leaks. Mine had been leaking when front end was up on jack stands.
In the past there was talk that if fuel level was too high the
carbs would run rich, I never believed that but now believe there
may be something to it.
Glenn
70 E–
The original message included these comments:
Hi the setting for the floats is 16-17mm. I went for
16.5mm.
There is an excellent article on the web from the Triumph
guys on leaks and remedies
–
melloyello
Lake Elsinore California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from melloyello sent Wed 24 Aug 2016:
I went with 18.5 mm on my (Series 2) floats - in part
because that is where my TR4 with 175CDs is to be set and
because they were a bit rich but mostly because Dick Maury
suggested I try that.
Interestingly enough I just came across this document:
Which (RIP) says…
‘‘The height should be 16 to 18mm long for a hollow float or
18.5 to 19.5 mm for a solid float.’’
First time I had come across that notion. Sorry, no idea
how credible that site is (you know the internet) but
thought it an interesting observation.–
The original message included these comments:
I last set my floats to 18mm on Series II Strombergs. No more
–
Geo Hahn 1969 OTS 4.2
Mt Lemmon, Arizona, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from Geo H sent Wed 24 Aug 2016:
Hi Geo
That was an interesting comment in the article re the solid
floats, first time I had ever heard that. I take it that
the newer floats from XKS and possibly others are the solid
kind.
Another difference from the Triumph article is the point of
measuring. The triumph article measures from the highest
point of the float when inverted, your reference appears to
show measurement from the lowest point.
Here is the URL for the triumph method which I used. Mine
don’t leak, using the XKS later floats.
However Dick Maury’s advice is hard to ignore.
Cheers
Mark–
The original message included these comments:
‘‘The height should be 16 to 18mm long for a hollow float or
18.5 to 19.5 mm for a solid float.’’
First time I had come across that notion. Sorry, no idea
–
Mark Brown 71 S3 Etype
Ohope beach, New Zealand
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from 42southern sent Wed 24 Aug 2016:
After taking off the offending carb and cleaning the needle
and seat with brake cleaner for the 10th time, I decided to
also change the inline fuel filter. It looked rather clean
for what I know is a rusty gas tank. I searched for the best
3/8’’ hose inline fuel filter and the best I could find was
the NAPA 3482 (WIX 33482), which can filter down to 13 microns.
In reply to a message from Geo H sent Wed 24 Aug 2016:
Geo
Interesting info at that link.
Adjustable jet I got from Joe Curto looks very similar to the
Triumph carb version. I am also using the new solid floats set to
18mm.
Glenn
70 E–
The original message included these comments:
I went with 18.5 mm on my (Series 2) floats - in part
because that is where my TR4 with 175CDs is to be set and
suggested I try that.
Interestingly enough I just came across this document: How to overhaul a Stromberg carburettor | How a Car Works
Which (RIP) says…
‘‘The height should be 16 to 18mm long for a hollow float or
18.5 to 19.5 mm for a solid float.’’
First time I had come across that notion. Sorry, no idea
how credible that site is (you know the internet) but
thought it an interesting observation.
–
melloyello
Lake Elsinore California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
I will clean