replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

im getting frustrated...i just installed a new power valve and same thing. if i keep squirting the accelereator pump i can get it to idle but it won't idle if i dont keep pumping fuel into it. i had the bowl and metering block off all ports seem clear. if i crank the throttle way open it will run at 1500 or higher but wont settle down and idle, any suggestions?

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

If you have to keep squrting the accelerator pump to keep it running, you might have a clogged idle circuit. Dirt in the carb would do that. The ruptured power valve would only apply if the engine was idling poorly due to an excessively rich condition (loading up). Your description now sounds like the idle circuit isn't working. Check for dirt, or some kind of blockage in the carb. I don't know what kind of carb you have, but dirt would be the most likely culprit, although there could be other causes.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

What he said, also make sure the air bleeds are clean.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

im running dominators, where is the idle cicuit i assume the air bleeds are the brass jet on top of the carb. where are the idle circuits for the fuel located? thx,ratman

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Those are the air bleeds. Make sure they are clean, if they are,it sounds like it may be time to take the carb fully apart for a thorough cleaning.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

I'm not that familiar with the dominator (never owned one), but I don't think it's that much different than a 4150 (uses similar metering blocks, and float bowls). I don't have the book in front of me but, the idle mixture screws are in the metering block. If you remove the block, you should be able to trace the idle circuit passages through the block, down to the throttle plate to the small hole by each primary butterfly. You could spray carb cleaner through the passages to make sure nothing is clogged. Also, check the gaskets. I've seen some el cheapo rebuild kits (non Holley), with either the wrong gaskets, or holes not where they should be. Use only original Holley gaskets, and make sure they're the right ones for your carb. This explaination is a little over simplified, and getting the Holley carb book will help a lot. That's it for me tonight. I'm hitting the sack. I want to get up early to clean the boat before I head over to the Glen Cove Poker Run tomorrow (spectator only). I hope you get that carb straightened out.

Paul

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

if you put new gaskets on make sure all your holes line up where they should,i used cheap gaskets and drove myself nuts until it dawned on me,it's goota be the gaskets,sure enough the new ones didn't have as many holes in them as the old ones,they blocked off the passages.dave

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

prowler, are you talking about the base gaskets?

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

I am sure he is referring to block gaskets. I have seen cheap replacements that are garbage. Always use Holley gaskets.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

the carbs were rebuilt by a local shop and he used oem holley kit but there were a chit load of different gaskets in the kit it may have been for doms and 4150 series carbs.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

That's what I said!:)
Just buy the Holley rebuild kit. It will have everything you need and then some.
If anyone is heading out to watch the run by Glen Cove today, I'll be out there with the VHF on ch69.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Ratman,
Pony up the cash and let Nickerson work your carb/carbs over. You will not be disappointed.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

they may have installed the wrong gaskets on the dominators. If so it will not idle. You have to remove the metering blocks & make sure they are the right ones for your carb.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

took the carb completely apart all gaskets seem to be correct used brkae clean to spray through ever fuel port and air port no blockages any where. no what, help mr. wizzard

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

not knowing the history of the repairs that were done or why (the main reason that they were rebuilt in the first place) maybe my past repair experience maybe of some help, maybe not! the carb was on a 369 69 ss camero with a very large duration solid lifter roller cam 267, 274 @ .50 653/675 lift, couldn't get idle below 1500. talked to holley tech line (nice guy) what a help!! he said to open up the secondaries 30thousands, drill 3/32 holes in the primary throttle plates strait out from the idle transfer slots, and put in 4.5 power valves. I did just what he said bolted down the carb adjusted idle speed, and mixture and the car idles at 750 all day long, runs great !! Give them a call they will work with you untill it is right!!

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

abones,
Great idea with the mods, I've seen that work. BUT, I think ratman has twins, and I think he said the other engine is idling ok. Assuming the other carb has not been modified, and the engines are built the same, why is one ok, and one not? It brings us back to an idle circuit problem.
Ratman, did you swap carbs, and see if the problem engine idles ok?
If so, I would pop open the good carb, and compare the gaskets, metering blocks, etc, to make sure they're the same. I've seen parts get changed with parts that aren't totally correct, and this can screw things up royally.
I know you might not want to create a new problem by opening up the good carb, but that's the only way to tell. Again, this is only if swapping carbs clears the problem.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but it's not clear to me what the history is here with this motor. Did it suddenly not want to idle? Was some repair done prior to experiencing this problem? Was the motor just built? Has anyone put a vacuum guage on that motor? BBC's are prone to intake gasket leaks after the blocks are decked, heads are milled and folks machine the intake manifold to fit. Everyone's trying to help, Swapping a good carb for the suspect one will definitely help...

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

both engines were just rebuilt, no machining of any parts was done during the rebild i will try swapping the carbs and see what that does.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Ratman, Did it fix your problem? Could it be a sticking valve?

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Ratman,

Did you try changing out the spark plugs??? A lot of other guys had some good ideas, but I don't think I have seen that mentioned yet in trouble shooting your problem.

A couple weeks ago I had tiny piece of dirt get in the needle/seat of one of my carbs, and was causing fuel to dump in, and was flooding the starboard engine on the secondary side. It would hardly run so, I just quickly shut it down. We cleaned the needle/seat out, reinstalled it set the floats and started it up and it idled fine. However, when I took the boat back out it was missing/popping a bit while on plane---and I noticed the tack needle was quivering a bit. When I got the boat back on the trailer I pulled the spark plugs and they all had that BLACK, fuzzy, sooty look to them so, I replaced them. I am not a carb or engine expert, but I figured I had fouled them out from the week before with the stuck needle/seat/floats---at least that is what I am thinking the problem is. I haven't had it back out to test it yet to see if that is the problem since the plug change, but I will let you know.

Okay---Here's my disclaimer: It's only a suggestion or an idea---it's not set in stone. Anyway, I hope you find the solution without any further headache. :D

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

nope, still wont idle. replaced a roller lifter that didn't feel right when i adjusted them, found a bent intake pushrod, it must have bent when i broke the ex rocker stud on the same cyl. it runs sweet and the valve train is nice and quite as it should be. im gonna dip it in the am. i cant get it up to temp on the hose and the other enginge doesn't like to idle until it warmed up a bit. i let you know the outcome after i run it in the morning.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

Thanks for keeping us posted. I'd still want to put a vacuum guage on it. Keep in mind that if all you have is a vacuum leak, you'll have full power at WOT. A vacuum leak will affect part throttle response as well as idle. We have to assume the motor was timed properly and that the cam sprockets,etc. are in their proper position. Kinda hard doing this long distance...

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

I agree, put the vacuum gage on it. I would also shoot some carb cleaner around the gaskets where the heads and intake manifold meet. If there's a vacuum leak there, the idle should pick up when you spray.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

i switched carbs today and now the other motor wont idle and the one that wouldn't idle now purs like a kitten. i took the carb to locl carb shop for the to wet flow it and figure out what the problem is with the idle circuit. should be good to go when they get er done. planning on doing the st pete sarasota poker run this weekend.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

That's great news. You'll really enjoy the weekend now! I misunderstood your last post (post #21). I thought you swapped carbs and it didn't solve your problem. Sorry if I confused you. 93 Octane was $3.29 on Monday when I topped off ($400+) up here on Lake Ontario. Now go make some noise and have a safe weekend.

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

That's great to hear. I hope they take care of it for you.
I thought the same thing Lmarth did. I thought you swapped the carbs.
Make sure they tell you what was wrong with the carb. I'm dying to know!

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

its a carb problem, im running 1050 doms i switched carbs and the problem follows one carb the other motor idls with the good carb on it no problem i took it to a local carb shop and they wet flowed it the thing barley idles and i can set the idle high enough or it stalls. i know that when its in gear it will stall. it seems to have a flat spot off idle and thats about where i have to set the idle to have it stay running in gear. im looking for another crab as im tired of fighting with this one. pls let me know if you have a 1050 dominator you can sell , thx in advance, ratman

Re: replaced power valve and still wont idle, help
 

"""NICKERSON"""
Stop wasting your time and keyboard