Sterling carb wont idle
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
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From: East Palestine, Oh
If the throttle body is from a different year than the main body, it will have idle problems. Sterling made these kinds of swaps (mistakes) in the early days and has since figured out the problem. So I suggest swapping throttle bodies from each year group until it idles. That'd be 81-82, 83 by itself, 84-85. So you have three choices. 
Edit: I gotta say I ran into this problem on Hitachis as well. I had this one carb that just didn't idle but everything else was fine. I had swapped the throttle bodies because the original was water damaged. I left it on a 13B I sold last year. It was good enough to get it running but the new owner swapped in a Nikki (the manifold already had the Nikki stud pattern) and all is well now.
Edit: I gotta say I ran into this problem on Hitachis as well. I had this one carb that just didn't idle but everything else was fine. I had swapped the throttle bodies because the original was water damaged. I left it on a 13B I sold last year. It was good enough to get it running but the new owner swapped in a Nikki (the manifold already had the Nikki stud pattern) and all is well now.
This is the best news anyone has given me yet! I KNEW someone had to know something that I didn't.
The question now is: how can i tell the differences in throttle bodies? Even better, how can i tell what year main body I have? I have a strong feeling that the answer is "You cant" but I'm hoping lol.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
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From: Grand Rapids Michigan
If the throttle body is from a different year than the main body, it will have idle problems. Sterling made these kinds of swaps (mistakes) in the early days and has since figured out the problem. So I suggest swapping throttle bodies from each year group until it idles. That'd be 81-82, 83 by itself, 84-85. So you have three choices.
Edit: I gotta say I ran into this problem on Hitachis as well. I had this one carb that just didn't idle but everything else was fine. I had swapped the throttle bodies because the original was water damaged. I left it on a 13B I sold last year. It was good enough to get it running but the new owner swapped in a Nikki (the manifold already had the Nikki stud pattern) and all is well now.
Edit: I gotta say I ran into this problem on Hitachis as well. I had this one carb that just didn't idle but everything else was fine. I had swapped the throttle bodies because the original was water damaged. I left it on a 13B I sold last year. It was good enough to get it running but the new owner swapped in a Nikki (the manifold already had the Nikki stud pattern) and all is well now.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 573
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, MN
that does explain a lot... the "bad" carb i had like this was a 2009 build!Didn't mean to take this on a tangent, sorry. Hope you found the problem you were looking for!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 5
From: East Palestine, Oh
I tried loking at all of sterlings posts too and nothing shows at all. Not even his last online time. Oh well, im just happy i atleast have a lead ln this. Now its just to determine which main body i have and which throttle body. I really really hop they are mis matched and i can just toss another one on there. Is there an easy way to tell?
kentetsu, I recall that very post you're talking about, but have no clue how to find it now. Maybe the forum ate it?
So I'm glad I could paraphrase it and help somebody. As for how to tell throttle bodies etc, the only outward signs are the 84-85 had two additional nipples on top of the air horn next to the air filter lip. Also the vent solenoid changed size and got smaller in later years, but not sure when. I think all 81-82 had the big solenoid. 83? But all 84-85 had the small solenoid. Hmm, maybe the oddball 83 has a small solenoid but lacks the two extra nipples at the air horn! Oh I sloothed my *** off on that one.
So I'm glad I could paraphrase it and help somebody. As for how to tell throttle bodies etc, the only outward signs are the 84-85 had two additional nipples on top of the air horn next to the air filter lip. Also the vent solenoid changed size and got smaller in later years, but not sure when. I think all 81-82 had the big solenoid. 83? But all 84-85 had the small solenoid. Hmm, maybe the oddball 83 has a small solenoid but lacks the two extra nipples at the air horn! Oh I sloothed my *** off on that one.
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
haha figures, mine was a 2006. I do miss that carb though, and it sounds like some real improvements have been made. Does anyone still make them or is there any word that Sterling will start again? I have to pass smog now but I'd be willing to swap it on and off, and I wonder how hard it would be to make one that could pass a smog test...
Didn't mean to take this on a tangent, sorry. Hope you found the problem you were looking for!
Didn't mean to take this on a tangent, sorry. Hope you found the problem you were looking for!
for instance, you could use the smaller throttle plate screws, and cut the throttle shafts down, and you could smooth the parts on the main body that are wonky. you can certainly ditch the choke. you could also do the secondary venturi, although i think the primary venturis the jetting, and the carb linkage and emissions stuff would stay stock.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 5
From: East Palestine, Oh
is there a difference in the bare main bodies that i would be able to tell which one i have with out just trying different throttle bodies until it idles? Probably not since everything has been removed and blocked off, but you never know.
I couldn't tell you. But then the main housing is what's modifed for 22mm venturis so it's best to find an air horn and throttle body to match your main body. Just grind down your throttle shafts a bit (while installed) and call it good. You don't want to introduce leaks down there by monkeying with it, as I'm sure has happened on some Sterlings. Luck of the draw, right? It's bound to happen sooner or later. Does he test every carb? Obviously not when this many people are having problems with them.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
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From: East Palestine, Oh
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...1#post11038046
My carbs dont leak
(sorry, my how to thread isnt getting much interest lol)
I guess ill just begin the hunt for the three different throttle bodies lol i have what ever one is on the sterling and two 83 TB's. But ill bet i dont have the one i need, that would be my luck lol
My carbs dont leak
(sorry, my how to thread isnt getting much interest lol)
I guess ill just begin the hunt for the three different throttle bodies lol i have what ever one is on the sterling and two 83 TB's. But ill bet i dont have the one i need, that would be my luck lol
Ah, you're the guy who added an o-ring. Yeah I couldn't remember as I only glanced at it and decided it's not for me. My ignorance I suppose.
Anyway glad I could help clarify your probable year mismatch(es).
Anyway glad I could help clarify your probable year mismatch(es).
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 5
From: East Palestine, Oh
digging this one back up lol, i finally found someone that could bring their stock nikki carb over. Tossed it on, did a little tuning, and it idled rock solid at 750 RPM. At least now I know lol
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,416
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From: East Palestine, Oh
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pulled it apart again.... (i can do this sleeping with one arm now...) cleaned it, made a new gasket, blew air through the idle passages and made 100% sure they were clean (again) and it works now! The A/F screw is damn near all the way out but it starts good, doesn't bog, and doesn't stall when coming to a stop. The RX7's user friendliness went up about 53 points!
I pulled it apart again.... (i can do this sleeping with one arm now...) cleaned it, made a new gasket, blew air through the idle passages and made 100% sure they were clean (again) and it works now! The A/F screw is damn near all the way out but it starts good, doesn't bog, and doesn't stall when coming to a stop. The RX7's user friendliness went up about 53 points!
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