Author Topic: carb float needles  (Read 899 times)

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Offline CBGhia

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carb float needles
« on: July 05, 2013, 03:37:19 PM »
I have seen some things recently and I want to get your opinions. I helped a buddy rebuilt his carbs on his CB900 and all was good. He doesn't ride it often, and when he turned on the gas, it started pissing out of the carbs.  I recently rebuilt the carbs on my goldwing project. They were fine until yesterday. Turned the fuel back on and they filled the chambers from overflow.  Now, I ride my 550 most days and  I never turn off my petcock. Yesterday, I adjusted the valves so  I had to pull the tank.  I didn't ride it after, so  I turned on the gas for the first time this morning before work.   I rode off quickly,  and didn't look for leaks, but when I got to work, I found the left carb pissing. A gentle smack with my keys stopped it, but to be safe, I turned off the petcock. When I left work and turned it on, it started leaking, so another smack with the keys and it stopped leaking.  Every stoplight, I checked it and no leak. Been checking it for the last few hours and no leak. 

Is  there something with these rubber tipped needles that needs to have the gas on? Maybe to keep everything wet on the tip?
CB550 Cafe, GL1000, Buell Ulysses
if you dont trial spin the camshaft in the head and cover you are a novice,with no natural mechanical appitude,destined for destruction.
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Offline flybox1

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Re: carb float needles
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2013, 06:31:50 PM »
its just your floats getting stuck low in your bowls. they shouldn't, so pull the bowls and the float pins out.  clean them up with some 0000 steel wool.  nice and shiny.  and, get in the habit of turning off the gas. good for your bike.
'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

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Offline lucky

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Re: carb float needles
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2013, 12:09:08 AM »
You may need new rubber tip float needles.
Look at them with a magnifying class and slowly spin them in your fingers.
They may not be concentric.

They may even have a deformed point and missing a piece.
If they sit all winter they can dry out.

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« Last Edit: July 06, 2013, 12:16:26 AM by lucky »