Carburetor Theory

Its all due to Air Pressure

Close to sea level pressure is 14.7 psi Air has weight 88 lbs in a 12x12x8 ft
room Vacuum is a pressure less than 14.7 psi Often measured in inches of mercury 14.7 psi ~ 30 in Hg As engine runs, intake strokes create vacuum or lower air pressure in manifol Normal ~10 psi (~20 in Hg) With throttle plate open, carburetor throat exposed to manifold pressure Carburetors operate on the venturi effect The venturi is a narrowing of the bore

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What causes air flow through carburetor?

Intake stroke of piston creates vacuum Intake valve open, transmits vacuum to
throttle plate Position of throttle plate determines air flow Closed- no flow- high manifold vacuum Open full flow low manifold vacuum Air (at ~ atmospheric pressure) flows from air cleaner side,through venturi, past throttle plate, through manifold and intake valve, into cylinder Model A running at 975 rpm flows about 70 cfm (cubic feet per minute)

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As air flows through venturi, pressure decreases in venturi

Bernoullis Law tells us as Area decreases, velocity increases and

As velocity increases, pressure decreases Air pressure on fuel in bowl is always ~atmospheric

As pressure difference between 1) fuel in bowl and

2) at tip of nozzle (located in venturi) increases, fuel flow increases from nozzle Throttle opens, more air flow, greater P, more fuelflow Throttle closes, less air flow, less P, less fuel flow

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Important factors Amount of vacuum created by intake stroke Less vacuum if Intake valve guides leak air Exhaust valve leaks air

Piston rings leak air

Manifold gasket leaks air Position of throttle plate Determines air flow through carburetor Determines difference in pressure on fuel in bowl and at tip of nozzle in venturi Greater difference more fuel flow

Basic carburetor consists of the following parts

1-Carburetor body 2-Air horn 3-Throttle valve 4-Ventur 5-Main discharge tube 6-Fuel bowl

1-Carburetor body

2-Air horn
The air horn is also called the throat or barrel. The parts which often fasten to the air horn body are as follows: the choke, the hot idle compensator, the fast idle linkage rod, the choke vacuum break, and sometimes the float and pump mechanisms.

3-Throttle valve
This disc-shaped valve controls air flow through the air horn. When closed, it restricts the flow of air and fuel into the engine, and when opened, air flow, fuel flow, and engine power increase.

4-Ventur
The venturi produces sufficient suction to pull fuel out of the main discharge tube

5-Main discharge tube

The main discharge tube is also called the main fuel nozzle

It is a passage that connects the fuel bowl to the center of the venturi.

6-Fuel bowl
The fuel bowl holds a supply of fuel that is NOT under fuel pump pressure

 Carburetor size is stated in CFM (cubic feet of air per minute). This is the amount of air that can flow through the carburetor at wide, open throttle. CPM is an indication of the maximum air flow capacity. Usually, small CPM carburetors are more fuel-efficient than larger carburetors. Air velocity, fuel mixing, and atomization are better with small throttle bores. A larger CPM rating is desirable for high engine power output

The seven basic carburetor systems are the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Float system Idle system Off idle system Acceleration system High-speed system Full-power system