Carb Question

[Tonyseagull]

My long shaft 102 starts fine but does not like to be choked even when cold ...with the choke on it starts to stumble in less than 10 seconds but comes back to life if I can catch it before it stops by flicking the choke off...my other Seagull likes to warm up and runs with the choke on for a minute before I need to flick the choke off. Also this 102 seems to be running rich ...very smoky...which would account for the very little choke reqiured. I have checked the needle and it is operating correctly ( the bowl does not flood over with petrol when the engine is running) but I was wondering what the height of the float should be at...I can see that bending the the little "Y" brass hinge would change the height of the fuel in the bowl and was wondering what the float level should normally be.

Both my engines are fitted with Villers carbs...

[charlesp]

Are you running on the right fuel mix?

[Tonyseagull]

Are you running on the right fuel mix?

Number 3 needle and 10-1 ratio with the TC3 oil.

[Vic]

That's the correct needle and fuel mix combination.

From an old Villiers book:
When the float is help up against the float lever the distance between the float and the underside of the carburettor body should be 7/32"

Have you tried adjusting the needle?

If it is running too rich it will 4 stroke. If it is showing no more than a slight tendency to "4 stroke" when lightly loaded it is probably OK .

It sounds as though your other Seagull may be running a bit weak

[chris]

I thought 102's ran amal carbies which have no adjustments

[Tonyseagull]

That's the correct needle and fuel mix combination.

From an old Villiers book:
When the float is help up against the float lever the distance between the float and the underside of the carburettor body should be 7/32"

Have you tried adjusting the needle?

If it is running too rich it will 4 stroke. If it is showing no more than a slight tendency to "4 stroke" when lightly loaded it is probably OK .

It sounds as though your other Seagull may be running a bit weak

Great information...I will check out that mesurement later today...The needle in both my Villers carbs have the threaded screw flush with the top of the throttle slide...I have never played with the position of the needle but it would make sense that some adjustment of that srew for the needle height would fine tune the mixture...I am used to tuning SU carbs on my MG...what do I look for in setting up the Villers for getting the Seagull to run in the sweetspot?

[Tonyseagull]

...the float was allmost spot on so I tuned the needle down two turns and that has helped lean out the mixture some so that the engine is not smoking so bad...I am begining to think that the hole where the needle goes in to it's seat maybe worn.

[Charles uk]

Vic was that information in the old Villiers book specifically refering to the Seagull-villiers concentric float chamber top feed carb?

[Vic]

Not specifically to the Seagull-Villiers carb but certainly to a concentric float top feed carb as fitted to a Villers Mark 1F motorcycle engine.
Looks the same as the Seagull carbs and the carb fitted to the Mk1 and Mk2 Midget engines.
The setting mentioned agrees with the setting in my 40+ and Featherweight

[Collector Inspector]

Have you tried swapping the carbs over? Then see if problem migrates.

Have you swapped the spark plugs over to see whether the problem migrates?

Same with the HT lead?

Regards

B