I’m having a real problem keeping my Holley carburetor needle and seat O-ring from leaking. My old Holleys worked fine up until about a year ago. Now it seems both of my carburetors for my two cars have problems. What happens is the carb will begin to flood over. I thought at first this was just a stuck float, but the float is fine and there was nothing holding it open. I traced the problem to a hardened O-ring around the needle and seat. But I can’t find this as a replacement part. Do you have any suggestions short of buying a brand new needle and seat that has the O-ring already in place? 

D.W.

We’ve had the exact same problem with several of our Holley carburetors that only get used once or twice a year. What happens is the nasty aromatic additives in gasoline now are affecting this rubber O-ring and causing them to shrink, become brittle, and then break.

After some research, we found, like you did, that Holley does not offer this O-ring as a separate part number—but you can buy a new needle and seat assembly that will come with the correct O-ring. Summit Racing’s version of this same needle and seat is roughly half the cost so that makes it a little less expensive.

There’s a full parts list at the bottom of this article.

Holley also sells a needle and seat hardware kit (PN 34-7) that includes a new lock screw, adjustment nut, both paper gaskets, and a new O-ring. It would be a good idea to order a couple of these kits around just for the O-rings because we’ve seen these paper gaskets leak after adjustments.

If you are forced into an immediate repair, you can replace the original O-ring with a 08-size buna rubber O-ring that is pretty easy to find. We’ve learned these rubber O-rings only last maybe a month or two and then they quickly become brittle and the leak reappears. We searched a little further and found a company called Allstate Carbs that sells the proper O-ring for the Holley needle and seat and they are very inexpensive.

We’d recommend removing the float bowl in order to properly set the float height. Before you do so, make sure you have a new bowl gasket on-hand since these gaskets tend to get brittle and tear, which will prevent re-installing the bowl. It’s also a good idea to have a couple of those screw gaskets that fit between the adjustment nut and the lock screw on the needle and seat too, as these can tear and leak as well.

All this sounds like a hassle, but it’s better to have these parts on-hand rather than to get halfway through the process and discover that you need parts that you don’t have. Plus, it’s always a good idea to have these gaskets and parts available anyway since you never know when you may have to disassemble your carburetor for service.

Leaky Carburetor Repair Parts List

The needle and seat on the left has a new O-ring. Compare that to the O-ring on the right that is clearly flattened out and brittle. It broke when we tried o remove it. Changing the O-ring is not difficult, but will require removing the needle and seat from the float bowl. Holley makes a hardware kit (PN 34-7) that includes a new adjustment nut, lock screw, paper gaskets, and also a new O-ring that is not expensive that is probably the best and least expensive solution. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Before re-installing the float bowl with the needle and seat installed, turn the bowl upside down and adjust the needle and seat until the float is parallel with the top of the float bowl. This will set the float height almost perfectly so that it may only take a minor adjustment to achieve the proper float height. In this photo, the adjustment is too high. Remember, the bowl is upside down. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Setting the float height involves loosening the lock screw then turning the 5/8 inch nut with an end wrench. Turning clockwise will lower the float level while counterclockwise will raise the level. With clear sight plugs, set the float level in the middle of the sight plug. With solid, screw-in sight plugs set the float level to just even with the bottom of the opening. (Image/Jeff Smith)

Keywords
Ask Away!, carburetor, Holley
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Author: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has had a passion for cars since he began working at his grandfather's gas station at the age 10. After graduating from Iowa State University with a journalism degree in 1978, he combined his two passions: cars and writing. Smith began writing for Car Craft magazine in 1979 and became editor in 1984. In 1987, he assumed the role of editor for Hot Rod magazine before returning to his first love of writing technical stories. Since 2003, Jeff has held various positions at Car Craft (including editor), has written books on small block Chevy performance, and even cultivated an impressive collection of 1965 and 1966 Chevelles. Now he serves as a regular contributor to OnAllCylinders.