M38A1 Won't Idle

[lacroix9]

Hello,

I have a 1952 M38A1 that's just as it was when it came from the military. It started idling poorly
so I checked the plugs & plug wires, compression, valve adjustment. All where good. Put in 9 gallons of fresh gas, didn't help. Had a brand new OEM coil and capacitor. Cleaned the rotor and contacts in the rotor cap. It has Petronix points. No help. Removed the carburetor and got the delux kit to rebuild it. It helped it but I can't get it to idle. Have to pull the throttle out about 3/8" to run it a 1200 rpm. I can drive it and it drives perfect. Any ideas?

 

[NDT]

Vacuum leak somewhere, maybe in the vacuum pump?

 

[lacroix9]

Vacuum leak somewhere, maybe in the vacuum pump?

Hi NDT, Thank you for your suggestion, I checked the entire vacuum system with starter spray and a smoke machine and could find no leaks. I disconnected the fitting to the vacuum part of the fuel pump and plugged it. Still no help.

 

[lacroix9]

Hi, I found the problem. There is a 2" small brass hollow rod the screws into the top of the carb. It has a smaller brass rod inside. It has a flat end and a pointed end. The pointed end goes down, I had it reversed. Switched it and it runs great. Thank you, Terry