blandry23

ive tried searching the whole site for something but ive found nothing. i have 2 stock carbs. one, the secondaries are like glued shut. the second one, the secondaries worked, but they don't open when the car is ran (aka when i need them most). since the haynes manual has nothing at all on the workings of the secondaries my question is this: how exactly do they open? i know they are vacuum operated, but idk where or how. the guy i bought it from didn't put new gaskets in when he changed the carb out, but everything else seems like its in place. could the loss of vacuum from a potential vacuum leak be my problem? any help would be appreciated. thank you

Adam Barnes

If it's hooked up correctly a vacuum actuator triggers the secondary diaphragm on the carb. If memory serves there is also a linkage of some sort for the secondaries that could be unhooked. I would suggest a rebuild kit since you said everything looks intact.

Seems like I rebuilt mine every year or two and it still didn't like to run correctly...

blandry23

thats what i was afraid of. i'm gonna double check to see that everything is in place and im also going to check the vacuum hoses and the solenoids for faults. ive heard there is a way to keep them held open but idk how to do that.

Adam Barnes

Might also do some reading here: http://sterlingmetalworks.com/the_nikki_carburetor.htm

Installing gaskets the wrong way, or the secondary linkage binding up could cause the problem you're having. WD40 to the rescue.

blandry23

ok thanks man. i compared it to my 84, and it looks like some hoses might be mixed up. The original carb had the problem of the secondaries being seized which is why the guy switched it out. maybe these ones seized up too so i'll take a look at that. prob won't be able to get to that until the summer though unfortunately, but she will be going on the road soon so i'll see if actually driving it will free them up.

blandry23

another question. would using those liquid gaskets work instead of buying all new ones? im a little short on cash and if it would work then why not, right? i have stuff thats rated to be used on valve cover gaskets and head gaskets so im pretty sure it would be able to take the heat.

Adam Barnes

It's not the heat you would need to worry about. All of the liquid gaskets I've ever tried were eaten by gasoline, but they might sell something I've never seen...

blandry23

ohh that would make sense, didn't even think about that. ok. so yea it sounds like im gonna have to buy the gaskets. when i finally get around to further diagnosing it i'll get back to you

blandry23

i was reading other forums and i seemed to have overlooked something major. I checked the secondaries when the car was in neutral sitting still. apparently, the car must be under load in order for them to open. they might not be messed up after all. im hoping not.

the car is almost on the road. needs a headlight, and a new battery. other than that she runs good. when i finally get to driving it i'll know for sure whether they don't work or not.

blandry23

no loss of power in high rpm's whatsoever. problem solved.