priming carburetor - better way?

Get an inexpensive oil squirt gun:

Fill it with gasoline, then squirt about 4 ounces of gasoline in the
carburetor's front vent tube.

After you're done doing that, move the throttle a few times with your hand,
while holding the choke open, see if the accelerator pump is squirting
fuel.good luck, and don't gun the engine, for at least ten minutes of idling
it.

RK

I think you'll need a float if it has sat for several years.

G
"Jim Beaver" <jumblejim.DeleteThis@prodigy.spam> wrote in message
news:MZ8oj.4803$J41.2046@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...
> My 57 Chevy's been sitting a while and the carb needs priming before it
> will start. Is there a better way than pouring gasoline down its throat?
> It's been years since I've had to prime a carburetor and I suspect there
> may be a product or method that makes this safer and/or easier.
>
> Jim Beaver
 >> Stay informed about: priming carburetor - better way? 

How long has it been sitting?

If it's been close to a year or longer, you may need to drain the fuel
tank and fill it with fresh gasoline as it might have "turned".
Gasoline breaks down into a varnish when it sits for long periods. It
leaves a sticky goo film on all the internal carburetor parts.

If it's just been a few weeks or so, pouring a small amount down the
throat of the carb works just fine. Hopefully your fuel pump is
working. You don't want to run down the battery endlessly cranking.

Forrest
 >> Stay informed about: priming carburetor - better way? 

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310027485610&ss...eName=S
"Jim Beaver" <jumblejim.RemoveThis@prodigy.spam> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:E19oj.4805$J41.2069@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...
> My 57 Chevy's been sitting a while and won't start, so I figure the carb needs
> priming, as it was in fine shape before. Is there a better way than just
> pouring gas down its throat? I suspect in the many years since I last primed
> a carburetor that something has come along to improve or make safer the
> process, either a product or technique. Suggestions?
>
> Jim Beaver
 >> Stay informed about: priming carburetor - better way? 

Here's a thought . . .

In the "boat" realm of things, they generally use a portable fuel tank.
The tanks are available in 3 gallon or 6 gallon sizes (WalMart has the 6
gallon size and Academy carries the 3 gallon size--both about $25.00
range or less).

In the area at WalMart where the tanks are, there are lots of
accessories for the fuel tank. One is a "primer bulb" that is put
between the fuel tank and the boat engine (as in outboard engine).
There are sizes for 5/16" and 3/8" fuel lines. So, about 5 or 6 feet of
rubber fuel line, the primer bulb, a few hose clamps, plus some gas, and
then you can attach the boat fuel tank set-up to the fuel pump of the
engine (blocking off the car's fuel supply line at the same time). This
will allow you to start and run the engine on "fresh" fuel rather than
what's in the vehicle's fuel tank.

On the earlier carbs, the "bowl vents" can be used to put fuel in the
float bowl too. but that takes some finesse to not also pour it down the
carb throats at the same time.

ALSO, in the various accessories for boat-specific things, there's a
pump kit to do oil changes with. It's about $20.00 and amounts to a
suction pump with dedicated hoses attached to it . . . smaller line goes
down the dipstick tube and the other line goes into a jug to catch the
old oil. You can also buy similar suction pumps from Harbor Freight for
about $10.00 or less, but you'll have to assemble the lines it comes
with to do the same thing. Or even in the automotive area at WalMart.
It can take a little while to do the pump action, but you will only have
to get under the car to change the oil filter that way.

Enjoy!

C-BODY
 >> Stay informed about: priming carburetor - better way?