Fuel injection too rich

[jbraaflat]

Hey everyone.  I'm a new member.  I have a 174" FED with a 438cid SBF, Hilborn injected on Methanol.  My issue is, I fired the engine yesterday for the first time this season.  My tune-up is way too rich.  There is alcohol coming out the pipes.  I have a .115 main pill with 2.5 throttle bodies.  I blew everything out in the off season.  Could I have done something to the metering valve.  Again, alcohol is coming out of the pipes at idle, no heat in the engine, way too rich.  Soaking down the plugs.

[fuel749]

Try posting in Spuds F.I. section, he'll get you on the right course. Any chance the pill or return line is plugged? Corrosion plugging the pill?

[wideopen231]

only one pill? Two has happened.

[jbraaflat]

I bought the injection system from FIE.  Spuds the Man.  I was going to call him Monday.  I checked the main pill and the pop-it valve/spring was ok.  No changes in the system since last season.  I'm thinking I might have done something to the metering valve when blowing it out this winter.  Hoping someone has ran in to this. 

[masracingtd1167]

Make shure you have the jet can facing the right direction . If it is backwards you will get no fuel flow through it and the motor will be real rich .

[jbraaflat]

Hey, thanks everyone. I'm going to check all your suggestions.

[coupemerc]

If it is rich at idle, take a really close look at your barrel valve position and leak down. The barrel valve adjustment controls the fuel mixture at idle.

[jbraaflat]

Looking at my barrel valve, I noticed the "54" on the spool valve is in the wrong location when at WOT.  My leak-down was at 30% and was able to rev the engine.  I'm going to make sure the spool valve is in the correct location according to the hilborn schematic.  Thanks again.

[dreracecar]

If you just fired it up from it sitting since last year and all you did was dry the lines at that point, there is no way that anything could change in the BV unless somebody took it apart. I would check the secondary/idle check valve to see if it is not stuck closed.  After one set the throttle link to the BV, always paint one  flat on the hex link. this will give you a quick visual if it was moved or if you do decide to move it a flat or two , that you do not get lost from where it was set.

[masracingtd1167]

Check the link on the barrel valve . It could have slipped if it is not pinned .30 percent leakage sounds like a lot !

[Mark Midler]

Without even ready the entire story I can tell you from my own experience change to Nitrode spark plugs with the ittrium bridge. After I started using them I went 14% richer and now the dragster starts and runs like so easy it's stupid.