Overfloating problem SU
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Overfloating problem SU
After about 8 months it was time to start my engine up, it has a twin SU Hs2 set up.
After starting the engine the float chamber kept on over floating. Any ideas what to do ?
The floater is not leak so this is not the problem.
Kees
After starting the engine the float chamber kept on over floating. Any ideas what to do ?
The floater is not leak so this is not the problem.
Kees
Last edited by UHR850 on Thu Apr 01, 2021 4:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
-
- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:58 pm
- Location: Sussex by the sea - we wunt be druv...
Re: Overfloting problem SU
Check the float and needle valve for a start, even a a small piece of debris in the valve will stop it from sealing and the bowl will keep filling...
I had this after my car was laid up for a while, I got very good at stripping down the float chamber lid and valve assemblies by the side of the road until I installed a fuel filter.
I had this after my car was laid up for a while, I got very good at stripping down the float chamber lid and valve assemblies by the side of the road until I installed a fuel filter.

- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU
Thanks, lucky it's in my garage and the filter is already in it
Kees
Kees
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU


DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU






You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU
Mybe the wrong flote ?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- woodypup59
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1569
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:28 pm
- Location: London UK
- Has thanked: 8 times
- Been thanked: 22 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU
One of my cars often does this if it hasn't been used for a bit.
I've tried several needle valve types without a definite result.
As I have a fuel pump switch I turn it off for 30s while still driving, and i turn it back on it usually behaves.
I've tried several needle valve types without a definite result.
As I have a fuel pump switch I turn it off for 30s while still driving, and i turn it back on it usually behaves.
- Peter Laidler
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6399
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
- Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 139 times
- Been thanked: 120 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU
Take the float head off the carb, attach a piece of pipe to the inlet pipe and blow moderately hard. Lift the float and that will stop the flow of air. That is a bench test. You don't say where the fuel is leaking from. It's one of two places. Through the overflow vent (under the little silver plate held in by the inlet pipe) or through a gasket. Clean/clear the needle opening with a cotton wool bud
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloting problem SU
It leaks on the gadget, so the reason must be the fuel will not be stopped when the float will be high enough
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- Peter Laidler
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6399
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
- Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 139 times
- Been thanked: 120 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
CORRECT. The fuel pressure is quite low. I suspect and agree that the needle is not stopping the fuel flow for some reason. So remove and clean the needle and housing as described. I fear that the fuel is leaking via the small vent, hidden underneath the strip of foil - beneath the intake tube. But you've solved the problem.
Ignore fuel leaks like the plague - especially when they're this close to the exhaust!
Can I add something else too? Make sure that when you remove the 3x float chamber screws, you account for them, physically. Or stuff an old sheet down the back of the engine before you start. If, as happened to me, one of the screws drops through into the remote housing itg can - and did - anyway......
Ignore fuel leaks like the plague - especially when they're this close to the exhaust!
Can I add something else too? Make sure that when you remove the 3x float chamber screws, you account for them, physically. Or stuff an old sheet down the back of the engine before you start. If, as happened to me, one of the screws drops through into the remote housing itg can - and did - anyway......
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU


DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- Peter Laidler
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6399
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
- Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 139 times
- Been thanked: 120 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
We have a phrase in England that I first heard in Bandiana (Australia). It's used when there is no other explanations available. Well used in engineering circles and probably used by one or two forumers in the past. It says '......shit happens'
It happened to me a couple of summers ago. Insufficient fuel getting through. I strip carb fuel system down and use Mr Henry Hoover to suck out the shite. Worked very well. So well, that Mr Henry was spluttering. Until I looked around and saw that he was on fire!
It happened to me a couple of summers ago. Insufficient fuel getting through. I strip carb fuel system down and use Mr Henry Hoover to suck out the shite. Worked very well. So well, that Mr Henry was spluttering. Until I looked around and saw that he was on fire!
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU

DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- Spider
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 4851
- Joined: Mon May 07, 2012 6:10 am
- Location: Big Red, Australia
- Has thanked: 186 times
- Been thanked: 65 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
Take it as a sign,,,,,,Peter Laidler wrote: ↑Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:00 pm We have a phrase in England that I first heard in Bandiana (Australia). It's used when there is no other explanations available. Well used in engineering circles and probably used by one or two forumers in the past. It says '......shit happens'
It happened to me a couple of summers ago. Insufficient fuel getting through. I strip carb fuel system down and use Mr Henry Hoover to suck out the shite. Worked very well. So well, that Mr Henry was spluttering. Until I looked around and saw that he was on fire!
A sign you needed a new Auto-suck.
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU

Kees.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- UHR850
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6243
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:26 pm
- Location: Huizen the Netherlands
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
Is it possible to close it without problems, The float has no influence on this, it will continue to overflow on it.
Kees
Kees
DOWNTON Mini is what I like a lot.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
Collecting 60th wooden steeringwheels.
- Ronnie
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1287
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:37 pm
- Location: N/E England Where the SAND is GOLDEN and the sea is always COLD!!
- Has thanked: 12 times
- Been thanked: 31 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
NO
You must have a float level/ needle v/v or fuel pressure problem for fuel to be running out in the first place. 


- Peter Laidler
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 6399
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:35 pm
- Location: Abingdon Oxfordshire
- Has thanked: 139 times
- Been thanked: 120 times
Re: Overfloating problem SU
Nope....., that is a vent hole to allow the float to raise and lower without undue influence of trapped air. If the float were punctured in some way, and was sitting lower in the bowl that it should be, slightly BEFORE it could operate the needle valve, the fuel would vent through this hole too.