Speaking of carb floats...

[prometheus578]

One of the bank o' carbs I took apart last week to clean had the brass floats. All were fine, nice, round and plump, 'cept #1... it's sides were caved in. I've seen this before, but have never though about it much. I plan to replace it, but wonder how it got that way in the first place.
#1: Crushing atmospheric pressure? (Someone used compressed air to clean carbs with the bowls on)
#2: Radical change in tempurature? (But would have to be really cold)
#3: Gas/water slurry froze? (Bike was sitting outside for years)

Anybody have any thoughts?

[pathfinder]

# 1

Blowing in air under pressure after the fuel bowls are on. Please don't ask me how I know.

[prometheus578]

'What a blow-hard"

I thought so too. I guess the bowl vent doesn't evacuate the air quick enough to relieve the pressure. Or maybe the guy before me was trying to blow the vent clean! I've got enough carbs... maybe I should test this theory on a good float. (or maybe... NOT!)

[pathfinder]

No need to test, I have four caved in floats if you want them.

[prometheus578]

"Also damaged from being blown too hard"

"I feel your pain." (Bill Clinton)

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Prom,

Even though the float chamber is caved in, as long as it's not leaking, then it should still float. However, it won't displace the same amount of volume of fuel so it might float a little lower in the fuel than the others.

With Pathfinder's matching set of 4, that shouldn't be a problem since they are all matched!

You might try sticking it in a pot of boiling water, the heat might help expand the air enough to "pop" it back out!?
T.C.

[prometheus578]

You might try sticking it in a pot of boiling water, the heat might help expand the air enough to "pop" it back out!?

Was thinkin' 'bout that. Or a heat gun. Old time mech stopped in at work... "Yep... compressed air with the bowls on." Heat with a flame wrench, melt the solder, separate and pound back out, resolder. That's not worth it to me. Have two other banks of carbs to steal from; though will try the boiling.

[mro]

Was thinkin' 'bout that

How about an air needle ?
(used to inflate basket ball etc..)
Then only small hole to solder


mro

[John]

You need to be careful when soldering the floats, as the air inside will heat up and want to expand, blowing any solder that is covering the hole away to vent the pressure. I had to solder a float on a 79SF and I experienced this problem. I was using a small electric soldering iron to do the job, but it still got the air inside expanding. It was hell getting that thing fixed. I would try warming them in hot water or with a hair dryer to 'pump them up'.

[LoserShoes]

Put them in ice water while you solder them.

Steve

[Yamaniac]

MikesXS floats

The floats MikesXS sells have a part# 256-14985-00-00

The part # for an SF is 2a2-14985-00-00

I don't know how to tell if it will work as a replacement or not. Any help?

I had one float chamber caved in. put some heat on it and melted solder (detached chamber from arm). I'm gonna try to pop the chamber back out and then re-solder, but thought I'd check to see where I might be able to get a replacement if'n I screw the chamber up worse than it already is.

Thanks
Theron