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Carburetors

4-9-2010

OriginalEquipmentWhenyourModelHtractorleftthefactory,itwasequippedwithDLTX26from
H1000thruH26999.BeginningwithH27000,DLTX46wasinstalled.Themaindifferenceisinthechoke
assembly,the46havingachokeleverthatcouldbecontrolledremotelybyasmallrodfromthe
operatorspaneltoaccommodateEstarttractors;EstartoptionofferingatH27000.Figure800illustrates
bothcarburetors,eachwiththechokeinengineoperatingposition.DLTX46cansuccessfullybeusedon
allmodelHtractors,andislistedasthegenuineJDreplacementforallHtractors.

Figure 801. DLTX26

Figure 802. DLTX46

UniversalReplacementsTowardtheendofthe1960s,MarvelSchebler/Zenithcollapsedalltheir
DLTXseriescarburetorsforJohnDeereintothreecarburetorstheDLTX107U,designedtoreplacethe
smallborecarburetors(fortheBandH),theDLTX108Uforthelargeborecarburetors(fortheA,Dand
G),andaDLTX109Uduplexcarburetorforallthenumberedseriestractors.Andso,locatingaModelH
tractorwithaDLTX107Uisentirelypossible,andwouldbeawelcomefindindeed!(Credit:Duane
Larson).

Theory of Operation
What is a carburetor? What does a carburetor do?

Bydefinitionacarburetorisadeviceformixing(orcharging)airandgas;specifically,adeviceinwhich
airismixedwithgasolinespraytosupplyavaporized,explosivemixtureforaninternalcombustion
engine.Themixisnolongerplain,rawgasoline,butamorevolatilegaseouscompound.(Websters
CollegiateDictionary).

About Your John Deere "H" Carburetor

MostalltwocylinderJohnDeeretractorcarburetorbodiesaremadeofcastiron,andthisistrueforthe
Htractor.Theyhavemovingpartsthatmayhavebecomeworn,orificescloggedwitholdfuel,andthe
floatmayhavebeenabusedand/ormayhavedevelopedaleak.Theinternalfuelandairpassagesonce
coatedwitharustpreventative,nowarenolongerbeingsoprotected.Thus,asidefromweartomoving

parts,themainbodyispronetobecomefilledwithrust,cloggingthoseairandfuelpassages,andyou
cannotboilrustout.

Ifyoustartedoutwitharunningtractor,youareaheadofthegamebecauseyouknowthecarburetoris
basicallyfunctional,andyoucanjudgeitsperformance.WhileIhesitatetoeverrecommendacustom
rebuildkitfortheDLTXcarburetor,suchasolutionmayindeedbeappropriateforrunningtractors.In
general,however,Iprefertoletthecarburetortellmewhatisneeded.Andthisinformationisevident
onlyafterdisassemblyandareallycloseinspectionoftheoperatingparts.Asanexample,ifwiththe
nakedeyeyouareabletoseewear,ordeformation(duringyourcloseinspection)ofeitherofthetwo
operatingneedlevalvetapers(IdleorLoad),itstimetorenewsuchaneedle!Anotherareatopayclose
attentiontoishowmuchplayyoufindinthethrottleshaftversusitstwobushings.Thisshaftandits
bushingsseealotofaction,movingeachandeverytimethegovernordrivesthethrottle.Thetop
bushingispronetofasterwearbecauseitisclosesttotheactingforces.Thethrottleshaftfitintoits
bushingsneedstobeveryclosetotight,butnotabindingtightfit;amachinistssnugfit.Sucha
closefitisnotnearlyascriticalwiththechokeshaftaswearedealingwithaironlyonthechokesideof
thecarburetorsventuri,andleakageherewillhavenoeffectonfuelairmixratios.(Note:Venturiisthe
narrowedplaceinthecarburetorsthroatorbarrel).

Ontheotherhand,startingwithatractorthatyouhaventheardrun,thatmaynothaverunforyears.
andisnotnowrunning,putsyouatadisadvantageinsofarasthecarburetorisconcerned.Youhaveno
clue.Youarebeginningwithwhatmustbeassumedtobeadysfunctionalcarburetor.Youcleanand
rebuild,replacingunserviceablepartsasfound.Thisapproachassumesplentyofwear,andthatany
passagewaythatcouldberustedshutISrustedshut;andyouproceedfromthispointforward.

The Basic Systems of the Natural-Draft Carburetor


1. Idling System

Figure 803 - Idling System Diagram

Whenthethrottlevalveisclosed,theidlingsystemsuppliesjustenoughfuelairmixturetokeepthe
enginerunning(slowidle).Theclosedthrottlereducesairflowthroughtheventuritoalevelthatcannot
overcometheresistancetoflowofloadfuelupthroughthefuelnozzle,butalsomeansthatafairly
significantvacuumoccursontheenginesideofthethrottlevalve.Thismanifoldvacuumissufficientto
pullthefuelairmixturethroughaseriesofsmallchannelsandopeningsthatbypassthethrottlevalve.
Airentersthroughasmallpassageinthecarburetorbodyattheventuriridge(notthrutheventuri)and
passesacrossanidleadjustingneedleseat.Atthispoint,theairpicksupfuelandthefuelairmixtureis
deliveredtotheenginethroughaseriesofdrilledpassagewaysleadingtoanopening(theprimaryidle
orifice)ontheenginesideoftheclosedthrottlevalve.Asecondaryidleorificefeedsairintothefuelair
stream,thinningdownthefuelairmixturetosatisfythesloweridlerequirements.Theamountoffuel
enteringtheairstreamcanberegulatedbytheidleadjustingneedle.

Themanifoldvacuumontheenginesideoftheclosedthrottlevalveprovidestheneededpressure
differentialacrossthethrottlevalvetocausefuelairmixtoflowinthatdirection.Theamountoffuelis
determinedbyadjustmentoftheIdleneedlevalve.Observethatairflow,anenginefunction,is
determinedbytheconditionofthevalvesorpistonrings,ortheenginesabilitytodrawtheairfuelmix.

Theresultisanentirelyseparatecarburetorcircuitthatbyitselfoperatestofeedtheenginewhenthe
throttlevalveisclosed.

Asthethrottleisopenedupslightlyfromthefullyclosedposition,thesideoftherotatingthrottleplate
openingtowardtheventuri,exposesthesecondaryidleorificetomanifoldvacuumallowinggreaterflow
ofaleanerfuelairidlemix.Andatthesametime,alsoprovidingatransitiontometeredfuelflow
throughtheregularopenthrottle(load)circuit.Asthethrottleisprogressivelyopened,themanifold
vacuumreducessincethereislessrestrictiononairflow,reducingtheflowthroughtheidlecircuit.This
iswheretheventurishapeofthecarburetorthroatcomesintoplay,duetotheBernoullieffect(i.e.asthe
velocityofagasincreasesthroughafixedorifice,itspressurefalls).Asthethrottlevalvecloseswhen
loadisrelaxed,theairflowthroughtheventuridropsuntilthereducedpressureisinsufficientto
maintainloadfuelflowandtheidlecircuittakesoveragainasdescribedabove.

2. Load System
Thissystemmetersfuel,anddeliverstheproperfuelairmixturetotheengineinallgovernedrangesof
speedandloadaboveidling.Theamountoffuelenteringthenozzleisregulatedbyaloadadjusting
needle.Acarburetorbasicallyconsistsofanopenpipe,thecarburetorsthroatorbarrel,through
whichairpassesintotheinletmanifoldoftheengine.Thepipeisintheformofaventuri,thatis,it
narrowsincrosssectionandthenwidensagain,causingairflowtoincreaseinspeedthroughthe
narrowestpart.ThisiswheretheBernoulliprinciplecomestolife;i.e.,thatmovingairhaslowerpressure
thanstillair,andthatthefasterthemovementoftheair,thelowerthepressure.Generallyspeaking,the
throttleoracceleratordoesnotcontroltheflowofliquidfuel.Instead,itcontrolstheamountofairthat
entersthecarburetor.Fasterflowofairandmoreairenteringthecarburetordrawsmorefuelintothe
carburetorduetothepartialvacuumthatiscreated.

Thethrottlevalveislinkedtothegovernorthatisdesignedtoregulateenginespeedbysensingsmall
changesinenginespeed(flyingweightsystem);openingthethrottlevalveasspeedslows,andclosing
thevalveasspeedrises,andreachesitsregulatedrate.

Figure 804 - Load System Diagram

Fuelisintroducedintotheairstreamthroughthefuelnozzlepositionedatthenarrowestpartofthe
venturi.Therateoffuelflowinresponsetoaparticularpressuredropintheventuriisafunctionoftwo
variables,oneistheloadadjustingneedlevalve(theequivalenttoafixedfueljetinanautomotivecarb),
andtheotherisfuelheldinreserveintheacceleratingwellwhichsurroundsthefuelnozzle.
3. Accelerating System
Wheneverthethrottleisopenedquicklytogiveextrapowerforasuddenload,anextraamountoffuelis
requiredforamomentarilyricherfuelairmixture.Theinertiaofliquidfuelbeinggreaterthanthatofair
meansthatwhenthethrottleissuddenlyopenedinreactiontoasuddenload,airflowwouldincrease
aheadoffuelflow.Werethistooccur,thistemporaryleanconditionwouldcausetheengineto
hesitateorbogdownunderacceleration.Inautomotivecarburetors,thissuddendemandforarich
fuelairmixissatisfiedusingasmallplungertypeacceleratorpumptoinjectextrafuel,fuelabovethe
meteredamounttocoverthisleanperiod.Inthis,andinmostcarburetorsusedbyDeere,an
acceleratingwellprovidestheextrafuel.

Figure 805 - Accelerating System Diagram

Whentheengineisidling,fuelrisesinsidetheloadnozzleandpassesthroughholesintheside(wall)of
thenozzleintothechamber,orwell,surroundingthenozzlewhereit(thefuel)accumulates.Whenthe
throttlevalveissuddenlyopened,thefuelstoredintheacceleratingwellgushesthroughtheholesinthe
sideofthenozzlewithoutbeingmeteredbytheadjustingneedleandcombineswiththenormalflowin
thenozzle.Thetwoquantitiesoffuelentertheairstream,makingamuchricherairfuelmixtureto
satisfythesuddenrequirementformorepower.Asthefuelsupplyintheacceleratingwelldiminishes,
theholesuncoveredbythefuelleavingbecomeairbleeds,satisfiedbytheLoadFuelAir(in)passageat
thetopoftheacceleratingwell.Aftertheacceleratingwellisdrained,itremainsemptyuntilthefuel
consumedbytheengineislessthanthefuelflowingintotheacceleratingwell(throughtheLOAD
adjustingneedle),atwhichtimeitrefillswiththisexcessfuel.Thisoccurswhenthethrottlereturnstoa
1/4loadortofastidleposition.
4. Economizer System - A System of Pressure Differentials (Figures 806 & 807)

Theeconomizersystemretardstheflowoffueltotheengineatpartthrottlespeeds,whenfullcapacityof
thefuelnozzleisnotrequired.Fuelisdeliveredoutofthemainnozzleopeningbyadifferenceinair
pressureatthetopofthenozzleandthepressureonthefuelinthebowl.Toregulatethispressureinthe
partloadrange,apassagewayisdrilledfromtheaircleanersideofthecarburetorbody,throughatrap
constructiontowardthecenterofthebodyandcontinuingtothemanifoldsideofthecarburetor.This
passagewayhasanopeningintothebowlnearthetrapsection(bowlvent).

Figure 806 - Economizer System Diagram

Locatedinthisdrilledpassageway(towardtheenginemanifoldend),thereisacalibratedeconomizer
plugmountedintoanalsocalibratedannulusorchannel.Theseworktogethertoregulatetheexact
pressuredesiredonthefuelinthebowl,soastoprovidemaximumeconomythroughouttheentire
operatingrange.Whenthethrottlebutterflypassestheopeninginthepassageway,thepressureis
reduced.Thisreductioninpressureiscarriedbackthroughthepressureregulatingopening,enablingthe
carburetortoautomaticallyadjustthepressureonthefuelinthebowlinaccordancewithengine
requirements.Thismeansthatforlightloadsasmallerquantityoffuelwillbedeliveredtotheengine.

Figure 807 - Economizer Path, Air (left) to Manifold end (right)


RoughTerrainIfyoueveroperatedaJDA,JDBorJDGtractoroverroughterrainsuchasacrosscorn
rowswhilemakingaturn,youalsoprobablysometimesnoticedthetractorseemedtotakeontoomuch
fuel,andwouldsmokealittleandfalterormiss.Thisisduetofuelbeingsloshedupintothebowlvent
trapsection.Thefuelupsettheongoingchangesinairpressureonfuelcontainedinthebowlthus
feedingexcessfuelintotheengine.Somewoulddescribethisasatemporarilyfloodingcondition,and
thatisbasicallycorrect.InAugustof1953,Deereissuedinstructionsformodifyingthebowlventtrapso
astocorrectthismissingoftheengineastheycalledit.Thiswasprettylateintheproductionofthese
tractors,butillustratesthateconomizerproblemswerebeginningtosurface.SeeFieldServiceBulletin(or
FSB)No.206,August1953,pages62&63.

Blockage,CompleteorPartialForcarburetorsusedonmanyoftheAandBtractors,thereexistapair
ofbrassbafflesinthebowlventtraptoallowairtopassbutblocksomeofthefuelsloshing.Asinall
partsofthefuelsystemsubjecttocloggingbyvarnishbuildup,thesetoocanbecomerestrictive.When
theydo,performanceoftheeconomizersystemisspoiled.

TroubleShootingSeveralfactorsmayaffectperformanceoftheeconomizersystem.Oneisapartialor
fullblockageofthepassagewayconnectingtheeconomizer,bowlventandbowlventinairopening.
Accumulationofdebrisintheannuluscanalterthemeteringfunctionoftheannulusandeconomizer
plug.Finally,thereistheeconomizerplugitself.Youshouldseealetterstampedontheplug.Compare
theletteryouseewiththeletterlistedforyourcarburetortoensureyouhavetherighteconomizerplug.
SeetheCarburetorIDChart(FSB182S,August1951,orwww.jdhpubs.com).Ifthelettercannotberead
duetosandblastingorotherabrasiveprocesses,renewaloftheplugisrecommended.

5. Choke

Whentheengineiscold,fuelvaporizeslessreadily,andignitionandcombustionaremoredifficultto
sustain;thusarichermixture(morefueltoair)isrequiredforstarting.Toachievethis,achokeisused;
thisisadevicethatrestrictstheflowofairattheentrancetothecarburetor.Thisfunctionssimilarlyto
thethrottlebeingclosed,exceptforthefactthatitisclosedoffbeforebothidleandloadcircuits.Here,

thelowpressurecausedbytherestrictionsucksadditionalfuelthroughbothofthefuelcircuits,idleand
load.

6. Float Chamber

Toensureareadysupplyoffuel,thecarburetorhasafloatchamber(bowl)thatcontainsaquantityof
fuelreadyforuse.Thisworkssimilarlytoatoilettank;afloatcontrolsaninletvalve.Whenthefloat
drops,theinletisopenedallowingthefueltoflowintothefuelbowlunderthegravityfeedsystem
pressure.Andasfuelflowcausesthefloattorise,thisrisingactionclosestheinletvalve.

Theleveloffuelmaintainedinthefloatbowlcanbeadjustedbybendingthesmalltabthatmakescontact
withthefloatinletvalve.Thisisafairlycriticaladjustmentcriteriadiffer,butforJDHcarburetors,
wehavethreeindicatorsofacorrectfloatsetting.Adjustsothat:(1)fuelstopsflowingasthefloat
comestoalevelposition,(2)thereis3/8inchbetweenfloatandbodycasting,and/or(3)thebowlwillfill
toapoint3/4inchdownfromitstop,andthenstabilize.

Thesefloatscanspringleaksandlosetheirfloatation.Inspectfloatforcracksorunsolderedjoints.To
testforleaks,immersethefloatinhotwater.Appearanceofbubbleswillindicateleakage.Donot
attempttorepairadamagedfloat.

Theoriginalfloatsweremadeofnaturalcorkandweresealedwithaspecialvarnishcoating.However,
thevarnishwouldeventuallydeteriorateandfuelwouldsaturatethecork,makingituselessasafloat.
Hollowmetalfloatswereintroducedin1946(FSB153S,61546).Itshighlyunlikelythatacorkfloat
wouldhavesurviveduntiltoday!Replacecorkfloatsiffound.

Overalongperiodoftime,thefloatneedlevalveitselfbecomeswornbythefuelflowandthusfailsto
shutoffcompletely.Thiswillcauseexcessivefuelflowandpoorengineoperation.Conversely,asthe
fuelevaporatesfromthefloatbowl,itleavessediment,residue,andvarnishesbehind,whichclogthe
passagesandcaninterferewiththefloatoperations.Thisisparticularlyaprobleminantiquetractors
operatedforonlyapartoftheyearandlefttostandwithfullfloatchambersformonthsatatime;
commercialfuelstabilizeradditivesareavailabletoreducethisproblem.

Diagnosing Faulting Carburetors

PartialQuotefromRobertsCarburetorRepairWebpageAlthoughmanythingscancauseyour
tractortoidleincorrectly,therearethreepassagesinthecarburetorthatmostoftenwillnotletyour
tractoridlewell.Threepassagesinthecarburetoridlesystemare90%ofthecarburetoridleproblems
thatshowuponmybench.Thesepassagescannotbecleanedoutwithawireorsoaked.Wearedealing
withrust,notoldfuel.A6inchlong#40aircraftdrillbitisneededtorunthroughtwoofthepassages.
The#53drillbitisneededforthethird.Thesedrillbitswilltakethepassagesbacktotheiroriginalsize.
Youwillneedtoremovethedrillplugstodothisprocedure.Removeallthedrillplugs,andcheckall
passageswhenoverhaulingyourcarburetor.

ExpandingRobertsDataSomeThe#1passage(IDLEAIRFUELMIX)islocatedthroughthefrontof
thecarburetor(manifoldside)andisthetop10x32drillplug(#40drillbit).Thelowerdrillplugofthe
twoisa12x32.The#2passageislocatedinfrontof,andparalleltotheidleadjustscrew(alsoIDLE
FUELAIRMIX)(#40drillbit).The#3SecretPassageislocatedinthebottomofthecarburetorstemand
acrossfromtheidleneedletip(thelowerlegoftheIDLEFUELAIRMIX)(#53drillbit).Twoother

smaller,yetalsoimportantpassagesintheIDLESYSTEMarethefinalupperlegsoftheIDLEpath;one
forthefuelairmix(PRIMARYIDLEORIFICE),theotherforidleair(THESECONDARYIDLEORIFICE).
Thesearelocatedonthethrottlevalveendofthecarburetor,andcleanedwitha#60aircraftdrillbit
(PRIMARY)anda#57bit(SECONDARY)respectively.ThenthereistheIDLEAIRINpath,asmall(#53)
holeontheventurisridgeat3:00oclockasviewedfromthechokeendofthecarburetor.Forabsolute
definitivedrillingdataandbitsizes(bit#versusdia.)seeCLEANINGintheOverhaulsection.

ProtectingthecarburetorOrificesinanycarburetorarespecificallydesignedforthefunctionsthey
perform.Theirprimaryfunctionistometer(tometeout)fuelintherightquantitiessoastoobtain
desiredengineperformance;thisbeingtruewhetherstarting,idling,orunderaload.Drillinganyofthe
orificeswithlargerbitsthanarecalledforwillpermanentlyaltermeteringfunctionandmaypossibly
renderthecarburetorLOST!Inordertoensurethatthiswillnotoccur,operatethesedrillbitsinto
carburetorpassagewaysbyholdingtheminthehandonlyitsokaytomountasmallhandleonthebit.
Donotchuckthemupinapowereddrill!Itisassumedthatbyhandyouwillnotbeabletodrillany
passagewayororificelargerthanitwasdesignedtobe,thusprotectingthecarburetor.

Infact,JohnDeereServiceManualSM2024(Carburetors)hasaverybluntwarningaboutthis:
CAUTION:Nevercleanholesorpassagewayswithsmalldrillsorstiffwire,asaslightenlargementor
burringoftheseholeswillchangetheperformanceofthecarburetoraswellasremoverustpreventiveon
passageways.Thereisnomethodofcleaningotherthansolvent.

However,ifafter60plusyearsrusthasoverwhelmedthefactoryappliedrustpreventive,thereisno
choicebuttousethespecifieddrillbits.Butuseextremecare!

Troubleshooting -- Starting Problems are Most Common


Mytractorcannothandstart.Pullitdownthestreetanditwillstart,andwillrunaslongastheengine
speedisup.

Iboughtarecentlyrestored1940Handhavenotbeenabletogetitstarted.Thesellersaysitwas
runningbeforehesoldit.Thecarburetorwasdamagedintransitandreplacedbyarebuiltone.
Mytractorwontstart.Magnetosnapisniceandcrisp;itthrowsabluesparkacross1/4inchgap,andit
isfiringattherighttimeforeachcylinder.Compressionissupernear80PSIoneachside,andtocrank
itsapsmystrengthinnotime!IfIremovetheplugs,squirtsomegasolineintoeachcylinder,and
reinstalltheplugs,Icangetbothcylinderstofire,butwillnotstartandrun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ThesearetypicalcomplaintsheardfromthecommunityofJohnDeereowners.Thereareothers.Given
threeessentialproperties,asimpleinternalcombustionengineasintwocylindertractorswillusually
start:(1)Enginecompression,(2)Ignitionatthecorrecttime,and(3)Fuelinamoderatelycorrect
quantity.
CompressionThereisadirectrelationshipbetweencompressionandmanifoldvacuum.Low
compressionbringsdecreasedmanifoldvacuum,which(inturn)decreasesthedrawofidlefuelairmix
duringstarting.Evenifenoughfuelisdrawnwithhelpfromthechoke,reallylowcompressionresultsin
toolittlekickofafiringcylindertostarttheengine.Seecompressiontesting,Chapter6.
Ingeneral,runningacompressiontestisalwaysagoodpracticetoeliminatevariables,andfortheH
tractor,anenginewithcompressionreadingsof50PSIormoreshouldstart;evenaslowas40PSItractors
areouttherebeingstartedandareworking.Anewengineisratedat80PSI.Forahandstarttractor,one

maynotbeabletospintheengineveryfast.Thus,compressionreadingsarelikelytobelower.Perhaps
equallyimportantisthatthereadingsbewithin10%ofeachother.
SparkVerifysufficientignitionatthepropertime.Youshouldhaveasharp,distinctivesnapsound
oftheimpulse,andanicebluesparkthatwilljumpatleast1/4inch!The#1ignitionsparkshouldoccur
astheflywheelL.H.IMPULSEpassesitsreferencemark,and#2shouldoccur1/2revolution(ofthe
flywheel)later;aseachcylinderisonitscompressionstroke.Makesureyouhavestrandedmetalliccore
wires.SeeSparktestinginChapter7.
FuelToolittlefuelmakesthetractorstarthard,andtoomuchfloodstheengine,causingittosmoke
andhaveverylittlepower.Fueltankandlinesdeliverfueltothecarburetor,andthecarburetoristhe
meteringdeviceforfueltotheengine.Ensureyouhavefuelflowtothecarburetor;thenbelookingfor
signsofeitheradry,orafloodedengine.

Thelistherebeginswithdebrisinthefuelsystemcausingastoppage(Besuretochecktoseethatthefuel
separator/fuelfilterhasascreeninit),afloatsettoolowtoprovidefueltothecarburetorsidleneedleat
thepointwherestartingfuelentersthecarburetionprocess,andfinallyblockageoftheidlepathway
preventingthefuelairmixfromreachingtheintakemanifold.

LET'S BREAK A MYTH:CarburetorIDLEandLOADneedlesettings[exceptforbeingallthewayin


(closed)]arenotcriticalinenginestarting.Thus,asettingoffrom11/4to13/4turnsoutforIDLEand
from3/4to1turnoutforLOADneedleisperfectlyfineforanenginestart.So,untilyouhaveyour
enginerunning,setthemlikethisandforgetaboutthem!Infact,whenyourcarburetorissetup
correctly,aserviceableenginewillstartwithnohelpfromLOADfuelatall.TheLOADneedlecouldbe
completelyclosed!

Ageneralpatternoftroubleshootingbeginstoensurewehavecleanfuel.Ensureyourfuelfilterhasa
functionalscreen,andifthereisvisibledebrisinthefuelsedimentbowl,doacleaningjob.Placea
suitablecollectorunderthecarburetorandobservefuelflowasyouopenthecarburetorsdraincock.Let
theentirebowldrain,andobservetheflowrateafterthatpoint.Itshouldcontinuetobeasteadystream.
(Thisistoverifyopenfuellinesandfilters.)Sometimesapartiallycloggedlineorfilterwillpassenough
fueltopermitstartingandidling,butwillstarvetheengineifunderaload.

Next,wewanttogetafeelforthefloatsetting.Asmalldevicecalledafloatleveltesterishelpfulhere;
installahosebarbinplaceofthecarburetorbowldraincock,attacha10to12inchsectionofclearvinyl
tubeandtie(orhold)theopenendupalongsidethecarburetor.Turnonthefuelandwatchtheclear
hose;giveittime.Theleveloffuelshowingshouldbeapproximately3/4inchbelowthetopofthebowl.

Twootherquickandeasycheckshere;(1)BackouteithertheIdleorLoadneedleandchecktheendfor
wetting.Thereshouldbeenoughfuelinthebowltowettheneedlesend.Thisobservationismore
successfulinthemorningathighesthumiditywhichslowsevaporationoffuelfromtheneedletaper!(2)
Thisone,validonlyfortheHtractor,isavolumetest.Closethedraincockandopenthefuelvalves
toallowfuelflowintothecarburetorbowl.Leaveitopenforafullminute.Thenclosethefuelvalve(s),
andmeasuretheamountoffuelyoucandrainfromthebowl.Youshouldcollectbetween4and5fluid
ounces!

Floatsettingcriteriaifthecarburetorsbowlwereremoved,thislevelwouldbeachievedifthefloatis
deadlevelasitclosestheneedlevalve;apointwherethefloatisbetween3/8and1/2inchbelowthe
carburetorscastingastheneedleisclosed.ForHtractors,thisdistanceis3/8inch.


Finally,oneturnstoblockageintheIDLESYSTEMofthecarburetorthesourceoffuelairmixfor
starting.ThisisaverycommonproblemwithJDcastironcarburetorsnowsome5of6decadesold!See
theparagraphset(below)forashort,nowrenchtestyoucanperformtodeterminewhether(ornot)
youridleandloadsystemsareopen.Imightaddherethatcleaningthecarburetorsinternalpassage
waysispartofanoverhaulprocedure,andifoverhaulingyourcarburetoriswhatyoudecidetodo,a
musthaveiseitherourHCarburetorOverhaulProcedure(inBookorCDform).Andtoorder,goto
webpagewww.jdhpubs.com,andproceedfromthere.Thisprocedurehasbeenincorporatedinto
Chapter8ofthe3rdEditionoftheJDHRestorationGuide.Forothertractorcarburetors,youare
encouragedtoobtaintheDVDCarb2byRobertBeaverofRobertsCarbRepair.TheGreenMagazine
BookStorehasbeencarryingtheDVD.

DrillBitSetsFromtimetotime,www.jdhpubs.comwillalsocarrythissetoffourbits(forJDH
tractors).SeeHomepagetoorder.

No-Wrench Testing -- LOAD and IDLE Pathways

AtestisconductedtodoublecheckyourcarburetorsIDLEandLOADpathwaysbymanipulatingthe
IDLEandLOADneedles.Hereishowitgoes:

NOTE:ThistestinvolvesradicaladjustmentofboththeLOADandIDLEneedles.Beforeyoustartthe
engine,observethepositionofeachneedlelever,andcountthenumberofturnsOUTthateachofthe
twoneedlesisatsothatyoucanputthembackwheretheywerebeforethistestisrun.

Warning:WhenturningaLOADorIDLEneedleallthewayin,takeitgentlyastheneedlebottomsout.
Goingupagainstthestopwithtoomuchforcewilldamagetheneedle.

(1)WiththetractorrunningatFastIdle(fullthrottlenoload),turntheLOADneedleallthewayin.
TheenginewillcontinuetoruniftheIDLESYSTEMisopen,andifitstopsrunning,theidlesystemIS
NOTopen!Assumingthistestisapass,resettheLOADneedlewhereiswasandgoontotesttwo
below.(KnownExceptionThistestmaynotbereliableforDLTX51Carburetors!)

(2)WiththeenginerunningatFastIdle,turntheIDLEneedleallthewayin.Theenginewillcontinueto
runprovidedtheLOADFUELsystemisopen,however,inthismode,engineoperationwillbea
throttlingpattern.Asenginespeeddrops,thegovernorwillopenthethrottletodrawLOADFUEL
becausetheidlepathisclosed.Thispattern,however,indicatestheLOADFUELchannelisopenand
workingasitshould.Iftheenginestopsrunning,theLOADFUELchannelisobstructed.++++

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