I think I remember previous discussion about the problem of coming out in the morning and finding that a carb has flooded and the engine is locked up with a cylinder full of fuel. It happens with my 2.0l motor every now and then- maybe a few times each year, for no apparent reason.

The first time it happened I thought it'd seized up in the night- pretty bizarre ! Then I was going to pull out a spark plug so that the engine could turn over, but I hit on the idea of turning the motor over backwards with a spanner on the alternator nut: the fuel runs out the exhaust port and into the pipe. If you turn the motor through three ot four complete revolutions it'll then crank properly and start, at first very rich and pump out raw fuel for a few seconds.

Anyway, I'm sick of it, and I was wondering if anyone had tried using an electric fuel cutoff switch so that the fuel just cant come through when the ignition is off. If so, where can I get a cutoff switch like that from ? Do fuel injected cars use them, so I can get one from a wreckers ? Any ideas ??

Kommer.

You might try even looking for a spring loaded ball valve setup, from something else,
No electronics involved, just a ball that needs slightly more presure than the weight of the fuel to allow passage, similar to a needle and seat setup in some carbys.

perhaps if you have a needle and seat in the carby you are running, then you might be able to play with the spring weights an beef them up a little, there must be something there stopping all the fuel just pouring with gravity feed constantly so maybe its just a matter of upping the spring pressure to out way the gravity feed.
I offer this thought on the grounds that the more simple it is the more reliable it will be.
I hope that might help,
Cheers Anthony

This is a common problem. The stock mechanical pump will not allow fuel to free flow through it (unless the diaphram is split) so it's less of an issue. As you have found out some electric ones will allow this. For the fuel to flood the carbie the needle/seat in it will be leaking, if it's an occasional leak it might be dirt getting stuck there some times.
(Herbie, there is NO spring on the needle/seat in the carb, and a bad idea to try to fit one there as it will affect float level.)
So your options are, make sure your fuel system is clean, replace the needle/seat in the carb and maybe either put a mechanical pump back on, or find an electric pump that will not free flow.
To answer your initial question electric fuel cut offs are available. I bought mine from Mick motors and have had no troubles with it for ~2 years now.

ive had the same thing mate and now have a cutoff valve in the bug with my rotary fuel pump. i think my old man got mine at repco but not sure will ask if you want

Thats true Andy, My mistake, it works off bouyancy of the float, I must have been remembering half of one thing and half of another with a cut off needle and seat that is normally closed unless powered open like on a rotary Mazda Carby,

how embarrasment :P