Vector Carburetor Needle and Float

[dennis]

I have a Tecumseh engine with a Vector carburetor. The float and needle valve are mounted in the plastic bowl, with the synthetic tip of the needle valve pointing down, float above the needle valve. I was not getting fuel, so took bowl off of the aluminum carb body, and no fuel was running into bowl. Tank full, no blockage in tank outlet or hose. The needle valve was sticking. Even if I pushed the bowl all the way down, the needle valve stayed closed. Question.....is the "head" (pressure) from the fuel in the tank supposed to lift the valve, or should the needle harness on the bowl lift it?....or both?

[KE4AVB]

I have a Tecumseh engine with a Vector carburetor. The float and needle valve are mounted in the plastic bowl, with the synthetic tip of the needle valve pointing down, float above the needle valve. I was not getting fuel, so took bowl off of the aluminum carb body, and no fuel was running into bowl. Tank full, no blockage in tank outlet or hose. The needle valve was sticking. Even if I pushed the bowl all the way down, the needle valve stayed closed. Question.....is the "head" (pressure) from the fuel in the tank supposed to lift the valve, or should the needle harness on the bowl lift it?....or both?

Simple answer is No to the tank pressure. It is the weight of the float that opens valve and when the bowl fills then the float floats closing the valve. The operation is a backwards to most float needle operation since the hinge is in the middle instead of being on the end of the float. Needle is held loosely in three point clip at the end of the float arm. Either float lever is broken or severely bent out shape; the lever pin is missing and/or mount is broken.


Edit: Think of the hinge point like a see-saw with needle on one end and float on the other.

[Deere2me]

I have a Tecumseh engine with a Vector carburetor. The float and needle valve are mounted in the plastic bowl, with the synthetic tip of the needle valve pointing down, float above the needle valve. I was not getting fuel, so took bowl off of the aluminum carb body, and no fuel was running into bowl. Tank full, no blockage in tank outlet or hose. The needle valve was sticking. Even if I pushed the bowl all the way down, the needle valve stayed closed. Question.....is the "head" (pressure) from the fuel in the tank supposed to lift the valve, or should the needle harness on the bowl lift it?....or both?

Look, the best fix is to install a " bowl kit". Could be # 730637A. GOOGLE vector bowl kit.

[dennis]

Thanks for info, KE4AVB and Deere2me. There is so much slop in the 3 point clip at the end of the float. All plastic or some other synthetic. Can't bend to adjust. Looks like new kit time. Thanks for answering my question.

[KE4AVB]

Look, the best fix is to install a " bowl kit". Could be # 730637A. GOOGLE vector bowl kit.

Dennis before you just order by vector bowl kit by number posted without knowing your equipment numbers; you need to lookup the engine and its spec number to get the correct bowl kit or at least post your equipment numbers here so we give you the correct part number based on the engine numbers. There are several different versions depending on the mixture jets needed. Some kits comes with primer bulb and others don't just depends on your setup.

[dennis]

Thanks KE4AVS...I actually had already done that. The issue I had was with a new replacement bowl kit. They are sending me another kit that hopefully will not be defective. The guy from the store said the gasoline pressure opened valve, and I thought the float did. That is why I asked the question. Thanks again.

Dennis

[Deere2me]

Thanks KE4AVS...I actually had already done that. The issue I had was with a new replacement bowl kit. They are sending me another kit that hopefully will not be defective. The guy from the store said the gasoline pressure opened valve, and I thought the float did. That is why I asked the question. Thanks again.

Dennis

The float DOES open the needle valve. The guy at the store is a moron! As the engine uses fuel, the fuel level in the bowl drops, the float also drops, and in so doing, opens the needle valve. Pretty simple , huh?http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/tecumseh_vector_carb.asp Pay attention to the O rings, I usually use a dab of grease or oil on em.

[bgsengine]

Thanks KE4AVS...I actually had already done that. The issue I had was with a new replacement bowl kit. They are sending me another kit that hopefully will not be defective. The guy from the store said the gasoline pressure opened valve, and I thought the float did. That is why I asked the question. Thanks again.

Dennis

2 Questions:
was it an OEM Bowl Kit?

and - Is the carburetor an O.E. Tecumseh?

OEM Tecumseh Bowl Kits do not always work correctly on aftermarket Oregon replacement carburetors.. and vice versa.

(And yes, the parts guy at the store is a moron as Deere said - The weight of the float OPENS the inlet needle as fuel level drops) - However - *excessive fuel pressure* CAN force open the float needle, but that is a different issue, and would cause flooding, not a lack of fuel.

[dennis]

It is an OE Tecumseh carb. The replacement bowl was an Oregon after market specifically for that carb. Even when I had the OE upper aluminum portion of the carb off, in other words, just the bowl kit with float visible, the gas still would not flow into it.

[bgsengine]

Stupid Question - Gas tank full, and carb / bowl kit held well below the tank level?

Liquid doesn't flow uphill without pressure on it.