Black thick liquid in carbs

[wigginke]

I have managed to run up the engine after 23 years of lay up and all was looking fine
I had flushed out the tank and removed all th crud (well I thought so)
I fitted un-used nice and clean carbs as I have previously disused and all was fine, managed to get the timing set up
My supergil rad I have just fitted had kept the temp low, all was looking good
Then it all went wrong! The fuel was very low in the tank and I have sucked up what appears to be a tar like substance into the carbs
Before I noticed the black liquid I added fuel to the tank, checked fuel supply and then I saw the black stuff
Amazingly the fuel pump was again pumping clean fuel
I pulled the carbs off and ther bowls were pretty full of this black thick liquid which was not mixed with but actually separate fro the fuel. just like Balsamic vinegar and olive oil in those restaurants where you dip bread into it
Here is where it gets worse, the liquid when it comes into contact with air starts to dry and it cannot be broken down with any petroleum base product. So I have carbs coated in black layer of something
My guess it is a sealant that was used in the tank some 23 years ago which never set and was then covered in fuel
Any ideas on what to use to remove this? I am going to try thinners
Any one else experienced this?
I need to devise a plan of action I am thinking about draing the tank and trying too dry it out
My concern is that the fuel pump which is new will need cleaning or will just stop working whenk it gets air in it

Any suggestions will be considered

I am truly gutted

Thanks
Kevin

[GDPR]

Could be tar like varnish deposits that distilled out of the old fuel. A proprietary carb cleaner spray with ketones should dissolve it from the carbs and pump, and you could just let the stuff in the tank dry out and set, then swill it with a tank sealant to neutralise it.

[wigginke]

Wow, you learn something every day thankyou
In your experience would this deposit then be something that will not be dissovlved with petrol?
I am managing to wash it from the carbs with cellulose thinners, I will buy some Carb cleaner as I am concerned about the diaphram in the pump, well in fact the pump and its reaction to thinners

Do you have a recommended brands for the cleaner and tank sealant

Thanks

Kevin

[alex gallagher]

hi kev my mate craig cleaned his tank out with paraffin not to sure if I would do that though by the way my no is 07880848188 give me a call

[GDPR]

POR 15 is a good tank sealant - I wouldnt personally wash out the tank with paraffin, but would sacrifice a couple of litres of unleaded as a swill then let it dry out naturally in the sun before using the POR15.

Wurth aerosol carb cleaner is great, safe with your fuel pump too and available in most motor factors. POR15 try Frosts...

You'll learn loads on here - some of us have been around Stags since the 70s...stick around, post and have fun!

Russ

[wigginke]

Guys further to the great help and advice I purchased the KBS 3 parts petrol tank cleaner and sealant system and with the help from U tube and the makers instruction have successfully cleaned out and sealed the tank
I have flushed and or changed fuel lines and now all I have is clear petrol flowing
Cleaned out the carbs, jets and bodies , floats, needles
Managed to get the car running today and ticking over reasonably well
Tried to follow the Haynes method of tuning the carbs but am not getting too far
The car was running on idle for about an hour with no overheating issues thanks to the Super Gil rad but it does not have any guts and will not rev quickly
Car starts up every time, I can pull away but need revs, as it is gutless
Tries to richen up the mixture but did not seem to make any difference
I would like some advice and description of symptoms when running rich and symptoms of running weak
I need to get to the local garage for an MOT and to hopefully get the set up tweaked and through the MOT (first one since 1988)
Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
Kevin

[elvimto]

This happened to me the throttle cable was slipping out of where it is clamped at the carbs gave the same symptoms would drive pull away and idle but as you said when you put the foot down it had no power. I found it out by going over all the simple stuff before getting into the carbs.
Hope this helps
cheers Stuart