gas flow problem

Need advise. Have 1952 8-N, nice shape tractor virtually all stock, and was all gone thru a few years back--engine work and new paint.. I put a new gas tank a few years ago, old one rusty inside. The sediment bowl is clear and clean--and fuel will readily flow out if I loosen the round knob on bottom of bowl. If I loosen the fuel line going into Carb, fuel always leaks and flows there too. YET---when I'm mowing, it often will starve out just like any vehicle will when out of gas. It will die. I loosen the fuel bowl, even though it is full of fuel, retighten, bingo--I'm going again---for awhile, then repeat Might be 10 minutes, might be 2 hours. My gas cap is the old one off other tank. I see there are "vented" and "unvented" . I suspect the cap is the problem--what is your best advise? Thanks to all.
 
Take the cap off and run it with rag etc and say a 1/4 tank of gas. If it does not have a problem that way cap may well be the problem. Also turn the gas off and check the elbow in the carb and make sure the screen there is not clogged up. What happens if you try choking it when it happens or loosening the gas cap when it happens??
 
Loosen the gas cap before starting and try it that way.
If that works your tank vent may be clogged and a vented
gas cap would help.
 
I'll put the rag in and try that, never pulled the choke when she starts bucking and spitting. When I loosen the cap--there is no pressure or vacuum and hear no swish sounds. Ill check that screen on elbow soon. Thanks for those tips.
 

If you have a known rusty tank there's a good chance your system is plugged up. Are you opening the fuel valve all the way? If so, you are pulling gas from the "reserve" which is the bottom gallon of the tank, where all the dirt and rust is. You should only open the fuel valve two full turns, at most. I would suggest you replace all three fuel filters/screens. One is on top of the fuel shut off assembly and inserts into the bottom of the tank. There is a flat round screen on top of the plastic bowl, and there is another filter in the elbow that connects the fuel line to the carb. I had this problem when I first got my 52 8N several years ago. I changed all the filters, put in a new fuel line and shut off assembly and took the gas tank to a radiator shop to be boiled out and steam cleaned. Never an issue since.
 

Don't forget to check the screen in the carb intake, best way to check for fuel flow is to remove the plug in the bottom of the carb and measure the flow. You should get a pint full in 2 to 3 minutes.
 
(quoted from post at 18:57:27 02/24/15) I'll put the rag in and try that, never pulled the choke when she starts bucking and spitting. When I loosen the cap--there is no pressure or vacuum and hear no swish sounds. Ill check that screen on elbow soon. Thanks for those tips.

You might get lucky trying a Molotov cocktail rag or you could pull the drain plug while it is cold and see if it will drain a few gallons in a 5 gal bucket .

A drain cock (1/8 npt) would let you check fuel flow as soon as the motor died . A coffee can and a fire extinguisher would be a good thing to have .
 
i had a simular problem a few months ago , i had to run on reserve ( fuel valve all the way open )and of course it let tiny little dirt particles pass but particles were not large enough to clog any of the 3 screens , but it let a tiny particle into the carborator main jet ( as per your ford shop manual )i took the carb apart , all was nice and clean , EXCEPT, the main carb jet .cleaned it with a small wire and compressed air it runs the best it ever has
 

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