"Starter Carb" Leaking like a sieve! HELP!

Well as per instructions, I'm posting this to the Technical Board.  Anybody out there able to help me with my leaking starter carb on my '37 4.3? The carbs have been rebuilt umpteen times, and the starter carb enrichment device still want to leak petrol everywhere! I am so frustrated with it, that I'm not driving the car for fear of fire! I've tried 'tapping' the float bowls and adjusting the gudgeon pins on each of the 3 dash pots, so there are no leaks from the carbs themselves, but that pesky enrichment device just won't behave.  Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated.  Failing all else, I may just sell the car. Posted by Alvis in Ontario 09/09/2014 19:14:01

Tough to diagnose from a distance.  In two weeks I'll be in Ontario, CA, unless we are talking Ontario, Canada Posted by johnlayzell 11/09/2014 01:42:53

Ontario, Canada!  I solved the problem with the help of Joe Curto SU Guru extrordinaire! From my description on the phone he diagnosed the problem as being with the dash pot lid, and it's integral forked gudgeon pinned regulator for the flow and float. I switched over the cap from the leading carb with another from the rearmost carbs, and problem solved! (I hope), I have been waiting for 4 months for replacement dash pot lids from SU Burlen, and when I spoke to them this morning, they are finally in and will be despatched without delay! (takes about 3 weeks from posting from Burlen for some reason?)  So I'm off to the Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance tomorrow, hopefully the car will behave whilst I'm there! Thanks for the reply. Posted by Offord4.3 11/09/2014 18:13:11

Philip,  Let us know how you get on. Likewise keep us posted when you have fitted the new parts.  Richard Melbourne Posted by RichardWallach 12/09/2014 10:21:23

Philip,  Congratulations and apologies!  I should have recommended immediately that you call Joe Curto!  He helped me out many years ago with a somewhat similar situation. One of the three float chamber lids was not vented and he talked me through filing a 1 mm groove in the top to create a vent.    FYI, I sent him two bottles of good wine, which he appreciated.  Rally on! Posted by johnlayzell 12/09/2014 12:27:15

Richard and John, Thanks for the replies, I spoke with SU Burlen last Friday and they told me that my dash pot caps were on the way!  I just posted this to the technical board, or the 4.3 board, I get confused, anyway, here it is again. RARA ALVIS!   Just thought I'd mention my car garnered 2nd in class at Canada's equivalent of Pebble Beach, last weekend! Very proud, lots of interest in the Marque. Cognoscenti knew what an Alvis was, and were very enamoured by the car. I was particularly gratified, when the head judge, David Cooper of Cooper Technica lauded my restraint in not 'over doing' the restoration. I have stressed all the while that my car is for driving and that I wanted it returned to how it was when new in 1937. Posted by Offord4.3 17/09/2014 20:34:37

Congratulations, Philip. You must be quite chuffed. Isn't nice when things work as they should.  Regards  Richard Posted by RichardWallach 18/09/2014 06:18:55

Hi Richard, Yes, I'm over the moon with the result. When you think that the car that beat my Alvis, in class, went on to win best of show, and cost the owner US$2.3M last year at auction, it further goes to show that our cars are world class motors, and the epitome of British engineering! Phil Posted by Offord4.3 18/09/2014 18:13:47