Stuck needle valve

[dgabler]

I have an '80 18' sunray with an aq120b. Sat for 20+ years with fuel in it. There was a ton of varnish in the tank. got most of it out but still have some in the tank.

I am using an racor 500MA filter with a 30 micron filter.

I do not know if the needle was replaced when the carb was rebuilt.

The needle is a bit sticky. Not excessive however it does stick, causing the bowl to go dry.

My question: Assuming that the needle is bad (and I replace it) with my filter in place will that be effective at capturing the varnish (and keeping the needle stick free) or should I be using the 10 micron?


Oh and I can not pull the tank out as it is fiberglassed into the hull. And I did verify with racor that the filter is ok to use with gasoline not just diesel.

Thank you.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Stuck needle valve

If you had varnish in the gas tank, then it's a sure bet you have varnish in the carb passages as well as junk in the float bowl. A rebuild kit is only $38 on ebay so why not do it right?

 

[dgabler]

Re: Stuck needle valve

when I rebuild it will a 30 micron filter be enough? Or do I need a 10?

 

[dgabler]

Re: Stuck needle valve

Ordered the rebuild kit. Hopefully the suspended varnish does not plug the new needle valve.

Can I order just the needle valve? Or does it always come in a kit?

Wonder how I could rig up a recirculating pump to run fuel through the filter with out removing the tank. Could then pick up some of the bad stuff missed the first go around. hmmm

 

[Sparkscw]

Re: Stuck needle valve

Wonder how I could rig up a recirculating pump to run fuel through the filter with out removing the tank. Could then pick up some of the bad stuff missed the first go around. hmmm

I read on another site about a guy doing this and he had great luck with it.
He let it run for quite some time (as in a couple hours), and had the pick up hose stuffed down in the tank and kept moving it around ("like a shop vac").
He kept recurculating the gas back into the tank, and I don't think he was using the stock fuel filter system.
He also used a filter system that he could see and kept at it until it was coming out clean.
Considering the problems that can come from bad fuel, I would have to say it was time and effort well spent.
David