1stGenJake

The rundown.

85' 5spd 12a

emissions stripped

new sterling

msd 6al direct fire

changed fuel filter last week (simply because i had a new one)

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Sat for 4 months in the garage, been running well enough for a month with horrible gas mileage.

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Symtoms

• 5 miles to the gallon
  
• wont idle or stay running without pumping the gas (happened one day at redline)
  
• gas gauge doesnt work, hasnt worked for at least a year
  
• tach jumps randomly below 3k then after doesnt work at all. it seems to work better with electric acc. on e.g. the heater, headlights ect.

i did run out of gas a week ago and let it sit for two days. (not trying to start it, didnt need to drive)

So heres what im thinkin. tach and idle may be same problem... trailing ignitor? which could also be my gas mileage problem?

could rust be in the tank causing the gauge to malfuntion?

one last thing... should i upgrade my fuel pump for the sterling???

Any help is always greatly appreciated, Im waiting a on a paycheck to start checking/replacing so i thought i would ask for some advice first. Again thanks for any help.

-Jake

RustyRacer

Did Sterling take off his private forum? I thought people were supposed to direct their questions to him through there.

Sounds like you need to get your trailing wires connected better. That way you can tell what RPM you're idling at.

You're supposed to upgrade your fuel pump for the sterling and have a regulator.

Have you adjusted your idle?

You've got a carburetor, its not getting a signal to dump more fuel in like a FI car would have, so you just need to adjust your idle and your right foot for better fuel economy.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

inspect the ignition system and test for spark on teh leading and trailing side. check fuel flow and or pressure. run compression check.

Kentetsu

It's not that they have to contact Sterling through his forum/site, more a matter of getting specialized attention. Sterling still visits this forum, but while he is working nearly full time on his website, that is where he's spending the majority of his time.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

Check your electrical grounds.

RustyRacer

Well I think the reason he wants them on his site is because it makes anyone hesitant when they read all of these threads on here about similar issues. I know he's doing a great job, he wants to give the best customer service but then people bounce over here and complain.

Sterling

Did you just poke me with a stick for no reason, Rusty?
Gee, that's funny. I don't recall 1rstGenJake as a member on my forum. With only 20 members, I seriously doubt he "bounced over here" for help.
It's not my fault if people don't read the instructions for my product. It's not my fault when people don't ask me directly for help even when I've stated dozens of times how customer service is what separates me from other carburetor builders. It's not my fault people don't follow instructions specifically laid out right on the order page of my website stating, "Email me directly with any problems. Be nice to me and don't take problems directly to the forums. Give me first dibs on helping you."

As far as people being "hesitant" because they see other Sterling Nikki owners having trouble, I'm assuming you mean potential customers of mine contemplating the purchase of one. If a thirty day money back warranty along with my open, public commitment to customer satisfaction isn't enough to quell your fears, then don't buy one; -chances are you're too difficult to satisfy anyway. And if you're weighing in all the people "bouncing over here" with Sterling Nikki problems and you can't tell the difference between someone who knows what they are doing and someone who clearly has no clue and didn't follow instructions on my website, definitely don't buy one; -chances are you also have no clue and will take up so much of my time that my sale to you will ultimately net me a profit of 5 bucks an hour just because you don't want to read the instructions either.

I'm a no bullshit guy, Rusty. I'll help anyone and everyone that asks me, whether they bought a carb from me or not. But I can't MAKE someone read and follow the instructions for my product. I seriously don't have a problem spending extra time with a customer, but if I had to worry about every hiccup that happens with a Sterling Nikki as being a liability on the integrity of my competence, I just wouldn't bother.
Obviously, you've never been to my website, as all the instructions are right there. And if they fail you, there's a nifty lil' forum you can post your question on. Plus there's that whole email thing.

Oh, and then, of course, there's the world's largest rotary Internet forum, filled with really helpful guys such as yourself.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

i will say that Sterling is a straight shooter with phenominal knowledge when it comes to the 7and nikki carbs. he is a senior member and his information and knowledge are extremely trustworthy. this guy knows what he's talking about and if my house were blue and he told me that it was green i'd believe him.

RustyRacer

Sterling... wow. I meant nothing bad about what I said. I have been to your website, I think you're doing a great job and I want to get a carb from you. The way you posted makes me feel quite offended! Whether you meant to or not. That doesn't mean I have changed my mind though. Its just that I have recently started seeing threads on here with recent purchases of your mod. nikki's and I thought those issues should be directed to you than on here.

You've helped me in the past with my carb issues. This is the most generous car forum I've ever been on. And for that I thank all of you.

Sterling

Well if that's the case, then my apologies, Rusty. I get defensive easily because I simply can't do any more to help people with their carburetor issues other than present what I know for them to read. I'm one of those "never say 'Search, Noob!'" kind of guys, so when people don't read what I've presented and then tell everyone they have a problem with my carb, then I'm stuck between saying "Go read my damned website!" ("Search, Noob!") to the first guy, and defending myself to everyone else by saying, "No the carb isn't really a piece of crap, the guy just didn't read my website. Honest!".
I just can't do it anymore. I mean, for Christ's sake, this other guy on here has stopped contact with me, and is now asking people here if his transmission bell housing inspection plate is a potential vacuum leak! I mean, WTF?!
It's really unfair that I should have to chase down customers here with Sterling Nikki problems when I have said so many times, "Contact me with your troubles, folks!", and even put a forum up for them to use. Then when someone (you) suggests that I might be concerned that these sorts of things will stain my rep, it's like, I'm so far beyond that point, that it doesn't even matter anymore. It's just one of those things that I can't do anything more about, and nobody seems to realize how much I have actually done to try to keep that from happening.

So I'm frustrated, and I didn't mean to erupt on you. I'm sorry.

Kentetsu

Sterling learning to set up and run a website = grumpiness...

Really though, Dennis has been great with me. I did not buy my carb directly from him, so he has never received a single red cent from me. But despite that, he walked me through the setup and troubleshooting and eventually assisted me in identifying an ignition issue that was causing the issues. And he didn't even call me stupid after that.

A quick note on performance and then I'll get out of here: We had a meet last Saturday, and there was a nicely modified TII present. We ended up cruising on some back roads, hit some twisties, and "stretched out legs" a bit by opening the throttles. Later that night, the driver of the TII made two very nice comments:

1. "I can't believe how quick your car is".
2. "By the time my turbo spooled up, you were already gone".

Member Perfect_Circle also drove my car that day and commented on the performance of the carb and suspension. At the first turn that we got to, he cranked the wheel and punched it, and damn near put us into the ditch. Once he was accustomed to the power response, he had no trouble maintaining high speeds through the twisties on that (deserted) stretch of road. Overall, we had a great time.

Sterling

-Believe it or not, I don't actually pay Kentetsu. He just assumed the role of "sales rep" for me all on his own. (...And PR guy for when I go ballistic as well, apparently.)

I offer a humble apology to Rusty and everyone else. I have been working on "tweaking" my website, always thinking that the things on my "tweak list" should take just a little time, only to find that I've gone & blown the whole friggin day on just a few of them. I've spent ridiculous hours these past two weeks on it, learning this crap as I go, and I'm getting just about no sleep between that and trying to get carb work done.
The whole idea is to 'automate" some of the more basic and redundant information that I often spend 4 to 6 hours a week giving out in a one to one email communication. I figure, if I can blow some time now and spill everything I know into one spot (and make a forum for all the rest that I don't know yet), then I can spend less time on emails and more time on carbs. (-And many here know I need all the time I can get for the carbs!)

I just can't afford to have someone do the site for me even though I believe it's essential, and it's been a big fat pain in my ***. If it doesn't smell like gas or beer, and isn't made of metal, it's no fun. (Yes, I put a drop of gas on the old lady and make her wear chain mail undies. Yes, I do.)
So last night, here, I was already frustrated and felt like my efforts were just a big waste. It was just me in a pissy mood.

Later on I had some beer and popped a few Midol, and today I feel fine.

So once again, I'm sorry folks, particularly to you, Rusty.

Kentetsu

Lol, I wish I got paid to play rep for you (and Billy, and Lucas products, and Seafoam, etc.)...

But hell, this is a forum. A place where we come to exchange knowledge. If you find something that works, or a business that does things right, then you are supposed to share that information. That's the entire point of having a forum in the first place, right?

I've been dealing with Sterling for years now, and know for a fact he's an alright guy. I don't mind sticking up for him when he skips his midol now and then...

bstrange99

Sterling, I called Dr. Phil and read him that post. He said you mentioned a LOT of things that weren't your fault, and not one thing that was your fault. He wants you to call him.

On a better note, I have to defend the sterling carb to the death. I'm also one that didn't purchase my carb directly from him, but did purchase an entire car primarily because of the sterling nikki. It's an upgrade I'll never regret. I spent hours yesterday reading on his website, and will continue to do so until I've read it cover to cover, and then maybe start over.
If you're having any issue with you car, carb or otherwise, I suggest you go try to absorb some of his knowledge. I just hope my brain's big enough.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

Hell, I don't even HAVE a Stirling, and I've mined his site for valuable info. He's one hoopy frood, and really knows where his towel is.

I'd love to have one, but at current can't justify it until the People's Republic of California desides to pick a set of rules and stick with them for more than a year at a time.

1stGenJake

thread snatchers...

pyromaniac9912

Hey! about that whole inspection plate thing I just wanted to make sure thats what it was.

I wanna make it clean that Dennis is right if i would have payed more attention to what was on his website and kept in better contact that problem would have been solved weeks ago....though I do feel like I was attacked a little there. I can understand your frustration, but I Love the service and help I've got from Dennis, and I LOVE my new sterling nikki.

I'm a Newb to the whole rx7 thing I donno how many times I can say that.

perfect_circle

i think what he was trying to say was that the OP should have contacted you before posting here. thats what i was going to say but all of this qas already posted. because ive been spending alot of time on your page because im looking to get a new carb, and yours is seeming like the best option. youll probably be hearing from me soon.

jinxed4dub

iTrader: (7)

yup, savin my pennys for one also

1stGenJake

Point of interest, I did email you Dennis when I first had some questions and you never responded so, now I am going elsewhere, and my question here was not even about the sterling, just listing what mods are on my car. So shame on both of you, especially for not reading and for thread snatching. its called a PM...

Thanks for the help mazdaverx713b and DivinDriver.

Sterling

Jake I'm sorry for jacking the thread.
It's pretty damned rare that a carburetor email gets by me. If you emailed me and I didn't catch it, I apologize.
I also don't recall selling you a carb.
You also asked this question:-which indicates to me that you had not been in an email dialog with me or read my website.
So if you never bothered to read my website, and you have one of the carbs I built but you didn't buy it from me (-at least, I don't THINK you did...), and I don't recall ever getting an email from you, and you post on here about an idle problem, what am I supposed to think? If you still are unconvinced that I had any business in this thread, that's fine, but you should at least be able to understand where I was coming from.


And Doug, I didn't mean to be a *****, but you came here first, despite my every attempt at maintaining customer service. You also either didn't bother to read the idle tuning instructions on my site, or didn't understand them and decided not to ask me for clarification. I was frustrated because I just put a whole bunch of effort into making it easy for folks. Hence the rant.

That's all. I'm done with the thread-jacking now.

pyromaniac9912

It was a little of both not understanding and I think I skipped some of the reading on your website cause when I went back and read everything, problem solved.

1stGenJake

I did buy the carb from you directly. And it was worth every penny. I also have no problem with your customer service (the hand written note was nice), and honestly its not your problem if I go here and ask questions, and I wouldn't get worked up if some do. From that, I read on your site, but to be honest here you were doing some serious work on it and it seemed like half the pages were empty, but I may have missed it (and I went to it today and it is looking nice!) And Im not upset about the email or anything else.

Not directed to anyone in particular BUT the main focus of the original thread topic was my idle, which I believe to be an ignition problem, (ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STERLING EXCEPT THAT I HAVE ONE...)

So I guess from now ill stay away from saying Sterling Nikki at all. It seems to cause a lot of pretentious people to jump out of their chairs and start some ****.

Thanks again.

1stGenJake

Just so no one has to scroll alllllll the way back to the top to see my point...

Kentetsu

I just read through the entire thread again, and holy thread derailment Batman!!!

I'm sorry man, but what were you saying? Something about idle, and um,,, what else was there?

Double check the plug on the trailing ignitor. Sometimes the connections will get rusty, bent, or get knocked off. But, the lousey gas mileage has me wondering if maybe somebody switched the tach wire to the leading coil. How much has been tampered with on this car? Have you owned it long? Easiest thing to do would be pull a leading spark plug (or plug an extra into the lead if you have one) and see if you have spark. Check the rear too. Oh ****, just remembered you're running MSD. I've got no experience with that, so it may invalidate everything I've just written. I dunno...

Double check the battery connections, make sure they are clean and tight.

Running her dry like that could have led you to suck something up in the gas tank. It's not hard to perform a fuel volume test, have you done that yet? That would cut the number of suspects in half, just knowing the answer to that test.

Could also check the filter screens under the banjo bolts on the carb (at the fuel inlet). If something made it all the way through, it might end up there. Hopefully nothing went past there and clogged some important thing inside the carby...

Okay, actually two tests and we'll be about 75% closer to solving the mystery.

1. Fuel volume
2. Spark at the plugs

And for the other questions.....

Okay, yes you'll want to upgrade the fuel pump for the Sterling. I'll post back tomorrow with a link to a writeup on that, or you can look for it in the Archives.

Have you read the instructions over at Sterling's "Idle Tuning"? Have you already tried to set the idle according to that?