51 Hornet Carb Question - leather cup?

Unknown

I own a 51 Hornet and was warned by the previous owner that I needed to start it every week or a "leather cup" in the carb would dry out. Well, I was pretty good about it the first few months, but let it go too long and sure enough, it won't start. I can use starting fluid and she starts right up, just won't stay running. Someone else I mentioned this to also had heard of this "leather cup", perhaps in the accelerator pump area? I'm not familiar with this carb, so does anyone have any information on how I can go about verifying if indeed this is my issue and how to resolve it?

Jon B

Two thoughts, immediately:



1. You are having hard starting. Are you sure it's the carb that's giving you the problem? There could be a hundred other reasons. Maybe the previous owner blamed the carb unjustly. When you pump the carb (when trying to start unsuccessfully) do you hear the hiss of gas being squirted, as you would ordinarily? Do you smell any gas in the carb when you remove the air silencer? If not, then indeed the accelerator pump may be at fault.



2. When's the last time this carb was rebuilt? Seals dry out with time. You can buy a rebuild kit (I think Dave Kostansek has them but you could also probably find them other places) and replace the various seals and other 'wearing' parts. Alex Burr has a whole website full of specs if you need them and I'm pretty sure there is a carb. rebuilding company that maintains an on-line manual for most any carburetor. The parts and information are out there!

Unknown

When I pump the carb, I don't hear a hiss of gas being squirted. However, the car starts great with starting fluid, and ran wonderful before I let her sit for a couple months without starting.



One squirt of starting fluid and she fires right up and sounds good for the second or two that she runs... But it doesn't seem like there's a flow of gas to the carb to keep her running.

[Deleted User]

I'm hopin' some of these guys with real diagnosis ability will jump in here, Poncho, but until they do, it sounds to my feeble brain like it IS a fuel problem.

I would start by removing the line to the inlet side of the carb (the tube from the fuel pump) and while cranking, see if the carb is getting gas. There should be a fairly good flow from the fuel pump while the engine is turning over. If no, then either the line is plugged from the FP or the FP itself is faulty. If yes then the carb may be the next in line for help. As Jon pointed out the carburetor does have some leather and rubber parts that can get dried out and crack but usually this results in poor or rough engine running, not the complete lack of gas that yours seem to have. Good luck...

Jon B

Next suspicion, then, would be your fuel pump. Have you tried disconnecting the fuel line up at the carb, then holding a tin can under it (to catch the gasoline) as someone turns the starter over (pull the high tensions wire out of the coil, of course, so it doesn't start up!). Does gasoline pour out?



If not, the problem lies somewhere before the carburetor. Could be a bad fuel pump, or clogged filter, or crud in the tank or gas lines, or even a pinhole in the gas line (pump could be sucking iar instead of gas).



So, start with the tin can test, next.

Unknown

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[Deleted User]

Oh, Man! (Slaps himself on the forehead) Dam, I forgot to tell 'em about the tin can! Thanks Jon...

Unknown

Sounds like you could have a bad fuel pump and/or a clogged line or filter. Disconnect your fuel line at the carb and place a container below it. Then, crank the engine and watch the end of the disconnected line to see if, and how, your pump is working.



As far as the leather cup, it's part of the accelerator pump. Although I've heard the same thing about the leather drying out, that should only happen if it's really old. It stands to reason that Hudson dealers, regional distributors and shippers didn't have people running around and starting the new cars every few days. I've been told that if the car has not been run for a while, you can damage the cup if you start and run the car quickely. So, crank the engine to get gas to the carb. Then, after the gas has had time to saturate the leather, you can start the car. A gentle start up like that is probably better on the low end too.