Changing my Carburetor

[Gary J.]

This may be a dumb question but I feel there must be a better way to stop the flow of gasoline to the carburetor when I change it next week. I am replacing my service replacement 3810 with a properly dated unit, other than pinching the rubber gas line with a pair of vice grips with the jaws wrapped with tape just before it trasitions to steel on the passenger side frame area, any better ideas? I would hate to ruin the rubber line, just seems like this would be a bubba method but I cannot think of another way. I don't want to be a "hack" garage mechanic.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Changing my Carburetor

Gary, If you are just replacing the carburetor there is no need to worry about pinching gas lines. The carburetor is above the fuel tank, just unbolt and replace the carburetor.

The only time to worry about gasoline is when you take the fuel pump lines loose..

[Gary J.]

Re: Changing my Carburetor

Thanks Tim.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Changing my Carburetor

Even in the past when I changed fuel pumps, I had made a wooden plug to put into the line as soon as I removed it from the pump fitting. You lose a little in the process, but that's better than draining the tank. Others use a bolt. It's never a fun thing to do, but then, how often do you change a pump?

At the carb, well, you'll again have to sacrifice some gas that is in the line from the pump or filter. That is one advantage of a fuel hose there as well. My 63 had the steel line from the filter before I raised the carb with a spacer which dictated I go to a hose. The hose now points up to the fitting on the carb so loses very little gas when disconnected.

Stu Fox

[Dale S.]

Re: Changing my Carburetor

A couple of shop rags under the fitting when you disconnect it from the carb. If you are doing the job in the garage, take the rags outside. I have a water heater in my garage. D/