LUVTruck.com

Hey, I was told by a friend that my midrange sputtering could be caused by a clogged or dirty fuel inlet screen in the carb.(HITACHI). I took the banjo fitting, the banjo bolt and banjo bolt lock off. Basically parts #46-53 on the exploded view of the carb in chapter 3 section 7 of the Haynes manual.... Anyway there was no screen (#50), so I put it back together just like it came apart, and now it puffs blue smoke and slowly floods itself until it dies. It wont even run for 30 seconds, what could I have done wrong? Also, should i try and get a screen for it or just continue to go without.

If there was any contaminant around the banjo fittings, it could have broken free, dropped down the inlet port, and not let the needle valve seat correctly.

I would have a filter there. I don't know how hard they are to come by. If you can't find one, you can install an in-line filter just before the carb. I have one, and it is the clear type, with the replaceable white elements. If you go that route, make sure the inlet/outlet fittings matches your fuel line size. ( 1/4, 5/16, etc.).

With regards to your current problem, you might have to take the carb apart a little, make sure there is no debris between the needle valve and seat. You will also see how much crap is in the float bowl.

Ohhhhhh... that brings back bad memories of a few past similar explorations.

Did you ever get the urge to go find the guy that designed those lousy hitachi carbs for chevy/isuzu and just choke the hell out of him?

Thank goodness for weber...that is for sure

What's the part number for a carb kit? And what aftermarket carbs fit an 80 Luv??

I don' tknow the number of the rebuild kit. Give your local parts stores a call for pricing and availability.

I believe the most popular aftermarket carb is the Weber conversion.

I bought mine off of e-bay. Afer many trials and tribulations, I would advise to get the brand new kit from Weber. Go on line, poke around. Google Weber carburetor, and I think Redline will pop up. Be prepared to spend about $400.00. My e-bay "deal" was much cheaper, but looking back on it, if I did it again, unless the guy selling me the carb was my brother, I'd buy new.

Bottom line, I went through two stock carbs, about three weeks of grief before I got the Weber. After a couple of hiccups, it runs great.

If you buy a used one, DO THIS: read the jet chart and know how a new carb would be set up if you bought one. Then, take out all the jets and stuff of the used carb, and compare against the chart. You need to know where your reference point is. I didn't know this before, and I spent a long time working thru a used carb whose jets were sized wrong for my truck. If I had done a base line comparison, I could have duplicated that as a starting point. At five bucks a jet, trial and error can get expensive.

There are new and used Weber 32/36's on Ebay all of the time...just make sure it is the right model carb and decide before you buy one about what type of choke set-up you are going to use....and make sure you get the right adapter plates with all of the necessary gaskets with it so it will bolt on to your stock intake.

(I personally used a manual choke, rebuilt my used Weber carb, and made my own gaskets for the used adapter plate that came with my used Weber 32/36 I bought on Ebay...but hey - I'm a cheap old fart.)

There are also Weber 32/36 overhaul kits and a rebuild kits on Ebay...one has fewer parts then the other (memory fails me right now which one is which - sorry!) and they are pretty darn cheap.

The right kit from Weber for their 32/36 model has the standard jets with everything else you may need and should get you going strong if anyone has a used one that is acting up...and I have a CD with all of the info and spec's for any Weber ever made...so if any one needs that info I can furnish them with a copy.

BTW: Although there are also some Hitachi carb rebuild kits and Hitachi rebuilt carbs available on Ebay and at some parts stores...but don't bother wasting your money on them because IMHO they all are crap.

Just about anybody with an old pre-80's japanese made truck or car that is all fixed up and restored that gets driven daily has a Weber under the hood if they can afford one.

Those old japanese carbs are just terrible.