Fuel dripping from cowl

[Barney]

Went to start the 12D yesterday. Two shots of primer and contact. Ran ruff and shut it down to find fuel dripping from cowl. The drip was about one every second or more. Could a faulty primer cause a leak this severe, or more likely a float related issue?

[flybikefarm]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

Yes it will. I had the same problem with my cub. New o-ring in primer.

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

You say fuel is dripping from the cowl. Where exactly is it dripping from?

By the way, welcome!

[Trevor11ac]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

I would also agree the primer is a good place to start. Had the same problem on a chief

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

Well, if it is out of the bottom of the heatbox it could be a stuck or non-sealing float needle. A leak somewhere else could be gascolator or fuel line or primer line.

[Barney]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

I haven't removed the cowl, but could see it wasn't the gascolator. I did reach down to the air box and it was wet with fuel.

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

Possibly the needle is leaking, which can happen. Should, but not always, be metal. (Can also be a nylon needle but it and metal can and will leak unless you take some time to lap it to the seat). Still running the same fuel? Change from 100LL to autogas? Reason being if you have a neoprene-tipped needle, alcohol in car fuel can swell the tip and cause sealing issues. Or, as others have mentioned, may be a leaking or not locked-down primer.

A swelled tip neoprene needle can cause the carb to run a little rich. A primer leaking, or not locked down, will also cause rich running.

[Barney]

Re: Fuel dripping from cowl

I should have updated this months ago. It was the primer. i didn't have it locked.