Engine cuts out when idle

[Shaneob218]

Afternoon,

Would anyone have any suggestions on what time do next?

I have cleaned the jets in the carburetor for my fiat ducato 1987 and replaced all the gaskets but now the van won't run on idle only when the choke is on or if I sit and rev. It was running fine until I did this

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[Podney]

Maybe clean the carb out again?

 

[Shaneob218]

I have tried that today and still no joy...... it ran for 2 days fine then started to play up

 

[Beryl]

Did you tune it after putting it back on? A rebuilt carb will rarely settle back to exactly where it was beforehand. You could try half a turn out on the idle jet and see whether it settles down.

Could also be an air leak making it run lean at idle - harder to find and fix, we used to get a piece of flexible tubing, one end at your ear and then go round the carb listening for sucking/whistling in places it shouldn't be.

Full disclosure - not an expert, and at least 40 years since I rebuilt a carburettor!

 

[Phill D]

It sounds like a lack of fuel, ( choke out etc).
As a start to fault find..
Check the level in the float chamber of the car ( unless it's the SU type)
Also that sufficient fuel is available from the fuel pump to the carb.
Then check the idle jet.

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[Shaneob218]

Did you tune it after putting it back on? A rebuilt carb will rarely settle back to exactly where it was beforehand. You could try half a turn out on the idle jet and see whether it settles down.

Could also be an air leak making it run lean at idle - harder to find and fix, we used to get a piece of flexible tubing, one end at your ear and then go round the carb listening for sucking/whistling in places it shouldn't be.

Full disclosure - not an expert, and at least 40 years since I rebuilt a carburettor!

Thank you I will try and locate it and give it ago

 

[Winger]

Shane. I’ve sent you a PM

 

[GeoffnDee]

As well as checking that the pilot jet is clear and there is not any air leaks at the carb. , check that any vacuum pipes (brake servo/distributor advance-retard ) that are going to the inlet manifold and carb are fitted ok.

 

[Spriddler]

Could also be an air leak making it run lean at idle - harder to find and fix, we used to get a piece of flexible tubing, one end at your ear and then go round the carb listening for sucking/whistling in places it shouldn't be.

With the engine running I spray WD40 around the carb/inlet manifold. An air leak will show up by the engine faltering and/or a smoky zorst.
Obviously, since the OP's won't run at normal idle speed he'll have to adjust the tickover to a faster speed.

 

[jockaneezer]

Any particular reason why you stripped the carb in the first place ?

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[Shaneob218]

I put a new air filter on with new pipes. When I had them off I noticed the carb was full of carbon so I decided to give it a good clean and replace the gaskets.it ran fine for 2 days and then decided it didn't want to tick over

 

[Phill D]

I put a new air filter on with new pipes. When I had them off I noticed the carb was full of carbon so I decided to give it a good clean and replace the gaskets.it ran fine for 2 days and then decided it didn't want to tick over

simply put ( please excuse me i am not trying to be smart ) to tick over it need air and fuel in the correct quantities. that is controlled by the idler jet and adjuster screw.
if that is set correctly then there is either a restriction preventing sufficient fuel or there is excess air from a leaky gasket or vaccum pipe or some other point.

when you say it ran fine for 2 days how far did you drive and how often were you at idle? did you fuel up in those 2 dyas and possibly disturb some crap which is now in one of the card jets?

 

[pappajohn]

I noticed the carb was full of carbon

There should be no sign of carbon build up in any part of the induction system.
If it was carbon you have a more serious problem than poor idle.

 

[Shaneob218]

Didn't go far due to traffic ( van was running for roughly half hour each day) but when I was sat in the traffic it was fine.

I haven't put any fuel as it has half a tank

I took the jets off again today and re cleaned them just incase any of them became blocked and no difference

 

[Spriddler]

Didn't go far due to traffic ( van was running for roughly half hour each day) but when I was sat in the traffic it was fine.

Sorted, then?

I took the jets off again today and re cleaned them just in case any of them became blocked and no difference

So not fine?
Or is the problem intermittent?

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[airwave]

sounds like a lack of fuel,

Could also be running lean , choke would richen the mixture .

 

[jockaneezer]

I used to have one of those Gunson Colour Tune kits (?) it had a spark plug with a glass window that let you see the colour of the actual combustion in the cylinder, handy for setting up the fuel/air ratios !

 

[airwave]

Gunson Colour Tune kits

Good grief , i remember them . I think they still about .

 

[cyberyacht]

Like carburettors, I'm surprised any left in either the wild or captivity.

 

[airwave]

Like carburettors, I'm surprised any left in either the wild or captivity.

Got one on my motorcycle , new in 2017 . They introduced fuel injection a couple of years later , on a 125 , like really !

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[pagey]

I've got one had it about 30 years