Repair for Broken Carb Float Posts?

[crazy steve]

I see a lot of posts from guys with broken float posts. I think I see a way to permanently repair these (without any JB weld!) with bit of machine work, so it anybody wants to be a guinea pig or donate a carb body for me to try this on, let me know with a PM. If it works out, I'll offer this as a service to the forum for a reasonable price (say, under $50 including return shipping). No guarantees on the first one, so don't do this if it's the only carb you have...

If someone has a spare float bowl they could send along (it won't be coming back) that would be a help too.

'78E original owner

[Geezer]

There's a site for Goldwings that sells a kit that fixes this problem for those bikes. I think it's called Randaks cycle or some such. I could dig up the link later on if you can't find it.

Geezer

[crazy steve]

That would be these guys...
http://www.randakks.com/Float%20Pivo...pair%20Kit.htm
... but this kit wouldn't work for the XS carbs without major mods and/or extra machining.

I've got something different in mind.

'78E original owner

[Geezer]

I know the Randak kit is not compatible with our carbs but I like the way the repair is done. I think the principle can be applied to fixing XS11 carbs.

Geezer

[MindWebs]

Hmm, looks familier, i didn't know there was such a kit made..

i just did it myself.

it's not hard, it just takes time and a grinder and a bolt and a tap.
perferably a fine thread bolt for better alignment.
but no big deal either way, floats can be "tweeked" to correct height.

later
Webs

[yamtom]

let us all know how

Hi Webs,

Could you do us a walk thru on specifically how you fixed your carb, what tap , what you used to perfectly center the hole you drilled. Any other details that would help. The other fixes have worked for some people, but a perfect repeatable fix using machining methods would be great for any of us that will end up needing to do this some day.

[mro]

I have a "float pin removal tool" I made some years ago so I have not broken any posts (yet ) You can do a search here to find out how you can make your own.

But these flat slides had one broken.

If your post is broken and the break is “clean” enough that the post will fit on the body properly you can do this:

Drill down the center of post. Then take the time to place the carb body in the drill press with the post still on the drill bit to insure it’s placed right for drilling the body.
Then tap body and post and assemble with a 6-32 (I used an allen screw) and some epoxy on the threads.




I FUBARed the original post and wound up making a new one from some flat stock I had laying around, which turned out good.



You don't have to have a machine shop but a drill press really helps. I used the press to "machine" the flat stock into the post I used in the repair. More time was spent making sure everything was set up than the few minuets actually making holes and tapping em. My first choice would have been to replace the carb body but finances dictated useing what was on hand

mro

[mro]

Btw

I got the idea from the UK XS site.


mro

[MindWebs]

Repair Method.

Here's your write up.

(Repairing a Broken Float Post.doc)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A7TY5NRU

maybe someday i'll add pictures.... ??

Good luck!!

Happy repairs...
now i go back to the man cave to hide....

[MindWebs]

sorry...

i also ment to post the write-up, not just the link.

Broken carburetor float leg/post???

Most of us have seen this on a carb now, PO or ….. Yup, I did it too.

Find a bolt that is big enough in diameter to accommodate your float pin.
Many different types of bolts can be found at your local hardware store. (I prefer stainless steel)
(You can grind off much of the unneeded bits of bolt in fitting process.)

Measure the float post with a caliper and determine a safe spot that has enough thickness
for the threads of your bolt.

Take a sander or grinder and "ground" the cast post down till it was big enough for your bolt of choice.
Metric, English, M5-M7, 1/8-1/4 doesn’t matter. (you pick) by how far you grind the original post down.

Now use a center punch on the post to help align your drill bit to the center of your "flattened" post.

Select a drill bit that is smaller than your tap, there are charts online (search: drill tap index)
Then drill the casting out, but watch carefully so not to drill too deeply into the body.

Next, tap the casting. Please use a few drops of oil to keep lube on the tap (aluminum binds quickly)

Run your bolt in measure for the hole you'll have to drill in the bolt for your float pin,

Find the right size drill bit for the pin hole, don't make it tight, but it can't be sloppy either.

Cut the head off the bolt and depending on what diameter bolt you went with,
you may have to "shave" the sides of the bolt a bit, for clearance on the float.
(The original post is flat on the sides.)

just for future reference to anyone, when the float bowls are on, the pin can't
move side to side. so there in no point in pushing the pins in "tight",
also after the pin is installed into the bolt/new float post the bolt cannot turn so thread-lockers are
unnecessary.

hope this helps.
If not…. Send me a PM and if I have some free time, I’ll fix your carbs.
Return postage plus $10?

Webs
Mindwebs99@yahoo.com

[crazy steve]

Poll?

After seeing these replies, I'll clarify my intent a bit. In my original post, I was looking at a similar idea to what been referred to. But I've since re-thought it, and have been looking at this from a least-complicated point of view; a repair most anybody could do with a bare minimum of tools/skill.

So let me ask this; nearly all damaged XS carbs that I've seen have been suffering from 'half' of the float pin hole breaking off. Is this a true statement? I know on the 'other' carbs that have been shown, the whole post or a good part of it has busted off, but that doesn't seem to be the case with ours. And this sort of 'whole post' repair requires a bit of precision work that maybe not all members can do.

A show of hands? How many with just half the hole missing? How many with the whole post gone?

'78E original owner

[randy]

My #4 carb has had one post with half a hole since I got it in '04. I just flipped the pin around so the head end is in the good post. The pin doesn't flop, no problems. Been in the carbs each winter and though alot about fixing it, but I could wind up making it worse, so I left it alone.

[jetmechmarty]

post repair

I thought I had seen this here, but I guess I didn't.
FLOAT POST REPAIR

I wish I had seen this before I replaced my carb body!

[mro]

cheep fix

This worked on a carb I fixed a couple years ago.
(NO laughing, I used "paint as this POS computer can't hand Photo Shop)
)



#1 carb was leaking. When I opened em up found a piece of rusty bailing wire holding the pin. Was a little loose tho. I put a very small notch on the post and used a piece of SS wire I had on the shelf. Bench tested and seemed to work good. As far as I know it's still good.

mro

[crazy steve]

Success!!

I got it figured out! This is a no JB weld, no drilling on the carb body, a 'almost-anyone-can-do-it' repair. For a fully DIY job, some fab skills and precision tools would be needed, but for those who are less skilled or lacking tools, I'm going to offer a $25 'kit' that anybody with a file can install.

As soon as I get my new digital camera up and running on this 'puter, I'll post the details and how-to pics.... if I can get photobucket to cooperate.

'78E original owner