I did a quick search on this and seems that most do not use tape for carb fittings because of the possibility of a piece breaking off and clogging. When I put the new carb on with a dual feed I needed to use the teflon tape to stop the fuel leaking out. So my questions are,is there other alternatives? Are we suppose to be using anything on carb fittings? Is teflon durable enough to hold up against gasoline?
I use it. I don't see how it's going to get into the fuel flow if you don't get it near the end of the fitting. But then again, I've been wrong before.
Good question. I have used teflon tape for years. If it's applied correctly it shouldn't be a problem. It's when people rip off the end and leave strands hanging off that you get problems.
The problem is that you're relying on the tape to mask another problem, probably the 90 degree flare or the flare seat. The tape is meant for use on pipe (tapered) thread. You'd be better off (safer) to find the root cause of the problem and fixing it. Devon
I too use tape but did get the newer type that is a liquid. Just brush it on and be done. Just keep it off the very first thread so there's no chance of it getting anywhere you don't want it. Get the new stuff and keep the tape in your box just in case.
I tend to use it as preventative more so than to fix a problem. The tape is ply able and fills any voids in the threads. Like I said I simply use it as preventative and not as a quick fix.
I dont use tape, because none of the ones i have stand up to fuel. I assume youre running a Mr. Gasket dual inlet chrome fuel line? They are known to not seal all that well. As a result you have to get them pretty tight to work. Ive used many of these on many carbs, and sometimes they seal, and sometimes they dont. For the one time it didnt, i used high heat RTV (the red one) and just smeared an even bead along each fitting, tightened and let sit for atleast 24hours. Hasnt leaked yet. Also; Its kinda ugly, but if you do have this fitting, i would cut it along the length and seal with small peice of hose and hose clamps. If you ever do tuning or swapping jets out, you wont have to unscrew the fittings you just sealed. Or you could just get the fancy braided line that you can flex.
Sorry Azeem, gotta veto this last suggestion. Clamping a piece of rubber hose as an inline "jumper" is almost suicidal without a hose bead at each end of the tubing. Without that you have almost no resistance to pull-off, especially with the smooth chrome tubing. That's in addition to my always advising to use NO rubber fuel line on top of the engine whatsoever. No resistance to abrasion, no resistance to flame. If a 'thermal event' occurs, the line will fail and as the saying goes, fuel is added to the flames. Devon
Devon,this is why I asked the questions. I don't know if I'm masking a problem or if the fittings are suppose to have the tape. After reading the responses it seems you don't have to,but may as a preventitive. I personally have always used it and I got the car with this dual inlet and it had the tape on it also.
I'm not sure,it has a summit gauge attatched.This is when I first got the car,and it's still on there but with a different carb.
The inverted flare design relies on the torque of the fastener to seal the tube flare against the seat. Unfortunately, adding the tape to the threads can mean that some of the torque the flare wants to see is eaten up in additional thread interference due to the tape...so when the tube nut seems to be tight, you really can't know if the flare is sealing the joint, or the tape is. If it's the tape and not the seat, that's trouble. Fuel is not supposed to get past the flare and the tape is not a reliable secondary seal to a non-tapered thread. I think that came out sounding more complicated than I meant it to! In other words, it might seem adding the tape can't hurt, but in fact it can. A small amount of tape may not be an issue, but more than one or two wraps can be. The paste at least will not cause the additional interference...it'll just "squish out" as necessary. Devon
The sealing is not done on the threads. The sealing is supposed to be done where the flared end of the steel line sits on a fitting inside the carb. The nut just pushes the line onto the fitting so it seals. You have a problem with either the flare or the fitting. As Devon said, the tape is masking a potentialy dangerous problem.
Devon, thats a very good point. Its definately a safety concern. However, i guess thats a risk i choose to take. Its held up on me so far. Its not completely hack jobbed though, the line is actual fuel line good for 16?psi TT455 doesnt look like he will need to do that though, his line seems detachable.
Teflon tape is not a sealing agent although many people use it for that. It is primarily a lubricant for the threads in contact with each other. Peace, Mike D.
Actually it works as both, Mike...under a scanning electron microscope you can see how the tape (and paste) fills the porosity of the metal to aid the sealing potential of the interference fit in the tapered thread joint. Devon
