Holy cow it runs! (Sort of...)

[ThaDentist]

Hey all,

I finally got time to work on the "roller" that I got off of ebay a couple of months ago and I actually have it running fairly consistantly. I swapped out the radio box to the x radio box and switched to the x tvps.

On to the problem(s):
It idles well and it runs like a crackhead in a Corvette at full throttle. However, I have nothing in between. I basically gun it, takes of slow (coughing and sputtering a bit) and then it takes off. I am assuming that I just need to lean out the low speed needle, but you guys tell me.

Second question, how do I know if/when my truck is shifting?

Any ideas?

 

[frddyj]

whats up dentist haven't seen ya in a bit. yep, sounds like your tune to me.

watch jud's tuning vid as many times as you can stand it paying close attention to the sound.

a bad tune will prevent your tranny from shifting. so get the tune straightened out & i bed itll shift for ya. youll be able to hear it :rock:

 

[ThaDentist]

Figured it out...

Well, I figured it out. I ran about a tank and a half through the engine playing with the tune the whole time. I was chasing the tune the whole time. It would run great one minute and then like crap the next. I took the engine out to see if I still had an air leak. I found that there was air leaking from around the front bearing. In the process of taking apart the engine, I notice that the engine has absolutely no pinch with the head button off. So, I guess I am looking at a new piston and sleeve or possibly a new engine. 🙁

 

[Mickey]

engines don't have much pinch with the head button off. its the compression that creates the pinch. put the head back on and recheck. you will find the so called pinch is probably ok.

when an engine loses its "pinch" it is unable to hold compression as it blowes by the piston back to the crankcase.

 

[ThaDentist]

Thanks Mickey! Yeah, the engine has great compression with the head back on. I guess I should try sealing the front bearing see if that fixes it.

 

[Mickey]

np dentist warm the engine up and recheck the front bearing for leaks. i have heard that they will leak when they are cold but if you warm them up they wont

 

[oregonmud]

Is the engine an Axial by chance? If so the front bearings leak like a... well, you know. But I have never had a tuning problem over it. If you haven't already, take the needles out of the carb and make sure all the O rings are not cracked or missing chunks.

 

[ThaDentist]

Yeah, it is an Axial! I will pull the needles and check them and let you guys know what happens. Thanks guys!

 

[oregonmud]

lol Don't get me wrong. I love those engines, but they do leak a bit. I'm tempted to buy a couple replacements for them and replace the leaking ones I have.
I will do it for sure on the next new one I get.

 

[oregonmud]

HEY HEY HEY! I might be off here. But check the mid range needle. I just remembered the other quirk with these engines and its that that needle likes to screw itself in or even out all by itself.
To prevent this I thread lock the needle and seal the top of it off with copper gasket maker.

 

[ThaDentist]

Yeah, I read about the midrange and have already sealed it up with silicone to keep it from moving around.

I am going to take it out in a bit and see if I can get a decent tune out of it. I will let you know what happens.