Kadron flooding

Hi all:

I searched the forum for items on Kadrons that flood when the engine is shut off and found Stan's comment about going through four sets of needles and seats without much luck. I have fuel pressure limited to 2 psi but still get flooding when the car sits. A local shop, Volkswerks, mentioned a customer has a Ghia with dual Solex carbs equipped with electric chokes. The power might be slightly less than Kadrons, but I suspect drivability would improve. Any ideas on how to stop the leaking? Would it help to add an inline switch to shut off the electric fuel pump a few blocks from home?

Thanks for any ideas or input.

Tom Strongman

Seems like it would be a needle valve and or float level issue. ~Alan

Thanks, Alan. Volkswerks said they checked the needles and seats and didn't see them leaking, but the symptoms certainly point that way.

Is your fuel pump too close to a hot heat source? Heated fuel vaporizes and may cause the bowls to fill up.

The fuel pump is located by the bottom of the gas tank, so I don't think heat is an issue there.

OK, thinking of the mechanics here, the only way the Kadron bowls could overflow is if the pilot valves are either leaking of their own accord or overcome with excessive pressure.

If the valves leak, then replace them. Maybe the quality of new valves isn't all that great and you may have to go through a few sets til you get some that work. Seems unlikely, but plausible....what the heck, I've had to do that with things in the past, too.

Question: Do the needle valves have rubber tips? If so and you're using high-ethanol gas, it may be eating up the tips. If the tips are metal, check the seats to see if they're metal, too. If both are metal then maybe the seat-to-needle is mis-matched, allowing them to leak.

Lastly, excessive pressure can come from the pump (simply putting out too much pressure) or from a heat source nearby the gas hose somewhere (pretty common on these cars, too). You turn off the car and gas flow stops. The heat near the hose causes the gas to expand and push past the needle valve.

That's all I can think of, but my money would be on new pilot valves (after you check the route of the hose).

gn

Great suggestions. The fuel hose being near the engine might be an issue that is forcing the gas to expand. Good ideas. I'm leaving town for a week but I'll pursue once I return. Thanks to all of you.

Tom