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How the heck does this happen???

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Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:36 AM
  #1  
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How the heck does this happen???

My wife complained that her 1985 D88 was stalling at low speeds. Removed the air cleaner this morning and found this. Yes, that is an idle mixture screw sitting on the intake.

To quote Holly Hunter from Die Hard 2, "why do these things keep happening to us?"

Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:42 AM
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How did that engine even run right with that mixture screw backed out a few turns, let alone far enough to fall out? Your Mrs must be pretty tolerant of a rough running engine.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by cjsdad
How did that engine even run right with that mixture screw backed out a few turns, let alone far enough to fall out? Your Mrs must be pretty tolerant of a rough running engine.
Actually, the CCC system compensated by changing the duty cycle of the mixture control solenoid. It was surging a little, but really didn't run poorly.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:50 AM
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Ha haha, been a while since I've seen that. Make sure the spring has enough tension to keep it in place. The only other cause is a squirrel thats upset with your...
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Make sure the spring has enough tension to keep it in place.
Yup, my thought exactly.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 09:25 AM
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[QUOTE=joe_padavano;1002426]My wife complained that her 1985 D88 was stalling at low speeds. Removed the air cleaner this morning and found this. Yes, that is an idle mixture screw sitting on the intake.

To quote Holly Hunter from Die Hard 2, "why do these things keep happening to us?"



Its Bonnie Bedelia.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by ELY442
Its Bonnie Bedelia.
Yes, it was. DOH!
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 09:52 AM
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Looks like the spring is to short did a piece break off? If I remember right new springs will go to the end of the point.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by AJFink
Looks like the spring is to short did a piece break off?
Nope. Both ends are ground flat, as they should be. I suspect the spring has just compressed a little and taken a set.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 10:16 AM
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The Russians did it!
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 11:21 AM
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A dab of red Loctite will prevent that from happening again.



LEGAL DISCLAIMER
for those unfamiliar with working on carburetors: This is a joke. Do not attempt.

Last edited by Fun71; Mar 26, 2017 at 11:23 AM.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 11:25 AM
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You need to set up a surveillance camera!
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Fun71
A dab of red Loctite will prevent that from happening again.
I was thinking TIG welder...
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 01:16 PM
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No no no, you got it all wrong. Lubricate the threads with JB Weld.
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 01:35 PM
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It's the same gremlins that hide the tool you were just using, got um at my house too.... Tedd
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Tedd Thompson
It's the same gremlins that hide the tool you were just using, got um at my house too.... Tedd
Oh, man. Don't get me started about THAT!

I just chalk that up to my advanced CRS disease... Can't Remember $**t!
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 03:50 PM
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Wow. That's a new one on me.

I agree with the obvious - probably a weak spring. I can't imagine anything else unscrewing that screw that many turns, except maybe a leprechaun, or perhaps even Murphy himself, Heaven protect us!

- Eric
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 03:53 PM
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A pissed off squirrel...
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
A pissed off squirrel...
Okay, so if the squirrel turns screws consistently counterclockwise when he's PO'd, can I catch him, feed him, and make him happy, so that he turns things clockwise, then have him assemble an engine for me?

- Eric
Old Mar 26, 2017 | 06:14 PM
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Damn squirrels
Could be the ghost of a PO
Old Mar 27, 2017 | 05:20 AM
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Old Mar 27, 2017 | 05:34 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by MDchanic
Okay, so if the squirrel turns screws consistently counterclockwise when he's PO'd, can I catch him, feed him, and make him happy, so that he turns things clockwise, then have him assemble an engine for me?

- Eric

Old Mar 29, 2017 | 03:12 PM
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Guys:
Same sort of thing happened to me a couple years ago. I have a Holley 4150 carb on my big block, it started running really rough, I pulled the carb and found one of the jets laying in the fuel bowl, never ever saw that happen before.
Ron
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