ok, so today i see some smoke coming from under the bonnet. i find that there is fuel leaking from what i think is the float chamber. it looks like theres a gasket between the top and the cannister. i've attached a picture and added an arrow to where the leak is coming from... is this something is simple to fix or should i take it to my local classic mini specialist?

 

I think your float needle is stuck - and it is no big problem to fix. You can clean the existing needle and use it untill you get a replacement, and there are aftermarket alternatives that work better than the original 'needle' design; look for Flojets from MiniCity, MiniMania or even Moss (since it would be used on any car with an S.U.)

(edit : also think about installing a fuel filter to keep the grit out of the float bowl ... )

 

I had the brand name way wrong (its hell getting old ...) but check these - the one with the ball-valve is the one to get!



http://www.minimania.com/web/SUBTYPE..._Inventory.cfm

 

8-ball is right. Its a cheap fix and a good excuse to get a once over from your favorite mini shop. They will replace the needle & seat bend the tangs on the float to make it float at the proper level & throw on a new gasket. Also floats can & do develop leaks & fill with fuel & give the same resulting overflow of fuel. If that doesn't work Bolt on a turbo-prop.

 

ok, as you may have noticed, i am a total novice at classic mini repair. hey, we all have to start somewhere! anyway, in your opinion, do you think this is something that a novice can do or should i head to the shop? i'm pretty good at picking this stuff up and am willing to spend $$$ on tools if needed. after all, my goal is to be self sufficient in the maintenance.

 

It's off a Volvo site, but an SU carb is an SU carb... some good info:

http://www.vclassics.com/archive/stoichio.htm

 

took the float assembly apart today and cleaned it out. the float wasn't broken and the float needle was fine. i cut a new gasket out of gasket paper, put it all back together and no more leak! yay! thanks for all your help everyone... and thanks to jeff grebe from j & w automotive in south st. louis!

 

Feels great doesn't it?

Now if only the Volvo's '73 Bosch fuel injection was as simple... I can't wait until I can get a Mini, but it looks like I need a truck first...

 

it does. i also fixed the tube that sends oil to the oil gauge. it had ended up touching the block and melting. from where the oil was leaking i thought i had a major blow out. turned out to be just fine. after running the engine for about 20 minutes, i was able to burn all the leaked oil and gas off and now the d3mon runs like a champ!

this afternoon, i am working on the interior.

wish me luck!

 

Sweet! The Volvo has a oil line for that guage as well, but at least they had the foresight to cover it with stainless steel braiding. It looks like ca-ca as it has over-spray from a crappy engine paint job when it the car was restored in '89.

Good luck with the interior! Fortunately, for me that's JerseyGirl's department.

 

To adjust the float level, flip over the float chamber cover holding the float and see if you can slide a 5/16 drill bit betweed the float & cover (not pressing down on the float, but leting it rest naturally). 1/8" for nylon float


Also if you can start your car with a cold engine(not necessarily cold outside) & drive off normally without using the choke, its running rich.Get the mixture set right, you all of a sudden have gobs more power. Minis are notorious for being worked on by many people learning as they go. By the time you get your hands on it,you tend to think all is ok, seems to run well. Also get someone, or a brick to press the gas pedal to the floor, now move the throttle at the carb and see if you don't have some additional throttle you didn't know about. If you do adj. it leave a little slack so as not to strain the butterfly at wide oped throttle. One more point, get a workshop manual &read & reread it. Minis can be extremely reliable, or a P.O.S. Its up to you.

 

By the way, you don't have to have a Mini float & needle... my dad and I were working on mine and lost the needle somewhere... he felt bad, so we went and stole the needle out of one of the carbs on our XK120. Works fine!