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MG MGA - Float Bowl Frustration


Uggggh!

I have been working on my fuel system to get the car ready for its first start-up in 15 years. I thought I was there, turned the key, listened to the fuel pump crank and then watched a fairly heavy stream of fuel squirt from the first float bowl.

It's appears to be leaking between the banjo and the bowl lid. It's a new banjo as well as new gaskets. The bolt it tight. I removed the filter and tried it again but still no luck.

I can hear air leaking out and see bubbles after I shut everything down. My only thought is that the threads in the bowl top are stripped. I'm not sure where to go from here short of ordering a replacement lid for $90 bucks.

Any thoughts?

Jeff Bennett

I would remove the lid and gently sand the face where the banjo sits with some wet and dry to make sure it is really flat. I used copper gaskets here also instead of the standard fibre ones. If the bolt is tight, it can't be stripped. Just nake sure that everything is really clean and flat, free of scores or bumps, and it should seal.

Did you replace the gasket between the lid and float chamber?
dominic clancy

Thanks Dominic. Yes, I did replace the lid gasket as well. I'll try sanding and using a copper gasket.

Jeff Bennett

Jeff - The gasket between the banjo fitting and the top of the float bowl lid has to be fluted so that air will pass through it, into the fitting and out the over flow tube (fuel will also flow out through the same path if needle valve doesn't close). If a plain gasket is installed in that spot, the vent/overflow path is closed and pressure will build up in the float chamber, causing the carburetor to flood. If you have the proper fluted gasket in place, then you need check that the overflow pipe is not plugged.

The second issue here is the fuel level in the float bowl filling up to the top of the lid, the needle is not shutting the flow of fuel off as it should. You could be having a situation where the float lever is dropping so far that it traps the needle in the lower position and can't push it up to close off the fuel flow. If this turns out to be the problem, the article I have sent you my be useful to you. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

The banjo fittings are polarized One side is flat with a small bore hole that will align the fitting and gasket with the bolt. The other side is counterbored. The banjo bolt has a short cylindrical shoulder under the head that will fit within the counterbore. The flat side of the banjo fitting has to go against the carb cover where you will see the gasket in between. If you put the counterbore side toward the carb cover, the ridge edge of the fitting may contact the cover and prevent the gasket from sealing.
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 05/01/2008 and 06/01/2008

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