Check valve?

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donm
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:40 pm
Your car is a: 1980 spider [carb]
Location: Hamilton. MA

Check valve?

Post by donm »

To start my car when it's been sitting for a few days, I have to turn on the ignition and wait 10 seconds for the tank mounted electric fuel pump to deliver before I turn the key to start. I'm thinking placing a check valve in the line would fix this. Anyone else done this? What kind did you use and where did you get it?
1979 Spider
2001Saab SW
2004 Saab Aero
Life's too short to drive boring cars
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Check valve?

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

Almost any decent auto parts store will have a "universal" fuel check valve that you can put inline; you just need to find one that fits your fuel line size. However, I'd try to find a well built metal one rather than the cheapo plastic ones that may or may not seal 100%.

A thought: Fuel shouldn't be evaporating out of the carb float bowl within several days. A week or two, perhaps. Of course, if your car sits in direct sunlight in the heat, that might speed things up. Is there a chance that the carburetor float cover is open to the atmosphere when it shouldn't be?

-Bryan
donm
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:40 pm
Your car is a: 1980 spider [carb]
Location: Hamilton. MA

Re: Check valve?

Post by donm »

That's a thought but if the float cover was open as you say wouldn't it be obvious? Or is there something I could check within the carb? (32/36 Weber)
1979 Spider
2001Saab SW
2004 Saab Aero
Life's too short to drive boring cars
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