Hi All

Would really appreciate any ideas on what's going on with my 1980 12 a.

The other day it started to die on the highway (felt like fuel starvation) but cleared itself - replaced the fuel filter and all seemed fine. Then it died completeley. Thought probably muck in the float chambers so cleaned them out (and yes tons of grunge in there). Great back in business and all running well then yesterday it died again. A couple of minutes of cranking - firing - dying and then it burst back into life...

So what's the likely problem - more muck in the fuel system - but where? Could it be electrical - but what would it likey be?

Any suggestions would be great

Many thx

 

Water in the fuel?
Pump fuel into a see through container and see if there is a layer of water on the bottom.
Did you just fill up?

 

Hi

I will check - though don't remember noticing any when i cleaned out the float chambers - pumped some gas into a jug to use for cleaning the carb and i think it was OK - but will check again

Thx

 

i would rechecl your fuel filter. seen as how you are in canadia, you may have a rusty tank, and i know that will constantly fill the fuel filter. you could also do a volume test on your fuel pump, to see if it is putting out enough fuel. maybe even check the wires at the pump(below the driver side bin) that would explain it going away, and returning. just something to tide you over unil the pros get here, and tell you what the problem is.

 

Next time it starts acting up watch your tach, if it drops down to zero just before it dies you have a bad ignitor.

 

Its sounds like a fuel problem since it goes away when you do something to the fuel system. Definately volume test the pump, you can check for water at the same time. Also as PC said, look at the filter again. If its dirty already the trouble may be the pickup in the tank. My 83 did the same thing and my problem was in the tank. The rust and scale was blocking the pickup. When I unhooked the fuel lines to check the carb, replace the filter, etc. the fuel would flow back into the tank and partly clear the blockage, then when tested everything seemed fine. Hook it back up and a mile or 2 down the road it started to die.

 

Thx All - Really sounds like a fuel/tank problem - will also check the ignitor - Tom

 

Had the same type of issues on a 79. Turned out, there was a layer of scum inside the tank, and it oozed it's way into the recess under the pickup tube.
I ended up using an acid based cleaner inside the tank, followed by mulitple soap and water wash and rinse cycles. I don't recommend using this extreme measure, unless all else fails. Had the tank not been in great shape, aside from the tar-like scum inside it, I probably would have just found a replacement.

 

So generally you guys seem to think its a fuel rather than an electrical problem? (apart from checking the ignitor)

 

Definitly. Since it runs, stops, sits, then restarts, that's a good fuel line/tank indicator. When the engine is off, this crud tends to run backwards when the engine is off. Whe restarted, it gets sucked up again. I fought this issue for weeks until I figured mine out.

Since you have gotten crud in your carb, check the internal carb filters too. There is one on each banjo bolt and some have cone shaped ones on the needle/seat assembly.

 

Thx Guys - I will check for muck in all possible places - Much appreciated