My amphi has run rich since I swapped out the carb seven years ago. The tail
pipe is always black on our amphi. A rich mixture can be caused by the float
being set to high or the jet in the carb being to large. To check these out
you have to remove the top of the carb and actually measure the float level
and the size of the jet. Also an internal leak in the carb can cause a rich
condition. Our amphi also burns some oil in number 3 cylinder. I plan on
pulling the engine this winter to freshen it up. Hopefully next season no
more black tailpipe.
Tim Wick




        
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I went out this morning started one of the Amphi's to take a short trip and the
engine was missing. I've learned to check the spark plugs first and sure enough
they were black with soot. One seemed a bit moist. I'm sure this is the cause
but why? I suspect I'm running to rich a fuel mix. I've also notice lately
that black soot must be shooting somewhere out of the exhaust system because I
notice it on the firewall and around the hull. I think it's spitting out from
the seam where the muffler pipe and exhaust pipe join. Another fuel problem!!!

The engine seems to be in good shape and runs good otherwise. Compression is
good. The new plugs have less than a couple hundred miles on them too so this
developed fast. Any thoughts, suggestions?

Assuming it's a rich fuel problem has anyone ever tried adding a thicker gasket
to the fuel pump to reduce flow? What about a second metal ring to allow the
float to shut off the gas supply inside the carb sooner? I'm obviously not very
good at dialing in the carbs.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Mike


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




        
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Mike, I just had the exact same problem including the
soot coming out the vents in the hood. Mine also was
sudden- was fine one day and the next it wasn't. I
looked at everything from stuck choke, float, timing,
etc. I finally noticed, with the help of borrowing
Paul Rasmussen's old carb for comparison, that my
Pilot jet had somehow fallen out. It probably just
rattled its way loose over time and fell out. I put
Paul's in and it runs and idles perfectly like it used
to. I hope this is your problem as it was very simple
to solve. For everyone else, it might pay to check and
tighten this before you loose it. For those who don't
know where it is, it comes straight out of the back of
the carb, roughly 1/2 way from the manifold to the top
of the carb and it is brass.
--- Michael Echemann <echemike@earthlink.net> wrote:
> I went out this morning started one of the Amphi's
> to take a short trip and the engine was missing.
> I've learned to check the spark plugs first and sure
> enough they were black with soot. One seemed a bit
> moist. I'm sure this is the cause but why? I
> suspect I'm running to rich a fuel mix. I've also
> notice lately that black soot must be shooting
> somewhere out of the exhaust system because I notice
> it on the firewall and around the hull. I think
> it's spitting out from the seam where the muffler
> pipe and exhaust pipe join. Another fuel
> problem!!!
>
> The engine seems to be in good shape and runs good
> otherwise. Compression is good. The new plugs have
> less than a couple hundred miles on them too so this
> developed fast. Any thoughts, suggestions?
>
> Assuming it's a rich fuel problem has anyone ever
> tried adding a thicker gasket to the fuel pump to
> reduce flow? What about a second metal ring to
> allow the float to shut off the gas supply inside
> the carb sooner? I'm obviously not very good at
> dialing in the carbs.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> Mike
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>


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GORDON IMPORTS INC.. The world's largest source of Amphicar parts and accessories. Visit our new website today.