Re: vapor lock
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Re: vapor lock



Gary, I really got a chuckle from your post----Just another reason there are lawyers! LOL...............MO
{Steve Mick}
http://stevemick1964dodge.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary H." <62to65mopar@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: vapor lock


This is a question that has come up over time in a lot of car discussion forums. There does not seem to have been any scientific experiments to prove or disprove the use of wooden clothes pins as a cure. Lots of anecdotal speculation though. Below is a sample:


Heat sink

Take those pins and clamp them to various places on your fuel (specifically in the areas where it is getting hot and vapor locking). In order for the vapor lock to occur, it must heat the fuel and the fuel line to a temperature that will turn the gasoline to a vapor. By attaching the clothes pins, you are basically creating a heat sink. In order to heat the fuel and line, it must also heat up the clothes pin. It cannot raise the temperature of the clothes pin hot enough to create a vapor lock hence the problem is solved.
http://www.carolinarovers.info/croc-stuff/tips/365-how-to-cure-fuel-line-vapor-lock

Or not heat sink but otherwise:

But, I don't think their actually acting as heat sinks. I say this for the same arguments others have already made. Wood is not a good heat sink.

I also would argue that they aren't succeeding by acting as insulation. Most of the lines I've seen haven't had enough clothes pin to cover more than 1 or 2" of line.

I would propose four different theories on why it works, but not as heat sinks. I would think it works by either changing the air flow, acting as weights or spacers, or "chambering" the tube.

First, I had one of the engine owners tell me that the clothespins disrupt the airflow either away from, along, or around the fuel line keeping it cooler.

Second, that they act as standoffs keeping the fuel line away from or out of heated areas where it would otherwise have been without the pins.

Third, and my second favorite is that they act as weights causing the line to "dip" down rather than arch up so any bubbles would run to the ends of the line rather than creating a bubble in the center.

Fourth, which is the most complex and my favorite is that the pins create a bottleneck effect within the fuel line.

The ever so slight compression on the tubing creates small
"chambers" or bottlenecks inside the rubber line which effect the behavior of the vapor. Possibly percolating through each little narrow point keeping the fuel moving through the line.

This would explain why clothespins don't seem offer any effect on hard lines or the new stiffer rubber tubing, while still working on the older, softer lines available through much of the 60's and 70's.

***

Transpiration I'm told, same as sweat evaporating off you cools you down, supposedly the wood is wicking the moisture off the outside of the metal fuel line, cooling it faster.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64217


Vibrations from the clothes pin makes as much sense as the other explanations. Skinned Knuckles magazine had an article (or series of articles) a few years back about things that can contribute to vapor lock. One of the things mentioned was to have the fuel lines all smooth, no kinks or dents to trap bubbles. Also, make sure that there is a continuous slope up from the pump to the carburetor. Any bubbles will then rise up the the carb and be expelled from the system. If the line dips down at any point there will be a high spot for the bubbles to collect and cause a problem. http://forums.aaca.org/f120/vapor-lock-157015.html

Thanks,
Gary H.

 -------Original Message-------
 From: Eric Sturgis

 I wonder. why it works.....anybody know why?

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