I think you are confusing the dashpot piston with the float and needle and seat assembly. As your car has been sitting it may be pulling trash up from the tank, Install an in line fuel filter right before the carb to catch any of the trash that may be getting into the needle and seat and making it stick open, clean out the float bowl and needle and seat and try again.

If you mean the dashpot damper piston that has nothing to do with the fuel flow. You need to replace the float bowl fuel shut off valve.

//www.minimania.com/web/Item/ABF513/InvDetail.cfm

Gas is flowing pretty well actually, there was so little in the tank, it doesn't seems to be the problem. Think I've got it narrowed down to the dashpot piston. Thanks for the help. I appreciate any and all advice.

Actually it does seem like the piston in the dashpot, or the dashpot itself is losing fluid, causing the piston not to float, and gas to come out the overflow. Seeking any and all advice.

Pulled it apart, cleaned it, put it back together, car started, ran, stopped after spitting gas out again. Problrm is narrowed down the dashpot, I think. Seems the dashpot loses it's fluid, then doesn't float, causing the fuel to overflow. That's my guess, though I could be way off the mark. What we do know is that the carb is the problem. Any other advice or things I should be looking for?

It sounds like bad gas gumming up the works to me. There is no faster way to ruin new gas than to mix it with 2 year-old gas.

Kelley

It sounds like the piston may be sticking inside the dashpot, also blow out the jet with an airline to make sure it is not obstucted. I think you mean the fuel line was leaking not the vacuum line and btw pumping the accelerator does nothing on an SU as it doesn ot have an accelerator pump.

Thanks, MadDog I'll give that a try when I get home from work this evening. I'll let you know how it turns out. Much appreciated.

It's leaking from your fuel overflow. Remove the float cover, remove pin that holds the float and the remove the needle and seat assembly. Clean it and make sure it's not sticking. While you have the float out make sure it's OK and not full of gas. Clean and sediment from the bottom of the float bowl and reassemble it all back. Should run now.

I am at my wits end

My 1975 Mini has been sitting for more than a year, maybe 2 with out being started, which is a long story. Anyhow, I recently pull it out to get it prepped to sell, and had the most difficult time getting it started. I got a new battery, added new gas and gas treatment. No luck. It was turning, but wouldn't fire. I changed out the spark plugs, check all of the connections, and they're good. Distributor is firing properly. Dash pot (was topped, may have to check it again). Still no luck. Turning over, but not starting. Fuel is getting to the carburator, took the fuel line off and checked that. Still no luck. I took off the air filter and shot some starter fluid in there, it then wanted to fire. Close, but not quite. After a couple more shots, it started.....then stalled. Took a bit, but I got it running. Step on the accelerator it stalled. I managed to get it started and running while it sat in the driveway. Let it run for a bit getting the new gas to runn through. I pulled it out and drove it to the corner, pushing the accelerator seems to want to stall. Got it back in the driveway. Turned it off. Let it sit a bit, and tried to start it again, and it did. I was feeling pretty good. Silly me. Yesterday,after work, I went to start it. I pumped the accelerator a few times it would start, run a second, then stop. Started it again, it started, I tried to give it gas, it stalled. I did this several times and was frustrated to no end. I get out of the car and there's gas all over the driveway. I put sand on it. Check the fuel line and they all seemed good. I asked my girl friend to come start the car so I could see where the fuel was coming from. She turned it over and it was coming out of the vacum line leading from the carbuator. So why am I leaking gas from here? Clog? Do I need to pull it apart, and if so, what am I looking for? Sorry so long winded. I would really appreciate any and all advice. If you have any questions for me please ask. 

Thanks, Patrick