
How does Holley vacuum secondary work? The way it works is by drawing fuel and air into the engine by way of a vacuum that is created while the engine is running. When it comes to the secondary system of a Holley four-barrel carburetor, the opening of the secondaries can be done by either a vacuum signal, or by way of mechanical operation.
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How do you open the secondary system on a Holley carburetor?
When it comes to the secondary system of a Holley four-barrel carburetor, the opening of the secondaries can be done by either a vacuum signal, or by way of mechanical operation.
How do vacuum secondary carburetors work?
The vacuum diaphragm housing, like the one on the side of this Street Warrior carburetor, is the giveaway for a vacuum secondary carburetor. How Do They Work? Opening the secondaries is first dependent on the velocity of air flowing through the primaries.
How does a vacuum cleaner keep the secondaries open?
As the secondary throttle blades open and air starts flowing, an additional vacuum signal is generated to the diaphragm to keep the secondaries open as needed. However, the initial opening rate is controlled by a single diaphragm spring. The stiffer the spring, the slower the rate of the secondaries opening.
How do vacuum secondaries work on a motorcycle?
When the spring’s resistance pressure is overcome by engine vacuum, the diaphragm is able to pull the secondary throttle blades open. The rate at which the vacuum secondaries open can be manipulated by changing the springs in the secondary diaphragm.

How does a Holley vacuum-secondary carburetor work?
Opening the secondaries is first dependent on the velocity of air flowing through the primaries. As the primary side opens, the air velocity flowing into the intake manifold increases with the engine rpm. This surging airflow provides a stronger and stronger vacuum signal to the diaphragm that controls the secondaries.
How do vacuum secondaries work on a carburetor?
Vacuum - The secondary blades are attached to a vacuum diaphragm by a rod. The diaphragm is held in place by a spring. As rpm increases, so does the vacuum signal in the carburetor venturies. When the vacuum gets high enough, it overcomes the tension of the spring and moves the diaphragm.
How do you tell if vacuum secondaries are opening?
0:167:39Holley Carb Vacuum Secondaries NOT Opening? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLower on the shaft. And if the paper clip moves we know our secondaries are working and if it doesn'MoreLower on the shaft. And if the paper clip moves we know our secondaries are working and if it doesn't we know they're not so I suspect mine art so anyway we got this on here.
How do you hook up a Holley secondary vacuum?
0:383:25Where to Hook Up Vacuum Lines On A Holley Carburetor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you can install a new PCV. Do so and connect the other end to one of the large ports on yourMoreIf you can install a new PCV. Do so and connect the other end to one of the large ports on your carburetor base. If you have power brakes. It's usually best to use one dedicated.
What's better vacuum secondaries or mechanical?
In summary, mechanical-secondary carbs are much more sensitive to engine size, drivetrain gearing, vehicle weight, and rpm range compared with the controlled secondary configuration, which is why the double-pumpers are offered in many more cfm ratings than the vacuum-secondary carbs.
How do you make vacuum secondaries open faster?
2:374:14How To Adjust Holley Carburetor Vacuum Secondary SpringsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou'll need to change the internal spring to a different tension rating.MoreYou'll need to change the internal spring to a different tension rating.
Can you convert vacuum secondaries to mechanical?
You can't convert mechanical secondary carbs to vacuum, or vice versa. Too many differences. You can get either vacuum or mechanical secondary carbs for nearly any application. Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham#182/Shelby 496c.
Is a double pumper carb better?
Mechanical secondary carbs (double pumpers) are the better option for race cars, hot rods, and performance vehicles with manual transmission, automatic transmissions with looser torque converters, and lower (higher numerically) rear end gears.
What is the difference between a Holley 4150 and 4160 carburetor?
These two are very similar with the primary difference that the 4150 uses a thick metering block in both the primary and secondary while the 4160 is shorter in length and uses a thin, metering plate on the secondary side.
How do you adjust secondary vacuum?
0:001:45How To Adjust The Secondary Speed Screw On Holley Carbs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn the bottom of the baseplate. You will find a tiny hole with a countersunk screw. This screwMoreOn the bottom of the baseplate. You will find a tiny hole with a countersunk screw. This screw adjust the opening position of the secondary throttle blades.
Why is my Holley carb running rich?
1:3412:34Holley Carb Running Rich? Watch This! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe engine tends to run a little off whether that's rich or that's lean. It can be any one of thoseMoreThe engine tends to run a little off whether that's rich or that's lean. It can be any one of those two and it just depends on the intake manifold. Design and the type of head and compression.
Where do you connect the vacuum gauge on a carburetor?
0:2911:08Fine Engine Tuning With A Vacuum Gauge - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipImportant is manifold vacuum is what the what the intake manifold sees before it gets to theMoreImportant is manifold vacuum is what the what the intake manifold sees before it gets to the throttle blades of the carburetor ported vacuum is what you see when you open the throttle.
Can you convert vacuum secondaries to mechanical?
You can't convert mechanical secondary carbs to vacuum, or vice versa. Too many differences. You can get either vacuum or mechanical secondary carbs for nearly any application. Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham#182/Shelby 496c.
What is the secondary on a carburetor?
A four-barrel carburetor has two primary and two secondary barrels. At idle and low-rpm driving, only the primary barrels open. The throttle blades on the secondary barrels stay closed. As rpm increases, the engine requires more air and fuel to make power, and this is when the secondary barrels kick in.
Do Edelbrock carbs have vacuum secondaries?
Thankfully, Edelbrock has taken the guesswork and tuning troubles out of the secondary side of its new carbs by designing an adjustable valve secondary (AVS), which allows you to change the vacuum secondary's opening rate with a quick turn of a screw.
What makes a carburetor a double pumper?
The reason double pumpers (mechanical secondary carburetors is their proper name) have these twin accelerator pumps is to prevent a momentary lean situation during quick throttle blade movement. All carburetors use an accelerator pump circuit, however many only have one on the primary barrels.
How to identify a vacuum secondary holley?
Vacuum secondary Holleys are easy to identify because of the large diaphragm housing positioned on the passenger side of the carburetor that connects to the secondary throttle shaft. These carburetors use air velocity through the primary venturis to create a low pressure (vacuum) signal channeled to the top of the vacuum diaphragm housing.
How many springs does a Holley vacuum carburetor have?
Holley offers an inexpensive kit with seven springs that offer a broad range of opening points.
How to remove choke from carburetor?
We'd previously removed the choke from this carburetor. The arrows point to the three screws that retain the vacuum diaphragm housing to the carburetor. Remove the small clip that retains the link to the secondary throttle shaft, remove these three screws, and the housing will come off.
Why are Holley carburetors so popular?
Apr 10, 2019. The reason that Holley four-barrel carburetors are so popular is because they're very easy to work on. Even if you've never worked on a carburetor before, Holley's modular design makes it easy to disassemble, tune, and reassemble. In a matter of a few screwdriver minutes, you can feel comfortable working on one of these fuel mixers.
What is the point in engine rpm that the secondary throttle begins to open?
The point in engine rpm that the secondary throttle begins to open is determined by the load created by the spring. Holley equips all vacuum secondary carburetors from the factory with the heaviest (black) spring, which opens the secondary the slowest at the highest engine rpm. Holley does this, because there's no way to know ...
Where is the vacuum diaphragm on a Holley carburetor?
This is a vacuum secondary four-barrel Holley that can be easily identified by the large vacuum diaphragm located on the passenger side of the carb (arrow). The housing locates a diaphragm that operates a rod connected directly to the secondary throttle linkage.
How to test if a secondary spring is working?
After you've modified the secondary spring, there's also a simple bench test to make sure the system works properly. With the carb sitting on the bench, open the primary throttle linkage and with an air nozzle, shoot compressed air past the small nozzle in the primary venturi wall. This will create a vacuum signal in the diaphragm, and the secondary should open. This way you know the system works. This can also be performed on the car if you like, with the engine off.
How does a Holley vacuum work?
The way it works is by drawing fuel and air into the engine by way of a vacuum that is created while the engine is running. Regulating the airflow into the carburetor are throttle blades ...
Why is a vacuum secondary carburetor more forgiving than a double pumper?
A vacuum secondary carburetor tends to be more forgiving than a double pumper, since they do operate by sensing engine load. This is because the secondaries open in relation to the vacuum signal developed by the engine. When a predetermined amount of vacuum is sensed, the vacuum diaphragm pushes against a spring.
How many blades does a Holley 4 barrel have?
These engines typically have four throttle blades (four barrel). Depending on the carburetor, a four-barrel’s secondary plates will open at different times, and can be actuated by different means. When it comes to the secondary system of a Holley four-barrel carburetor, the opening of the secondaries can be done by either a vacuum signal, ...
Why do I hesitate when I open my second carburetor?
If the secondaries open too early (the spring is too light), you will experience a hesitation, because there will not be an adequate vacuum signal to pull enough fuel into the venturi; especially since a vacuum secondary carburetor has no secondary accelerator pump to cover this transition.
What is Holley 20-13?
Due to the fact that no two cars (and no two carburetors) are tuned exactly alike, Holley offers a kit under part number 20-13 that is designed to fine-tune the secondary operation for your car. This kit contains several different secondary diaphragm springs.
Why do secondaries not open?
The secondaries must not open until the engine requires the additional air. This allows torque to increase along the peak torque curve. Performance is compromised less by holding the secondaries closed a little too long than by opening them a little boo soon.
Is secondary spring tuning an exact science?
Secondary spring tuning isn’t an exact science. Honestly it’s a game of trial and error. If the car in question has a medium-heavy or heavy spring in the secondary side (for example, brown or black), the secondaries might not open, even at very high RPM.
How to test for secondary operation?
I like to test for secondary operation with a small piece of paper or napkin. Drop a small piece of paper down in the secondary well, drive it hard, then look if the paper is gone .
How to open a secondary butterfly?
Let's first make sure the secondaries can open. Remove the carburetor off of the engine, and take an air hose with a spray nozzle. Look down the primary passenger side venturi. You'll see a small hole that is coming from the vacuum pod. If you blow air past this hole it will create a low pressure (or vacuum) just like the engine would and the secondary butterflies should open. If they do not you'll want to check the o'rings between the pod and body. If they do you may just need to install a lighter spring in the secondary pod to get them to open.
What happens if you blow air past the butterfly hole?
If you blow air past this hole it will create a low pressure (or vacuum) just like the engine would and the secondary butterflies should open. If they do not you'll want to check the o'rings between the pod and body. If they do you may just need to install a lighter spring in the secondary pod to get them to open. H.
Do Holleys make noise?
Holleys don't make a bunch of noise like a Q-jet. You really can't tell by the sound. If your engine is revving over 4000 rpm with a 454, then I bet the secondary is opening.
