Trouble with 1949 ELTO Sportster COUGHING

[paulfromyork]

My 1949 ELTO Sportster Ran well for the first few outings. Last year, at the end of the season, it started coughing when warmed up. I thought it might be from ethanol gas. Earlier runs were with out ethanol. So last week I finally had a chance to try it again. With ethanol free gas. I put new rubber in the pump early last year when I first got it running. That fixed an overheating problem. So it still pumps water very well. And it is warm at the discharge vent, but not hot.
So when it is cold, it runs normally. (any throttle position, no coughing.) And last year it ran perfectly for an hour or more at a time, no problem. Come to think of it, it did seem to loose a little power as it warmed up, but no coughing, and any throttle position was ok. But now, when it’s warmed up, it’s very sensitive. I could only keep it running at a low throttle and any attempt at throttle or mixture adjustments would stall it. But then it starts right back up on the first pull. ????? I need help. I thought I was in love with this little jewel, but now, not so much.
A stranger who helped me launch this last time out reminded me of the two happiest days of outboard ownership. The day you buy it, and the day you sell it. Or was he talking about the boat?

[garry-in-michigan]

That Elto has two fuel filters. One in the tank (that the fuel line fastens to) and one in the large hex plug in the bottom of the carburetor. If either is dirty, it would restrict the amount of fuel getting to the carburetor. It could get enough to start and idle, but lean out at higher throttle settings. If you forget to open the air vent on the gas cap, or if the vent gets plugged up, it will develop negative pressure in the tank, which will keep fuel from flowing into the carburetor. If you run with the lower motor covers removed, you will see the float pin drop if it is not getting enough fuel. . . . 🙂

[garry-in-michigan]

Since you mentioned using Ethanol gas, know that the cork float was factory sealed with lacquer. Ethanol dissolves lacquer and redistributes it through the carburetor. You will probably have to take the carburetor apart and clean the lacquer from all the little passageways. You will also need to clean off the float, dry it out, and reseal it with Fuel Proof model airplane dope, or a light coat of Super Glue. . . . 😀

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