donnie, at this point, I normally would adjust the Idle and float screws good enough to get it running in the ball park. then take it to a shop to have it properly adjusted.

Fuel but no idle indicates a carb issue.
Look at the float settings and the mixture screws.
If automatic - check the anti-stall dashpot.

Before replacing the fuel pump run a jumper line thru the electric as a temp to check.
If it idles fine and stays idling, problem is the mechanical or the line connections.

If you don't have pipe thread fittings to hose barb you can cob one up using an old chunk of heater hose with band clamps to a smaller tube till it sizes to the elect pump fittings.
Like a step up and step down bushing.

Some mechanicals have clamps on the inlet and a fitting on the outlet which uses a steel pipe to the inline filter with a clamp.
Some without the inline filter have a steel pipe to the carb bowl inlet filter housing.

Throw an inline fuse in the elect pump wiring and use jumper clips to activate and deactivate the pump. Just remember to allow the bypass to prime.

If you pumb into the tank suction line, it will run as long as the elect pump is active (an there is fuel in the tank).
If it still won't idle, could be the carb or the tank/lines if a fuel issue. Might be other things tho. Make sure the distr primary is good, points/ground, no intermittent shorts.

If it stays running off-idle (low cruise circuit) but stalls as soon as you return to the idle circuit check the mechanical linkage and curb idle setting. Try screwing the curb idle up a few turns to see if it stays running, then rev it up and let it fall back to idle and see if it stalls.

Looks like I have a carb problem. Had it running from jar and had a half decent idle for a bit but runs extremely rich. Sucks down 12 oz. + of fuel in like 15 seconds.

Mech FPs need to be primed and keep the prime.
To eliminate the lines, put some gas in a glass jar and hose it to the pump inlet. prime it and see if the engine starts and drains the jar.
If it stays running till the fuel is gone, the problem is someplace in the pump inlet line from the tank.
Also check the tank vent to make sure the tank isn't getting suction locked.

Sample Pump


I've seen people install inline filters backwards before and it results in engine not staying running or stalling (if put at a certain angle which causes a void).

One other option is to buy a cheap inline electric fuel pump and bypass the mechanical pump, if the problem goes away, replace or rebuild the mechanical pump.
If the problem remains, the problem is not likely to be the fuel pump.

If there's dirt in the lines or the pump - check the pickup sock in the tank.

so donnie?? how goes the battle? any closer tofinding the idle issue?


talking with some of the tuner guy's and they were lost.
dint understand what a mechanical fuel pump was.. aand knew even less about carburation then I do.
if they cant tune i with their lap top. they are blank slates.

If you don't expect you will avoid disappointment

This... ^^^^^

If men and women are equal then why is it alright to make fun of a man's appearance but not a woman's?

In the political threads, seeing the same people often, I think they mostly love to argue.

HOW ABOUT SAME SPELLING DIFFERENT MEANING..........''POLISH''

still sounds like the Idle set screw is just set too lean . they can sometimes back off or the throttle cable could have stretched.

My mom named her 1987 Samurai "Susie".
If only runs poorly at idle it's a fuel mixture problem: plugged idle circuit, manifold vacuum leak ( manifold gskt, carb base gskt, deteriorated vacuum hose), fuel spill over, excessive base ignition timming, leaking intake or exhaust valve.

My mom named her 1987 Samurai "Susie".
If only runs poorly at idle it's a fuel mixture problem: plugged idle circuit, manifold vacuum leak ( manifold gskt, carb base gskt, deteriorated vacuum hose), fuel spill over, excessive base ignition timming, leaking intake or exhaust valve.

So as you see some_what_pushover, this "discussion" has degenerated into name calling, the last bastion of the truly "faithful" on both sides of any issue.

Ah carbureted, so it starts but won't idle?

No vacuum leaks?

Does it have an idle solinoid?