sealant or not ?

[ALLAN]

still having issues with a fuel weep from the carb joints so I'll be stripping it again ( found someone with an ultrasonic cleaner so it'll be taking a bath as well ).
question is do I use sealant on the body joints? don't want to go down the tweak the screws route. I intend to try to reface the joints with the wet/dry paper on some glass and check float heights again. I used to use red Hermatite on my Amal carbs and never had one leak, understand it's no longer available, have tried various fuel resistant sealants on other projects and they just turn to jelly.
Ideas please

 

[Davea Lux]

Those joints should not leak, can you send a photo as to where the leak is? Sealant on carb parts is not usually recommended.

Dave

 

[mr. fix it]

if the pivot points of the throttle butterflies are weeping fuel then the only fix is to replace the base or entire carb

 

[MarPar]

I assume you are talking about a Edelbrock type-carb? One with a top horn that separates from the base on the intake?

Snap a couple of pics before she goes for her bath

 

[CBODY67]

To me, the ONLY place a "fuel weep" or "gas pattern" should happen is where the fuel line goes into the air horn. Typically, there should be a narrow nylon gasket there, between the fuel nut (which screws into the air horn body, into which the fuel line nut screws into) and the air horn. There may be a specific size related to the particular carb you have. A selection of sizes should be in the Holley online catalog, the Edelbrock online catalog, or from a place like The Carb Shop in Eldon, Missouri. Also, a member here, Dana, could probably help in that area, too.

IF the "fuel weep" is from the throttle shafts, that would probably be from fuel dripping out of the carb venturi(s) onto the throttle plates, then out to the ends of the shafts. Which could relate to the carb's float levels allowing a bit too high level in the float bowl.

If the "fuel weep" is from where the air horn and the carb main body meet, that's a gasket issue, to me. A new gasket AND noticing if the castings are still "flat" should fix that.

Be sure to use either Teflon tape or a similar liquid product on the fuel line nut for sealing purposes. BUT also remember that such a sealant can act like a lubricant on the threads, so DO NOT overtorque!!

Above, I'm speaking in generalities. What carb do you have?

CBODY67