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Fixing A Carb With A T-shirt

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by tomasinator, Jul 26, 2016.

  1. Jul 26, 2016
    tomasinator

    tomasinator Member

    Redmond, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2015
    Messages:
    415
    A month or so ago, my wife and I drove our '70 cj5 to Spada Lake, a reservoir of drinking water for the city of Everett, WA.

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    On the way there, I noticed the engine wanted to stall when I let off the gas. When we pulled in to get a permit to enter the area, the engine stalled and wouldn't start unless I used a lot of manual choke. At this point, I didn't tell my wife something was wrong with the jeep, but I was worried we might get stranded in such a remote area.

    [​IMG]

    The jeep did start and we did make it home, but I had to use the choke to keep the engine running at stoplights. When we got home, I did all the usual things to figure out what was going on. The engine would only run with the choke plate nearly closed. I verified the timing was ok and checked the carb for vacuum leaks. I knew the carb was the problem, but tried all the easy stuff first (that I knew wouldn't work), like replacing the fuel filter, checking the points, etc. Some previous owner replaced the original carb with an Edlebrock 4 barrel on the Dauntless V6.

    The jeep sat until ITLKSEZ was at our house this weekend installing kitchen cabinets. He took a look at my poorly running jeep. He determined it was running lean and the idle circuit in the carb was clogged. He once heard about a t-shirt trick and decided to try it. With the air cleaner off, he ran the engine to about 1500 rpms, jammed a wadded up t-shirt over the carb to cut off all the air, and then manually floored the engine from the carb linkage. The engine would almost die (until he lifted off the shirt), but the process would generate a tremendous amount of vacuum that would hopefully pull any lodged dirt/gum through the idle jets. He did this about three times, and the engine ran perfectly after that, idling normally without any choke. I was about to buy a new carb, and he fixed it with a t-shirt :)
     
  2. Jul 26, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    You did say it was your lucky T-shirt! ;)
    No one was more shocked than me that it actually worked. The look on my face when it idled normally afterwards: o_O
     
    69Willys, OrangeCJ5, Danefraz and 2 others like this.
  3. Jul 26, 2016
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
    Now you just have to get the T-shirt out of the manifold...:rofl:
     
    eti engineer likes this.
  4. Jul 26, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2006
    Messages:
    5,798
    Make cabinets, install cabinets, fix jeep with T shirts...

    I cannot believe that worked(y)
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  5. Jul 26, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,418
    Ha! I just did this last week with my weed wacker that i havent been able to get running for 2 yrs. Except i put my thumb over the air inlet. Same thing, as much full throttle as it would go and after almost choking it off it revved up like normal. Whatever was stuck in there cleared out
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  6. Jul 26, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    I knew ITLKSEZ was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back. Nice job! (y)
     
    47v6, ITLKSEZ and Beach66Bum like this.
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