Topic: Leaky #3 float driving me insane!!!

[Magilla]

First off they should make a clear bowl cover that could be used for testing these things.  How nice would that be?  Secondly, does it do it when it's running or when it's sitting?  Believe it or not these things tend to overflow while sitting with a full tank of gas.  The weight/pressure can sometimes push the gas past the float needle.  I went crazy chasing this issue. 

[Terry in Australia]

I think I'd just get another set of carbs............

[lucky]

New seat and new needle. That is what I would do.
Actually I would put in all the seats and needles and set the floats by the BOOK.

End of problem.

[tlbranth]

New seat and new needle. That is what I would do.
Actually I would put in all the seats and needles and set the floats by the BOOK.

End of problem.

......unless the float tab sticks on the needle

[750K]

I think I'd just get another set of carbs............

Come on Terry, where's the fun and challenge in that haha.

Lucky, you should know this. PD's have a pressed in seat and I have brand new needles in there.

[750K]

Where the needle valve contacts the float tab, is there a dimple? If there is, file the tab 'til the dimple's gone or fill the dimple with solder and file smooth. Then see if it leaks.

I think you nailed it, all 4 tabs had a good dimple where the needle touched. The ones in my spare carbs had almost no dimple, I filed them smooth and polished them with my dremel. I've tested twice and no leaks so far, just have to adjust #1,3's levels a touch and re test a couple more to be sure. So far it looks like the problem.

Thanks everyone for all the advice, much appreciated! Always good to have other peoples ideas, when crossing things off the to check list




Edit: problem fixed, I even swapped to og floats back in after filing off the dimple. #3 is now holding a nice stable fuel level as the rest of them. Real happy, now tuning for the new airbox setup. Thanks again for the help.