Recommended Mechanic Dana Point - Orange County

[helloaustinc]

Hello,

There has been an aroma of gasoline smell in the cabin of my 1970 Ericson 29 for some time. There is no raw gasoline in the bilge, even when the motor is running. All hoses are bone dry and nothing leaking from the fuel filter or carburetor.

I have been told the possibilities are the fuel tank vent hose, the mechanical pump or sending unit (which I believe my tank doesn't have).

Moyer has been a great resource and has supplied parts to me for quite some time but pretty baffled by this issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions or know of any recommended mechanics near Dana Point, CA?

Thank you.

Austin

[edwardc]

It's possible that what you're smelling is coming from the carb throat itself. Possible sources are a float valve that's not seating fully, or a gasket that's leaking internally.

After stopped for a while, try removing the scavenge tube on the bottom of the carb and see if any gas drips out.

[zellerj]

Check out your gas tank. My aluminum tank developed pin holes that slowly leaked gas. Never found any gas in the bilge because it evaporated as fast as it leaked. Old gas tanks should be inspected annually. My pin holes were along the lower edge where water would pool. Running my hand across this edge found the corrosion. Needless to say it leaked much faster after I rubbed the crusties away.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Another way to detect gasoline leaks is to put clean paper towles in the area the of the suspected leak(s) then check the towels after a few days.

TRUE GRIT

[ndutton]

Did you notice no one has recommended a mechanic? We haven't found one worthy of a recommendation yet.

[Dave Neptune]

Austin, for the most part any mechanic worth his salt(???) is going to recommend a repower. There just isn't much money for them to make servicing an old A-4. It's a gas engine and old school so mechanicanials are unable to plug in to diagnose, thusly totally lost!

It is a simple engine and working on it yourself or as an I'll supply the liquid bread and "someone else" shows you how to do what you don't understand.

Many of the experienced on this site are so because they bit the bullet and figured the simple beastie out.

A MMI manual goes a long way in educating.

If you do find a mechanic please post it for others.

Dave Neptune

[sastanley]

Check out your gas tank. My aluminum tank developed pin holes that slowly leaked gas. Never found any gas in the bilge because it evaporated as fast as it leaked. Old gas tanks should be inspected annually. My pin holes were along the lower edge where water would pool. Running my hand across this edge found the corrosion. Needless to say it leaked much faster after I rubbed the crusties away.

+1..I had this exact same issue, and ended up replacing the tank with a plastic Moeller.