Topic: Carb float pin stuck

[Jcop.550]

Hey guys!

Recently picked up a cb550 that has been sitting for quite some time now. I am cleaning the carbs and I’m having trouble getting 2 out of the 4 float pins out. I’ve soaked them, boiled them (got the other 2 out after that), and lightly applied heat to them to try and punch them out. They won’t budge and anything I use just bends.

Starting to get frustrated so figured I’d as here to see what others have done that have had the same issue.

Thanks!


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[MauiK3]

Maybe let soak in carb cleaner for a day or so?

[Jcop.550]

Maybe let soak in carb cleaner for a day or so?

I did try that first and no luck. Boiling for 20 mins helped get 2 of them out. Maybe just have to keep repeating soaking and boiling


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[BenelliSEI]

Maybe let soak in carb cleaner for a day or so?

I did try that first and no luck. Boiling for 20 mins helped get 2 of them out. Maybe just have to keep repeating soaking and boiling


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Do just that. You might try a little bit of heat on the post, then let it cool and repeat. Last time I tried to rush this, I cracked a post and ended up replacing the carb body. Easy does it!

[willbird]

Make a pressure vessel big enough to hold the carb and a penetrating mixture of ATF and acetone ? Put the carb inside and plug it into your air line, and release it, plug it back in, etc a bunch of times ? This might help the penetrant get into whatever free space is between the pin and the carb body ??

[ekpent]

Pounding on the end of the pin with a punch will mushroom the end of the brass pin so it may need to be filed. I have always had good luck with soaking with carb dunk out of a can using an acid brush combined later with heat from a heat gun and even some PB Blaster or such. Patience and time. Only once on a lot of carbs have I had to break out the dremel cut-off wheel when the pin was totally seized in the float tang.

[Doobie]

If nothing else works, cut the pin and use pliers to wriggle out each piece. Buy or make new pins.

[Jcop.550]

Well… I got it! Took a lot of patience and rinse and repeat. Soaked in boiling water once more and about an hour of tapping with a hammer and punch plus some more heat for them to finally release.

Thanks guys for the tips and motivation!


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[BenelliSEI]

Well done!

[CycleRanger]

Well… I got it! Took a lot of patience and rinse and repeat. Soaked in boiling water once more and about an hour of tapping with a hammer and punch plus some more heat for them to finally release.

Thanks guys for the tips and motivation!

Glad you got it out!
Yes, patience is sometimes the most important tool.

[clegg]

I use an automatic center punch, clicks them out every time.

[Geoff Hastings]

Just as a follow up on removing a stuck pin. Beware of hitting the pin hard without supporting the post as they can snap off really easily. That old aluminium is now quite brittle.

[HondaMan]

I use an automatic center punch, clicks them out every time.

Me, too. Remember to back up the little post, though, or it can bend/break if not supported during the repeated strikes from the punch!