Not Getting Fuel

[Bill K]

The other day I hopped into Quatro to do a little in-town cruising. The engine cranked, ran rough for a little while, and then died, and wouldn't re crank. After making sure I was getting fire, I took the top off the carb and there was no gas in the bowl. I checked the fuel pump and it was working. So, I installed a needle and seat out of another carb and it fired up and ran fine for some cruising around town. Today I fired it up again and same thing happened: No fuel in the bowl.
Did I just luck into two bad needles and seats, or is something else going on?

[staggerwing]

My guess is the fuel pump Bill. I just went through the same symptoms on an old truck and it was the fuel pump the whole time. I checked the old tank first making sure nuthin was blocked there, then the lines, then the filters, then a carb rebuild, then fuel pump. It was wierd cause it would work for a while then act-up, then work for a while, then act-up, it finally just quit one afternoon while I was trouble-shooting and stopped pumping all together. An old friend tried to teach me a long time ago, always check your B+ first. Good luck!

[Bill K]

I put in a new needle and seat this afternoon and went cruising. It ran great, but if the problem re emerges, the fuel pump will be the next stop.

[jspbtown]

Bill,
How about a fuel filter. Is it before or after the pump? Could be a piece of debris that floats around, then plugs the filter starving the carb. Then when it sits, it backs off and allows fuel to flow again? Same logic for the screen in the tank. Could be a large piece of debris that intermittently blocks it..

[Bill K]

Good thought, Jbstown. The filter is before the fuel pump, but I'll check all that out. Thanks for helping.