Topic: Cracked overflow tubes & fouled out plugs

[killersoundz]

After running my bike for a little bit I had some carb overflowing probs. One of the main issues turns out two of my overflow tubes in my float bowls are cracked and just drip anyways. Then I put my overflow hoses on them and apparently two of them were clogged up. So then I had gas shooting out of the carb intake literally. Then my motor was running ultra rich and fouled out the plugs. Do I have to get new plugs or can I just try to clean them up? How does that work? and any fixes for the cracked overflow tubes? Thanks!

[Rigid]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush.  Cracked tubes can be carefully soldered if not cracked all the way down into the bowl itself.  Good eye on those tubes, most guys replace needles and seats 3 times and fiddle endlessly with the float adjustment before giving up.

[killersoundz]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush.  Cracked tubes can be carefully soldered if not cracked all the way down into the bowl itself.  Good eye on those tubes, most guys replace needles and seats 3 times and fiddle endlessly with the float adjustment before giving up.

Ok thanks I'll try to solder them. Yeah I filled up the bowls with some mineral spirits to make sure they were holding liquid. started dripping I'm like dang!!!!

[lucky]

Easy to repair.

Just sand the cracked overflow tube to clean shiny metal.
Then solder the crack. Do not go crazy and fill the overflow tube with solder. LOL..lol

Make sure it is clean before soldering. You will have to clean the oily mineral spirits off before soldering.
Use brake cleaner. Or use carb cleaner. PROTECT YOUR EYES!!

Test the tube to see if it leaks after it is cooled down.

[lucky]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush.  Cracked tubes can be carefully soldered if not cracked all the way down into the bowl itself.  Good eye on those tubes, most guys replace needles and seats 3 times and fiddle endlessly with the float adjustment before giving up.

Even if the crack goes down to the bowl it can still be soldered.
The solder will flow into the crack. But it all must be clean and sanded with #600 sand paper until it is shiny brass.

[lucky]

If you fix the float bowl overflow tube and test it, and the carb still overflows you better buy a new set of float needles.

Just cleaning a float needle seat with steel wool is a waste of time.
All you get out of that is a CLEAN worn out float needle seat. LOL..lol

[killersoundz]

If you fix the float bowl overflow tube and test it, and the carb still overflows you better buy a new set of float needles.

Just cleaning a float needle seat with steel wool is a waste of time.
All you get out of that is a CLEAN worn out float needle seat. LOL..lol

Lucky I have brand new float seats and float needles in my carbs, I just rebuilt them. However they are the metal tipped ones, is it possible they don't seal up as well as the rubber tipped ones?

[Stev-o]

I also had a cracked float bowl tube, I just replaced the bowl since I had extras laying around. Let me know it you need one.

[scottly]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush. 

I use a propane torch to burn off the carbon; a lighter is not hot enough. Do not use a wire brush, as this can cause metal to be transferred to the ceramic insulator, providing a path to ground.

[lucky]

If you fix the float bowl overflow tube and test it, and the carb still overflows you better buy a new set of float needles.

Just cleaning a float needle seat with steel wool is a waste of time.
All you get out of that is a CLEAN worn out float needle seat. LOL..lol

Lucky I have brand new float seats and float needles in my carbs, I just rebuilt them. However they are the metal tipped ones, is it possible they don't seal up as well as the rubber tipped ones?

The metal tipped ones work fine. The reason Honda went to rubber tipped needles is because after a while the engine vibrations can cause the metal needles to get a ridge in them. The rubber tipped needles dampened the vibration.

If they are new they will be fine if you set them the way the book tells you to set them.

[Rigid]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush. 

I use a propane torch to burn off the carbon; a lighter is not hot enough. Do not use a wire brush, as this can cause metal to be transferred to the ceramic insulator, providing a path to ground.

Fuel Gas Combustion temp in free air:

Butane  1,970
Propane 1,980

a quick visual inspection will detect any wires that could ground your plug.  Champion actually recommends wire brushing the threads on the firing end with an aluminium oxide blast for cleaning.  Try not to be such an idiot Scottlee.
   

[scottly]

Plugs can be cleaned with a lighter to burn off residue and a wire brush. 

I use a propane torch to burn off the carbon; a lighter is not hot enough. Do not use a wire brush, as this can cause metal to be transferred to the ceramic insulator, providing a path to ground.

Fuel Gas Combustion temp in free air:

Butane  1,970
Propane 1,980

a quick visual inspection will detect any wires that could ground your plug.  Champion actually recommends wire brushing the threads on the firing end with an aluminium oxide blast for cleaning.  Try not to be such an idiot Scottlee.
 

Glad I caught this in time to quote it, so you can't delete it like you tried to do with all your KCC posts, when you assumed your new identity as rigid.
Back to the topic... Wire brush on the threads is OK, just not on the center porcelain; it's not loose wires, it's metal transferred from wire bristles that can cause a problem. If you've ever used a ceramic knife sharpening stone, you might have noticed the silvery appearance the stone takes on with use.

As far as the effectiveness of the lighter over a torch for burning off the carbon on a fouled spark-plug, the first photo shows the effects of a lighter on the left, vs a torch on the right, on aluminum foil. The lighter adds carbon, while the torch burns much cleaner, and hotter.