Topic: another carb question

[drew]

so i'm very new to working on bikes and i decided to try and go through my carbs after my bike started pouring gas out of the carb overflow tubes.  i have a 76 cb550f and things seemed to be going well until i tried to close up my float bowls.  i went through and made sure all the openings on the jets were clear, which they were except for one of my main jets.  so i replaced that one and then decided i would replace them all since i had new ones.  now when i put the float arm? (thing that hangs on the main jet) on i can't close my float bowl.  if i leave it off it closes fine.  i tried to see how it could possibly prevent me from closing my float bowl and was unable to come up with anything.  so i was curious if i even needed those things.  i'm sure since they're there there's a reason for them, but i can't really tell what that reason is.  is it going to make a difference if i leave them out?

[jhasewhite]

yes, it will make a huge difference if you leave your floats out. 




Try the search function.

[drew]

yeah, i was talking about the tangs.  i know that the floats have to be in there.  it just seems like there is a huge difference from before and i'd really have to force it on there.  i guess i'll just see if i can get them on without having to be too forceful.

what is the purpose of the tangs anyway?  the only thing i could think of is to control float height, but doesn't the tab on the float do that?

[OakBehringer]

I've never worked on 550F carbs, but on a 350F...

Are you talking about the actual floats? The big black or brass balls that float in the gas? Or the spring that pushes up on the main jet when the float bowl is on?

If you're talking about the latter, it should keep the bowls from mating with their opposing surface by about .2" until you compress them by pushing up or screwing in the bowls.

[drew]

i'm talking about the thing the guy is holding onto in this picture

[zx12r]

i'm talking about the thing the guy is holding onto in this picture

thats the spring to hold in the main jet, since it is only held in by a o-ring, yes you need it, or the jet can fall out. it fits over the main jet, then it slides in the groove on the jet.

[EdB]

or if its like my bike, your missing the tang and after 30 years or so the jets have started to meld there way to become part of the carb 

[drew]

thats the spring to hold in the main jet, since it is only held in by a o-ring, yes you need it, or the jet can fall out. it fits over the main jet, then it slides in the groove on the jet.

ah ok, that makes sense now.  i was wondering what kept the jet in there.  i didn't realize that the float bowl was actually keeping the tang in place.  thanks for the info

[jhasewhite]

haha, sorry 

sometimes I can be a real pisser.

good luck.