Intro and Problems Running

[JasonRedbeard]

This just an idea, but it makes sense to me so it might be worth a try...and you can't use them as-is, after all.

Throw those collapsed floats in a pot of water and heat them up on the stove. The air inside the float will expand and -possibly- create enough pressure to pop them back out. This is also a good way to check for leaky floats (look for a stream of air bubbles.)

[ddragon63]

This just an idea, but it makes sense to me so it might be worth a try...and you can't use them as-is, after all.

Throw those collapsed floats in a pot of water and heat them up on the stove. The air inside the float will expand and -possibly- create enough pressure to pop them back out. This is also a good way to check for leaky floats (look for a stream of air bubbles.)

yes heat will make brass come back into shape...to a point. pressure is even better. Firearm brass is the best example. you can reload a casing with a dent in it and after firing it it will be straight again. The pressure makes it reform itself to its previously formed shape. boiling water should work on a float... i would attach it to something so you can submerge it in the boiling water and hold it there... my .02

[ddragon63]

another of my .02 if it does pop back out into shape and you do find a crack or hole you can solder it up with safety solder and flux just like you would with plumbing. its found in any hardware store. just make sure you get all the water out of it first.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Not a joke

Not jokeing, vacuum will pull the floats right back, it helps to heat them 1st 200% oven for 5 min, then in the jar and pull them back out, here is a pump for 4 bucks that will do it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-Air-Def...item41604ff02f

[ddragon63]

Not jokeing, vacuum will pull the floats right back, it helps to heat them 1st 200% oven for 5 min, then in the jar and pull them back out, here is a pump for 4 bucks that will do it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-Air-Def...item41604ff02f

that will work like a charm...

[ddragon63]

you could alwasy drill a small hole in them and spray starting fluid into the hole and pass a flame across it... but if your not careful you could burst all the seams

[crazy steve]

One thing you should do is trim the bowl gaskets with a razor blade to the same width as the carb body on the sides. That 'extra' gasket hanging over is a leading cause of stuck floats....

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Oil

Oil, well, that will start a fight so i will just say, if the use auto oil and those fokes are right you can save a few bucks. If the use only motorcycle oil and those people are right (I am one of those,( huffed a perfectly good clutch on one of my bikes, not knowing the difference in oil) you spent a few bucks and didn't get to learn how to replace your clutch disc's sounds like an easy choise

Ok, well I'm going to try and get it running with the late carbs. If that doesn't happen I'll try the early ones.

I think the next thing I'll do is clean the fuel tank and both petcocks. I've also got a second tank that I may try.

I've seen several threads about oil and they have made everything very confusing. Should I use automotive oil or MC specific oil? I've seen answers that go both ways. From what I understand the biggest difference is the motorcycle oils have less (or none, depending on who you ask) friction modifiers in them. Is this true? From what I'm told my clutch was replaced not too long ago (haven't confirmed it, PO told me when I looked at it), if this is the case will normal dyno oils work? I'm really mixed up about this. I'd hate to spend $7-$10/qt and find out I didn't need to.

[Laptop_geek]

Not jokeing, vacuum will pull the floats right back, it helps to heat them 1st 200% oven for 5 min, then in the jar and pull them back out, here is a pump for 4 bucks that will do it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-Air-Def...item41604ff02f

I might try using a vacuum cleaner hose. I'm not sure if that will have enough of a vacuum to it, but its worth a try.

Sometimes I wonder how these people can sell and ship things for $3.89, but I can't ship a simple thing like a float for less than $5. Makes me wonder...

[Laptop_geek]

Alot of good info here. I'll take those gaskets and trim them down, hopefully that'll keep them from sticking.

Looks like I'll just be using the good ol MC oil. Even though I really want to learn how to change a clutch...

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Cant hurt to try a shop vac. would need to be a strong one, heating them up some 1st helps also as the heat builds pressure inside the float, even if you just use a hot hair dryer. From what I can see from the pic, thay just need to pop out on the sides a little, good luck

I might try using a vacuum cleaner hose. I'm not sure if that will have enough of a vacuum to it, but its worth a try.

Sometimes I wonder how these people can sell and ship things for $3.89, but I can't ship a simple thing like a float for less than $5. Makes me wonder...

[ddragon63]

Looks like I'll just be using the good ol MC oil. Even though I really want to learn how to change a clutch...

If your like most people you only change it once a year any how. WalMart carries Valvoline and Mobil 1 Motorcycle oils (least the one in my neck of the woods does) and its WAY cheaper than going to the bike shop. They sell Mobil 1 Synthetic for under 10 a quart and I wanna say good old Valvoline 4T for about 4 or 5 bucks. Most Napa's will carry Valvoline or Castrol 4T also

I will not get in an discussion about brands and/or petro vs syn... but I think we can all agree if you have a wet clutch you need a oil designed for it. plus most MC oils have anti foaming agents to get it under control when you gear box churns it up

If you have a cycle gear in your area the carry Castrol 4T+ partial synthetic in the gallon for about 25 bucks.

[natemoen]

another of my .02 if it does pop back out into shape and you do find a crack or hole you can solder it up with safety solder and flux just like you would with plumbing. its found in any hardware store. just make sure you get all the water out of it first.

Easier said than done. If one side of the float weighs more than the other it can float sideways and be more prone to hanging up and causing leaks. Also if one float weighs more than the others in the carb bank your fuel level in that carb will be different than the others.

All these things are able to be overcome but must be thought through before deciding to fix the float.

I also have found that when soldering a float it is best to submerg all but the small portion of the float to be soldered in water to keep any of the other seams from heating up and letting go.

[Laptop_geek]

Cant hurt to try a shop vac. would need to be a strong one, heating them up some 1st helps also as the heat builds pressure inside the float, even if you just use a hot hair dryer. From what I can see from the pic, thay just need to pop out on the sides a little, good luck

Tried a vacuum cleaner last night (on the floats...). It crushed the bottle it was in, I couldn't tell if it did any good or not.

Here's the set-up.



And the conclusion.



Looks like I'll need a coffee can or something similar.

Thanks for help with the oil. I've already decided to use dyno oil, had too many issues with seals leaking when swapping to synthetic with cagers.

I do have a cycle gear somewhat close by. I think the prices there are somewhat close to wally worlds. I might go there cause they are much closer than cycle gear (plus I feel like a very smart individual when I'm in there...).

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Jat

JAT, it looked like just the outside of your floats wer pushed in a little and you vac has some pull. You might try to just pull one side at a time with the vac by useing an adapter the size of the float side and do heat it up,even with just a hair dryer. I have fixed auto floats with heat and vacuum, it can work if they dont have a leak

Tried a vacuum cleaner last night (on the floats...). It crushed the bottle it was in, I couldn't tell if it did any good or not.

Here's the set-up.



And the conclusion.



Looks like I'll need a coffee can or something similar.

Thanks for help with the oil. I've already decided to use dyno oil, had too many issues with seals leaking when swapping to synthetic with cagers.

I do have a cycle gear somewhat close by. I think the prices there are somewhat close to wally worlds. I might go there cause they are much closer than cycle gear (plus I feel like a very smart individual when I'm in there...).