Flooding SU Carburettors

[RoverP6B]

In response to a question posed by ChrisJC on a different thread within this forum.

On each of the three occassions that I can recall it happening to my SU HIF6 carburettors, petrol would, without any prior warning, begin pouring from one of the float bowl overflow pipes, which luckily directed fuel onto the road, and not all over the hot engine!!

On each occassion, the cause was that the float itself had filled with petrol, sinking well below the 40 thou plus or minus 20 thou float level, and as a result overfilling the bowls.

On the last occassion, I had just overhauled both carburettors last July, and only three days after,...petrol poured from one of the overflows. One of my new floats, only purchased days before was half full of petrol!

It is always a very good idea to ensure that the flow bowl overflow pipes are in excellent condition, without splits, and that they will direct petrol onto the road away from the engine. I added pieces of pipe onto their lengths to ensure such a result.

Ron.

[ChrisJC]

I overhauled a set recently and they ran absolutely great for en entire tankful of petrol. I then ran on LPG for a few weeks, and when I tried petrol again I think it was flooding on one carb.

Not sure where the petrol ended up, but there weren't any flames!

Chris.