Holley carb leaks gas

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Valiant63

Valiant63

Early A-body Valiants
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My Holley carburetor was rebuilt in January and it worked OK for a few months but now it’s leaking horribly. Why?? it leaks from the back of the front bowl area where the tube is inserted to provide gas to the rear secondaries. Why does it pour gas out of there now when it didn’t leak there before??

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I had a five or six second video showing the gas squirting out of there while the engine is running, but it doesn’t appear that I can load the video onto the site.

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There are small o rings on that tube that seal the tube into the bowls. I haven't "been into" a Holley 4bbl in at least 30 years, but I've been in' a lot of 'em. Has anyone had it apart? Maybe the O ring got displaced or damaged. It's a good idea when you install them, to put a small amount of "anything" on them. Oil, light grease, vaseline
 
I'm going to guess the either the seals were not rated for today's fuel, float level is way off or failed needle and seat. Possible too much fuel pressure?
 
Can I fix this without taking the carb back off? I assume I can take the front bowl off and put a correct size O-ring in there around that tube. I can barely reach this. ( I use a wheelchair and can’t stand. I can’t take the carb off by myself anymore)
 
You can do it with the carb on there. Yes o rings in there. Watch the lever for the accelerator pump, it will want to flip over and then the bowl will have to come off again.
 
Put a Carter or Edel carb on it & you won't have that problem.........
 
Valiant63 said:
My Holley carburetor was rebuilt in January and it worked OK for a few months but now it’s leaking horribly. Why?? it leaks from the back of the front bowl area where the tube is inserted to provide gas to the rear secondaries. Why does it pour gas out of there now when it didn’t leak there before??

View attachment 1715743323

I had a five or six second video showing the gas squirting out of there while the engine is running, but it doesn’t appear that I can load the video onto the site.

View attachment 1715743326
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Normally those o-rings leak quickly if they are installed wrong. Put a dab of vaseline on them then be sure to insert them straight into the transfer tube hole to be sure they don't twist. Since the carb was so recently rebuilt, likely the o-ring was twisted and finally split causing the leak.
 
did you do a jet change ? they will come off if not careful
 
Those o rings can be replaced with the carb on the car. Maybe you can recruit some help as getting the tube and accelerator pump arm lined up from a wheelchair could pose a major challenge.
 
Valiant63 said:
Why?? it leaks from the back of the front bowl area where the tube is inserted to provide gas to the rear secondaries.
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Valiant63 said:
I had a five or six second video showing the gas squirting out of there while the engine is running,
Click to expand...

I'll try to answer the why.
If its coming out from the tube connections:
When the engine is running the fuel in the lines leading to the bowls is under pressure.
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When the engine is off, the lines remain at the running pressure but over time some fuel evaporates from the bowls and the inlet valve opens. That relieves the pressure.

Fuel inside the bowl is at atmospheric pressure. The only time you might see a leak that is squirting fuel from inside a carb is if the inlet valve is stuck open. When someone earlier mentioned float, that's what operates the inlet valve.

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Not to take away from the great advice already given, but check out Harold Demes on YouTube. I learned about him here, and his carb videos are very thorough.
 
Thank you gentlemen. I have been dealing with a kidney stone last week and didn’t get back out into the garage until just yesterday.
Also, it’s at least a 10 minute job for me to find the tools I need.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Those little O-rings SUCK. They make some little boots not that wrap all the way around the ends of the tube and insert into the holes in the float bowls. Why the worry about removing the carburetor? It's a ten minute or less job.

Here are the seals. They seal WAY better than those O-rings ever did.

Holley Carburetor Carb Transfer Tube Rubber Seal O-ring 2 PACK HOL-108-97 A58 | eBay
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Thank you Rusty. I just ordered these today and they should be coming in a week. Hopefully it fixes that issue. Thanks so much for making it easy for me by posting the eBay link for me. Rob
 
Valiant63 said:
Thank you Rusty. I just ordered these today and they should be coming in a week. Hopefully it fixes that issue. Thanks so much for making it easy for me by posting the eBay link for me. Rob
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Sho nuff. When you get them, install them into the float bowls first. Lube up the transfer tube ends with a little spit and they will slide right in.
 
Valiant63 said:
Thank you gentlemen. I have been dealing with a kidney stone last week and didn’t get back out into the garage until just yesterday.
Also, it’s at least a 10 minute job for me to find the tools I need.
Click to expand...


A kidney stone is a real mother bear. Hope you are better. I know they told me once you get one you’ll probably have another. That did happen in my case. Those buggers hurt.
 
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