Carb troubles on both tractors at the same time!?!?

Have a 2N and an IH 340. Both sit in the same shed and both have been excellent runners for years (the Ford requires periodic attention to the points and plugs, but the IH has been hands off since I got it running 6 years ago).

Anyway, they have both come down with sick carbs. The Ford floods very easy and is hard to start, but runs fine after you get it going except it won't idle.

The IH will start and run on ether, but will not run on fuel. I have verified I have fuel flow and even took the carb off to ensure the needle wasn't stuck. Blew out all of the passages and reinstalled it, but no luck. I put in fresh gas, made sure the intake tube and filter were clean and open and double checked the fuel flow, but it just won't pick up fuel from the float bowl.

They both have iron Marvel carbs

We have had a miserably wet spring (wettest on record). Could this have contributed? Can carb passages get plugged with rust while sitting? The IH has been sitting for 6 months, the Ford for about 3. Have never had trouble with these guys before, now they're both sick. Is it contagious? Better keep the mowers away from them...

if you are getting good uninterupted flow from the tank to the carb, and it won't picuk fuel. time to pull it apart and blow / wire thru all the holes.

on the one flooding.

check the float needle so that it moves freely.. make sure flaot is not hanging up.

I also have N's and a 340U. If you decide to get a carb kit, the same kit is used. You will probably need carb gaskets and needle/seats.

The wet spring has been a huge problem here as well. Ethanol gas has been sucking water vapor from the atmosphere and forming an organic acid in the gas. In real bad cases, you can see a separation of gas and water/acid if you draw fuel from the bottom of tank and let the sample settle in a glass jar. This polluted gas will not fire, but may fire if the engine is started with ether of carb cleaner (my preference). The engine will have low power until you get this crappy gas completely out of the system. The water phase of this old gas is likely to have a lot of rust in it. Your floats will probably be covered by a slightly green layer which gives them a heavier weight and you lose the correct fuel level. I gently scrape the green powder off the floats and then use a fine rotary brush on my Dremel tool to clean them further. The green layer is from the acidic water leaching the copper out of the brass, and can be found on any brass in the carb like needle and seat and the main fuel flow needle and tube. It can be cleaned up enough to get the tractors running and usable, but it takes patience. The fuel bowl of the MS carb will show rust, but that can be cleaned up well enough with the Dremel tool and wire brush.

For all above reasons, I hate ethanol in gas!!

Paul in MN