Just accidentally learned a new way to deflood a first gen.

Remove the plugs and fuel pump fuse as normal, and crank the engine to clear out the flooded fuel…. However, forget to drape the spark plug wires away from the spark plug holes. One crank and FOOOOM! Nice ball of fire followed by flickering flames in the engine bay. Luckily by the time I grabbed the fire extinguisher the fire had burned itself out with no damage.

Does a really nice job of drying out the engine and started right up once the plugs were back in!

I am not telling the kid and wife about this. This one is between me and this forum.

 

lol. next time have your buddy hold the plug wire when you hit the switch.

try to pick a bald guy.

 

Almost setting the car on fire may be the last straw. Anyone got a recommendation on where to send the carb for a rebuild? Need to find someone that knows the issues with new seats/needles sticking and has a workaround. Thanks!

 

I've don't the same thing accidentally. I had a stuck float and fuel came out of the top of the carb. I had the wires laid up and out of the way but one must have draped down and the vapor mist from the plug holes caught the entire carb on fire. It was terrifying to say the least. I managed to get the fire out but it had damaged some of the wiring which I then had to repair. Now, I wrap the plug wire ends in a towel and set them up and out of the way.

As for the new needles sticking in the seats, I think that if you polish the needles it takes care of the issue. Most guys reuse their original needles and seats. I just clean mine in my ultrasonic tank and then polish any oxidation off with a soft wire wheel on a dremel.

 

There were some excellent photos in a thread recently, comparing the nicely machined OEM needles and seats to the somewhat adequately shaped aftermarket parts...

Found it: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati.../#post12517827

 

I saw those pics as I was trouble shooting. Right now I have the original seats, which I polished up with Brasso and a Q tip in a drill. I dropped and lost one of the original needles so have new needles in there…. And those too I polished to a shine. Gonna try reducing fuel pressure and locking the vent solenoid open just to rule out other causes. Do have one glimmer of hope in that yesterdays work revealed a fuel leak at one of the banjos. My wishful thinking is maybe that leak is draining into the top of the snorkel and causing the issue. But as I said, most likely wishful thinking.

 

Yup. Wishful thinking. Fixed the leak at the banjo, but flooded again on test drive. Moving on to propping the vent solenoid open next, and a fuel pressure regulator after that.