Yesterday I reversed my mini onto some ramps so the rear was in the air. I then jacked the front up and put it on chassis stands while i did an oil change.

When I was finished I lowered the front and started the engine to check everything was all good. I left the rear sitting up on the ramps (just because I was too lazy to move the car... it was getting dark).

I went home

I came back to the workshop today to find a large puddle of fuel under the car. The fuel tank was full as I'd only driven a few kilometers since filling up.

It looked like the fuel was leaking out of the soft mount gasket. This is virtually brand new and looks in perfect condition.

For a long time now I've had a leak from the carb that drips on the exhaust when the car is switched off. It's a drop every 3-5 seconds. I'm not sure how long it lasts, but it definitely doesn't leave any kind of puddle like it did last night.

Before i go wasting money on gaskets and spare parts, what does everyone think the problem might be?

How tight should i be doing up the nuts on this soft mount? They are the rubber isolated type. I don't want to crush them to the point that they're no longer effective.

_________________
- Simon -

I'd check the float level first.
And the condition of the float needle & seat whilst the lid id off.

re the soft mount, I gave up using one on the 45 Dellorto 20 years ago.
Its stock gasket works fine- whether a Weber would notice I'm not sure, but on a road car I doubt it.
Most people with road cars seem to overtighten the damn soft mounts anyway so they don't work.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

If it has leaked past the soft mount, I would also check your oil again, as any that went past the mount would have gone straight down into your oil.

This happened to me once with an SU when it's needle and seat failed to seat.

_________________

I actually took the caby off to check the soft mount and to see if i can see evidence of leakage underneath it. I've brought it home with me. Can I do any of this with it on the bench? I know almost nothing about carbs.


This occurred to me while lying on the couch this evening.

The car lives in a garage that I rent, so I'll need to check when I go visit. Oil's not cheap, so i'll be pretty pissed if i have to dump 5 litres of brand new oil.

_________________
- Simon -

You can do all this on the bench. I suggest you get a copy of Des Hammill's book "How to build and power tune Weber & Dellorto carburettors".
Under $40 and worth every penny.

[edit] on special for $29.95- http://www.pitstop.net.au/view/products ... plu/12993/

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

As doc says check the float level first. I had a similar problem with the weber on my car and it was driving me crazy trying to find the leak as it had a whole kit put through it. I also thought it was leaking from the soft mount which you would think it was a needle and seat problem , but as it turned out it was actually leaking from the cover plate on the base that has the four screws. Even though it was tightened very well it turned out (for whatever reason) to be slightly distorted. I removed the cover plate and using some wet and dry placed face up on a flat surface rubbed the cover plate on the wet and dry until i got a complete witness right across the sealing face of the cover plate.

Bingo problem solved.......

_________________
"Investing my Super in a Cooper" &
"Re-living my Surfing Past in a Woody"

Webers (not Dellortos) are also known to lose fuel through the starter circuit when bits get worn. I'm not sure but I think it's only when running. Is pretty easy to block off, who needs a `choke' on a Weber.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

what r u doing parking at china town

_________________
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

apologies to Molina for a thread detour.

could people in the know tell me the difference between aweber 13 and 152 - i thought the 152 or 152G was the 45DCOE to get ?

No need to apologise. It's only a minor detour and any additional carby info will probably help me also.

I did a bit of googling last night and to check the float level requires the car to be running? This is really highlighting my noobiness but wasn't it mentioned above that I could do it on the bench?


I was just going to post that this joke went over my head. But i get it now. I didn't think people still used that term or said things like that. Showing your age much?

_________________
- Simon -

lol yep... weber life

if i stop after a long drive and cant hear a drip every 5-7secs sizzling on the extractors something is up

_________________
Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do...



“A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.” - Jeremy Clarkson

Just tried to order a rebuild kit for the weber. The guy from bursons hadn't heard of a 45dcoe weber and wanted to know what car it was off. That was the only way he could look it up. He went away to ask someone else I think and came back after 10min with WE805 as the part number for the kit... for $45.

I rang Repco to ask the same thing. That bloke couldn't look it up without knowing what car it was off either. This time he wasn't able to work it out at all.

A quick google was kinda inconclusive on what cars were factory fitted with the 45DCOE13. The 1978 Lamborghini Countach was... but somehow i doubt that'd be in Repco's book.

_________________
- Simon -

Did they know a weber was a carburettor?
..or did they think they were some brand of 600cc injectors?

_________________
Tim

The weber is probably leaking from the starter/choke jets, where the choke cable lever attaches on the manifold face of the carb. Weber DCOE carbs should not be mounted at more than a 5deg angle. Most Mini weber non swan necked manifolds have a higher angle than 5deg to get them to fit without hitting the firewall. Mine was in the order of 15 deg and leaked all the time so I took it off. If you lower the float level then your existing jets, air correctors and even maybe the emulsion tubes etc will need to be changed.
Been there and done that many years ago.

RonR

_________________
68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

Forget Repco etc, go here- http://www.weberperformance.com.au/

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.