Honolulu
Well-Known Member
Haven't driven the while sorting out carb problems. The carbs are still 'way rich, but I think it's the front, which is good news, since it is so much easier to remove and reinstall. Of course I say this after having done the rear.
Anyway, tried to run the other day to play with my pet Zeniths, and found that neigher the temp gage, fuel level gage, nor tach would work. Turn signals worked, speedo okay, wipers and headlights okay. To someone familiar with the electrical system this screams "Burnt out fuse" and eventually I found that fuse 6 (of ten) was bad. Replaced it and it pretty quickly went out again. Okay, there's a short somewhere.
First law of diagnostic for the garage knuckle-buster is always to look where you were last. In my case, the carbs. Off comes the air cleaner, and to make a long story short, the gas filter was resting aginst the contact for the rear carb electric choke. Without checking the wiring diagram, I be the choke us energized via fuse six.
I would not have believed that a metal filter can in the middle of a rubber gas line would conduct electricity. It probably doesn't - the filter can is also resting on, or coming in contact with, the manifold, carb linkage, firewall or whatever. All of which are conductive, and that's why the fuse blew. Twice.
Moral and lesson: this was an excellent opportunity for a under-hood fire after some miles and friction wear the choke contact through the filter can. The gas line and filter have been rerouted/relocated and the choke contact insulated.
Now maybe this weekend I can mess with the front carb and if my present luck holds, put it right.
Charlie
Anyway, tried to run the other day to play with my pet Zeniths, and found that neigher the temp gage, fuel level gage, nor tach would work. Turn signals worked, speedo okay, wipers and headlights okay. To someone familiar with the electrical system this screams "Burnt out fuse" and eventually I found that fuse 6 (of ten) was bad. Replaced it and it pretty quickly went out again. Okay, there's a short somewhere.
First law of diagnostic for the garage knuckle-buster is always to look where you were last. In my case, the carbs. Off comes the air cleaner, and to make a long story short, the gas filter was resting aginst the contact for the rear carb electric choke. Without checking the wiring diagram, I be the choke us energized via fuse six.
I would not have believed that a metal filter can in the middle of a rubber gas line would conduct electricity. It probably doesn't - the filter can is also resting on, or coming in contact with, the manifold, carb linkage, firewall or whatever. All of which are conductive, and that's why the fuse blew. Twice.
Moral and lesson: this was an excellent opportunity for a under-hood fire after some miles and friction wear the choke contact through the filter can. The gas line and filter have been rerouted/relocated and the choke contact insulated.
Now maybe this weekend I can mess with the front carb and if my present luck holds, put it right.
Charlie