Difficulty refitting carburettors

[PhilBell]

I'm having difficulty refitting carburettor (standard SU HD8) number 1 after I removed all three of them a few months ago. Apart from how awkward access was to some of the linkages and the nuts securing the carbs, I don't recall any particular difficulties when I removed them. Now I can't get carb number 1 to engage on its mounting bolts because the bottom of the float chamber fouls the steering column seal housing. What am I missing here?

[Heuer]

Loosen engine mounts and jack up the engine slightly to clear the housing.

[PhilBell]

Thanks David, I was thinking similar, but still baffled how I managed to extract the carb in the first place. Then again, that was many months ago and memories fade.

[phoenix]

Yes they are a bit of a tease to fit especially the nuts at the rear underneath . Plenty of scratched hands usually. I do not think there is an easy way.

[PhilBell]

'A bit of a tease to fit' - love that, the words forming in my head as I repeatedly dropped either the lower nuts, spring washers or both were somewhat less polite.

[bitsobrits]

Try it with the distributor removed. I found it much easier to reach in from the front.