I have a '39 P-8 and it starts and runs,however,it idles very high and I can't get that idle down. I have backed out the carb linkage and I can't get the idle to come down. Is this a vacuum issue??
By the way,I just want to say thank you..to all of you, who respond and help me and people like me. THANKS!! Dennis
Dennis,
I had the same problem on my '41 P12 with a newly rebuilt carb. It turned out that I had improperly attached the distributor vacuum line at the base of the carb. Your problem sure sounds like a vacuum leak.
Good luck.
Jim Yergin
ON my P10 I found that the linkage above the starter was hanging up lubed it and all was fine ever since hope this helps DANiel
Dennis:
I fought this problem, even after installing a remanufactred carb. Finally, after solving friction and looseness in the linkage problems the problem has gone away.
Good Luck
Don
You may be on to something with the 'lean mixture' scenario. I get reminded what a lean mixture does to the speed of a carburated gasoline engine every time my chain saw runs out of fuel. It runs merrily along responding to the throttle and idling down when the throttle is released. Then all of a sudden it 'takes off' and goes to almost full speed and that's with the throttle sitting at idle. The reason for the speed increase is of course the leaning out of the mixture as the chain saw runs out of gas. It only last for a few seconds but is quite impressive non the less. It's a stark reminder of what a little bit of unwanted air leaking in could do to an otherwise 'perfect' carb.? ?
I remember working on a Fiat in the 1960's, the car would run full speed at idle with no contol. Our problem was a small gap under the carb, The carb bolts were bottoming out in the intake manifold and the carb was not againist the gasket.
Forgot to mention check the throttle cable (the one you pull in the dash with) that it is not (holding the linkage) a tad to much , Also try disconnecting the linkage to know if its in the linkage or the Carburetor, If its in the carburetor take off the air cleaner hold throttle around 1500 rpm and use your other hand and with your palm of your hand put it on the air horn to clear out any dirt in the idle passage hope this helps DANiel ,,,,,,do that around 3 times if problem persist rebuild it....