Carburetion Systems

Mr. Thaden
3rd Term 2000-2001
Adv. Small Gas Engines
 Overview

 Purpose of Carburetor

 Types of Carburetors

 Gas, Oil, & Air

 The “BIG” Picture
 One of the “Big 3” systems
– Ignition

– Compression

– Carburetion
 Purpose of the Carburetor
 One main purpose...

 Secondary Purposes & Requirements

 Carburetor Theory
 Atmospheric Pressure
– a constant downward force of air on the Earth

– usually varies between 13 and 15 lbs per sq. in.

– areas of low pressure must be created in the

carburetor to create air flow
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
 Venturi
– What is it?
 Wind blowing in downtown Chicago
– always stronger in the smaller areas between 2 buildings
 River currents
– always faster in a narrower, shalllower place than deep,
wide pools
 Definition
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
 Airfoil

low pressure

airfoil

high pressure
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
 All carburetors work basically the same:
– As piston moves from TDC to BDC on the intake
stroke, the intake valve opens, air is “sucked”
through the air cleaner into the airhorn and . . .
– Venturi creates an area of low pressure that draws
fuel from the fuel supply through the main discharge
nozzle.
 Venturi also causes the air flow to rapidly accelerate--thus
vaporizing and mixing air and fuel together very
efficiently.
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
 Because the main discharge nozzle is extended into
the airstream, an airfoil is also created, further
lowering the pressure “above” the nozzle.

– If an engine ran at only one speed under ideal

conditions, the story of carburetion would end
here.
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
– The carburetor must be able to adjust the
air/fuel mixture to the conditions presented.
– It must run smoothly and economically at
widely varying speeds.
– Richer mixture--more gas added to mixture.
– Leaner mixture--less gas added to mixture.
 To make these adjustments, a threaded needle valve
is added at the bottom of the main discharge nozzle.
– This regulates the amount of fuel that gets to the venturi
Carburetor Theory (con’t)
 To further regulate the mixture, two “air regulators”
or butterfly valves are also added:
– These restrict the amount of air flow through the
carburetor--either manually or automatically.
• This action decreases the power and speed and the
richness of the mixture within the engine.

– Throttle valves restrict air movement at all speeds and are

generally manually controlled.
– Choke valves restrict air movement at start-up to allow for
a richer mixture and can be manually or automatically
engaged.
 Carburetor Theory (con’t)
– To further regulate the air/fuel mixture at lower
speeds, another threaded needle valve is added.
 This allows the engine to run smoothly and
economically at very low speeds by allowing a
slight bit of fuel to slip past the throttle valve.
 Note: At low speeds, the throttle valve is fully
closed.
– Idle speed should be 1750 RPM on all B&S engines.
 Types of Carburetors
 Gravity Feed
– called a “Flo-Jet” by Briggs & Stratton
 Vacuum Feed
– called “Vacu-Jet”
 Pulse Feed
– called “Pulsa-Jet”
 Flo-Jet Carburetors
 Gravity feed system

 fuel flows by gravity to the carburetor

 gas tank must have a vent hole to provide
atmospheric pressure to “push” fuel to carburetor

 The float is found in the bowl.

– As fuel flows into the bowl, it raises and lowers the float.
Flo-Jet Carburetors (con’t)
 The float is attached to a needle valve.
– The needle, along with its seat, work together to turn on
and off fuel flow to the main discharge nozzle.
 Float level
– should be high enough to allow an ample supply of fuel at
full throttle, yet remain low enough to prevent flooding
and/or leaking.
– should be set at 5/16 of an inch on our engines.
 Vacu-Jet Carburetors
 Fuel tank is below the carburetor

 Again, atmospheric pressure is employed to help

get the fuel to the carburetor.
– Air pushes down on the fuel in the tank, when the piston
starts downward on the intake stroke, it creates an area of
pressure that is lower than that of the atmospheric
pressure. This causes the fuel to rise through the pickup
tube and travel toward the main discharge nozzle.
 Vacu-Jet Carburetors (con’t)
– Vacu-Jet carburetors require a richer mixture
setting because the fuel system “lags” behind the
fuel requirements of the engine at the high speeds
that most small engines run at.
–
 As the throttle closes to idle, the leading edge takes a
position between 2 different sized discharge holes that
are found on the main discharge nozzle.
 The larger of the holes now becomes an area of high air
pressure and the flow of fuel ceases.
Vacu-Jet Carburetors (con’t)
– The smaller hole now becomes an area of lower pressure
and fuel continues to flow--just enough for the engine to
idle.
– Choke valve is also different:

 There are many problems with this choke system

including sticking open and closed, especially when
remotely controlled.
 Pulsa-Jet Carburetors
 Only “true” fuel system
– contains a diaphragm type fuel pump and a
“constant level” fuel chamber
 Newest design of carburetors for small engines
– can obtain just as much (or more) horsepower as
older, more complicated float-type carburetors
 This is due to the fact that it provides a constant fuel
level directly below the venturi
– very little “lift” is needed to get the fuel to the carburetor
Pulsa-Jet Carburetors (con’t)
– The venturi can be made larger, allowing more air/fuel
mixture into the engine allowing an increase in
horsepower within the same sized engine.
– See diagram for operating principals
 Carburetor Adjustments
 Adjustment of the needle valve for maximum power

 Causes overheating, early or late detonation, and short valve

life
 No accelerator pump in Flo-Jet and Vacu-Jet models so engine
will “kill” if throttle is opened suddenly.

 “Floods” the engine causing “raw” fuel into the combustion

chamber (cylinder).
– dilutes the crankcase oil washing away the film on the cylinder wall
causing “scuffing”and lost compression.
 Carburetor Adjustments (con’t)
 Throttle Adjustment
– To adjust for maximum power and efficiency:

– This indicates a lean mixture.

– This indicates a rich mixture.

Carburetor Adjustments (con’t)
 Slowly turn the main needle valve back clockwise to
a point midway between the 2 readings

 This method can also be used to set the maximum

speed the engine will run by first opening the
throttle all the way.
 Carburetor Adjustments (con’t)
 Idle Speed Adjustment
– Very similar to Throttle Adjustment

 IS NOT necessarily the slowest speed at which the

engine will run.
– Can be any speed you choose
Carburetor Adjustments (con’t)
 Again, turn the screw in (clockwise) until the engine
speed decreases.
– Lean mixture

 Turn the screw out (counter-clockwise) until the

speed increases and again decreases
– Rich mixture

 Usually, the idle adjustment needs to be reset with

each new application of the engine.
 Gas, Oil, & Air
 Gas--
– use fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline with a
minimum of 77 octane
 In Minnesota, the minimum octane allowed by law
is 87.
 Purchase an amount that can be used up within 30
days.
 Ethanol an/or methanol is fine to use in today’s
small engines.
 Gas, Oil, & Air (con’t)
 Oil--

 Detergent oils keep the engine free of gum and

varnish deposits and generally keep the engine
cleaner.
 No other additives should be used in the oil.
 Gas, Oil, & Air (con’t)
 Air--
– Clean air is an extremely important part of the
carburetion system.

 New technologies in foam materials make these air

cleaners somewhat obsolete.
THE END