Carburettor problems

[condor]

Apart from being fortunate to miss a high-speed accident due to the carburettor sticking full open at speed on the M1 - I now have a few queries as to how to resolve the matter.
My car was gifted to me by my dad a couple of years ago - a Ford Sierra Sapphire 1.8litre saloon -K reg.

I've already sourced a replacement carb from a scrap yard (I.6L Sierra Estate...and had it fitted - but it failed to work properly after the engine warmed up.
(after 6 miles it kangaroo hopped everywhere and kept cutting out)

I've now got another replacement carb from the same scrap dealer....which will be fitted Monday morning.
My original 'failed carb' has had the flap tied down with a cable tie to prevent it from opening...so will be running on half power till it's repaired.

I'm assuming it will take a few days before the cable tie perishes due to the petrol...but does anyone know how long a cable tie immersed in petrol might last?

Since I'm paying garage labour hours to correct the problem....and because the model is obsolete and new carbs can't be found....does anyone have another solution to just ringing round the scrapyards to find one?

....and how often can you inflict on a scrap yard merchant that the carb you bought from him doesn't work?

Thanks :)

[docevi1]

why not just rebuild / service the carb you have? What carb is it any way?

If the throttle is anything like the twin SU's I have on mine, the things I'd be checking are:

* return spring - it could be broken / got caked in crud which is fouling it's motion.
* The piston might be out of oil / got stuck on crud at the top of it's travel.
* The needle might have come out of the jet - has it been installed correctly in the first place?
* A more obvious solution - is the throttle pedal catching on anything - carpet for example? Is the throttle cable secure in the pedal mounting and free in it's travel?

edit :: and as for cable tie - it's plastic, should be fine assuming you aren't riding against the bindings. AFAIK petrol is a solvent but not that strong, if it were I'd be in trouble as all the wires in the sender unit which is in the petrol tank, would be rotting I had it out nigh on a year after I put it in and it's still fine.

>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 29th July 23:30

[KITT]

If I were you, I'd post on the kit car forum as there's plenty of kit cars running Pintos who will have upgraded to twin carbs and hence will have a spare downdraught one lying around in the garage somewhere

[condor]

Fortunately the replacement carb was fitted today and appears to work OK
Thanks for your advice