Topic: My Petcock is not a well behaved Pet.

[harisuluv]

I am disappointed that we are discussing ethanol as a cause of leaking carbs.  This is exactly the type of thing I did not want to get started even.

JWilde, your bike, unlike jaguar's has METAL FLOAT VALVES.  There is no rubber tip to suspect.  If you think that ethanol is breaking down your metal tipped float valves well then they're also breaking down your entire carb assy, your intakes, engine, gas tank, etc.

You most likely just have worn float valves or some general issue with that assembly.  (float height, debris, etc. etc).

[JWilde]

I am disappointed that we are discussing ethanol as a cause of leaking carbs.  This is exactly the type of thing I did not want to get started even.

JWilde, your bike, unlike jaguar's has METAL FLOAT VALVES.  There is no rubber tip to suspect.  If you think that ethanol is breaking down your metal tipped float valves well then they're also breaking down your entire carb assy, your intakes, engine, gas tank, etc.

You most likely just have worn float valves or some general issue with that assembly.  (float height, debris, etc. etc).

Carbs were rebuilt less than two months ago. Who knows?! As long as I get to keep riding in this gorgeous weather I dont mind!

[riffman12]

You don't have a serious problem until your bike does this in the OFF position.

P.S.  That isn't mtn dew

jeeeesus be careful. I had a friend who burned down his garage and destroyed his sort of classic custom BMW from draining fuel in a bucket like that. I forget what eventually ignited the fumes, but it was something pretty innocuous:

[JWilde]

You don't have a serious problem until your bike does this in the OFF position.

P.S.  That isn't mtn dew

jeeeesus be careful. I had a friend who burned down his garage and destroyed his sort of classic custom BMW from draining fuel in a bucket like that. I forget what eventually ignited the fumes, but it was something pretty innocuous:

I think the greater lesson in all of this is dont get too caught up in material things. I like my bike not so much because of how it looks (though thats part of it) but more for the "freedom" it gives me.

[BomberMann650]

You don't have a serious problem until your bike does this in the OFF position.

P.S.  That isn't mtn dew

jeeeesus be careful. I had a friend who burned down his garage and destroyed his sort of classic custom BMW from draining fuel in a bucket like that. I forget what eventually ignited the fumes, but it was something pretty innocuous:

Oh #$%*!  yeah.

Lucky this was parked outside.  I tracked down the problem eventually.

That's what I got for trying to upgrade my shocks.

[jaguar]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

[JWilde]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

i knew this but wasnt going to argue with anyone about it. Point is youre right in your assessment of the situation. The facts back you up, and its a common problem.

[jaguar]

I did light my chopper on fire with leaking carbs though.

[JWilde]

I did light my chopper on fire with leaking carbs though.

Mine ONLY leaks (and has only done so TWICE since I had the bike) when I go in the garage and turn the petcock on after weeks of sitting. What Im going to do now is: 1 make sure the carbs are empty when I park it in the garage, by running on reserve until it stalls and 2, starting the bike with the petcock OFF for just a few turns and THEN turning it on. Btw, the garage is concrete and the bike is in the MIDDLE of the garage. Nothing flammable anywhere in the vicinity.

[harisuluv]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

Please give me a link to any kit that you can find SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BIKE IN QUESTION:  CB350F/CB400F which has rubber tipped float valves. 

[harisuluv]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

i knew this but wasnt going to argue with anyone about it. Point is youre right in your assessment of the situation. The facts back you up, and its a common problem.

What facts??  An anecdote? 

Also, if the bike in question is the one pictured by jaguar, they don't get rubber tipped float valves anyway.  If that is the case it's simply a matter of the WRONG part being used!

Rubber tipped float valves are for 77-78 years only (PD carb models), which are NOT on Jaguar's bike!

[JWilde]

I did light my chopper on fire with leaking carbs though.

Mine ONLY leaks (and has only done so TWICE since I had the bike) when I go in the garage and turn the petcock on after weeks of sitting. What Im going to do now is: 1 make sure the carbs are empty when I park it in the garage, by running on reserve until it stalls and 2, starting the bike with the petcock OFF for just a few turns and THEN turning it on. Btw, the garage is concrete and the bike is in the MIDDLE of the garage. Nothing flammable anywhere in the vicinity.

BTW nice bike

[tennesseebreeze]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

i knew this but wasnt going to argue with anyone about it. Point is youre right in your assessment of the situation. The facts back you up, and its a common problem.

What facts??  An anecdote? 

Also, if the bike in question is the one pictured by jaguar, they don't get rubber tipped float valves anyway.  If that is the case it's simply a matter of the WRONG part being used!

Rubber tipped float valves are for 77-78 years only (PD carb models), which are NOT on Jaguar's bike!

[JWilde]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

i knew this but wasnt going to argue with anyone about it. Point is youre right in your assessment of the situation. The facts back you up, and its a common problem.

What facts??  An anecdote? 

Also, if the bike in question is the one pictured by jaguar, they don't get rubber tipped float valves anyway.  If that is the case it's simply a matter of the WRONG part being used!

Rubber tipped float valves are for 77-78 years only (PD carb models), which are NOT on Jaguar's bike!

Mmm Kaaaay

[jaguar]

That was also part of my point about carb kits.

Some aftermarket kits DO use rubber tips.

Please give me a link to any kit that you can find SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BIKE IN QUESTION:  CB350F/CB400F which has rubber tipped float valves. 

I have had aftermarket kits (JUNK) that have used rubber tipped float valves.
I never said that my Chop, or my 1100F did or didn't have rubber tips.

I do know what has happened with all of my personal bikes.
Unsure what your issue is.

[harisuluv]

My carbs leaked a bit on my Chop.....then it caught on fire......

So what was the cause of the leak?  Did you have rubber tipped float valves or not?

[jaguar]

On the Chop?
They were original metal tips that had worn and leaked.
Zero to do with rubber tips or modern fuel at all.
Never claimed the issue had anything to do with that.

I DID mention that my 1100F HATED ethanol fuel.
That bike did leak.  Not from the floats, but the cross over tube.
When I moved upstate I only ever ran Stewarts 93(no ethanol) and it stopped leaking.
Coincidence?  Maybe.
No idea what needles were in those carbs, never opened them up.

That story was just to show that via personal experience a fuel leak is not something that you should just ignore.

I will stand by my statements that there is absolutely no reason to ever use an aftermarket carb kit on these bikes.
They fit poorly, often have the wrong parts and are the same price as OEM.
That point I will fight anyone on until I am blue in the face.

Rest has many variables.

[harisuluv]

On the Chop?
They were original metal tips that had worn and leaked.
Zero to do with rubber tips or modern fuel at all.
Never claimed the issue had anything to do with that.

Great.  So why did you never bring up metal tips being worn until now?  Why didn't you bring up the exact cause of your 550 bike and instead talked about Ethanol (which doesn't apply AT ALL to your bike OR JWilde's bike?  Why would you recommend a type of fuel to JWilde to address HIS leaking issues when he doesn't have rubber tips?  And how did you FIX the issue of your leaking carbs due to worn metal tips?

I DID mention that my 1100F HATED ethanol fuel.
That bike did leak.  Not from the floats, but the cross over tube.

Didn't leak from the floats, more irrelevant anecdote.

That story was just to show that via personal experience a fuel leak is not something that you should just ignore.

No one suggested that anyone should ignore a fuel leak. 

I will stand by my statements that there is absolutely no reason to ever use an aftermarket carb kit on these bikes.

I don't take issue with this statement at all.

[BomberMann650]

I'd like to state to Jwilde.

Some of the worst stuck float issues I've had came AFTER a "run dry" parking job.

Any time Metal on metal is supposed to slide, it really needs a lubricant.

It sucks that these old carburetors have such a tendency to stick their float needle in the down position.

Inspect, determine, repair.  That's all anyone can do.

[JWilde]

I'd like to state to Jwilde.

Some of the worst stuck float issues I've had came AFTER a "run dry" parking job.

Any time Metal on metal is supposed to slide, it really needs a lubricant.

It sucks that these old carburetors have such a tendency to stick their float needle in the down position.

Inspect, determine, repair.  That's all anyone can do.

FUEL INJECTION! lol

[JWilde]

What are the chances that, aside from the pool of fuel (not a lot) when this happened, that it got into the crankcase? Are the chances high or low?

[flybox1]

If the pet has been OFF, and you turn it on and it starts peeing gas,  tap the carb stay plate to free up the stuck float, if that is all it is.
(^^^ will happen more if you only have a side stand, which puts one float in gas and the other out)
If there is debris in the gas, holding the float valve open, the only fix is to clean your tank and ensure you have a good, working fuel filter(in-tank or in-line)

350f's do not have rubber tipped float valves, and neither do any aftermarket brand 350F float valves.

Chances of fuel getting into the crank case in this event? 0%

[BomberMann650]

What are the chances that, aside from the pool of fuel (not a lot) when this happened, that it got into the crankcase? Are the chances high or low?

There is always that risk.
Moreso if you were losing half a gallon overnight like me!

Inspect.determine.repair

[DaveBarbier]

What are the chances that, aside from the pool of fuel (not a lot) when this happened, that it got into the crankcase? Are the chances high or low?

Depends on where it leaked from. That's why it's good to try and find out. If it was from the carbs, the overflow should have made it so it leaked from the bottom of the carbs and not gotten into the crank case. If it leaked out the carb mouth then the overflow is clogged and it's possible it got into the crankcase too. You can check oil level and smell it but if it's not a lot then you won't be able to tell.

Obviously if it leaked from the petcock it would just run onto the engine and find its way to the floor.

Because it happened after the bike was sitting for a number of days, I'm thinking that you have a constant but slow leak out the overflow tube. Slow enough where it evaporates before it forms a puddle. After a while it would run the bowl dry and when you turn the fuel on again the float sticks down (as is the case often with dry float bowls) and fuel runs out.

[jaguar]

On the Chop?
They were original metal tips that had worn and leaked.
Zero to do with rubber tips or modern fuel at all.
Never claimed the issue had anything to do with that.

Great.  So why did you never bring up metal tips being worn until now?  Why didn't you bring up the exact cause of your 550 bike and instead talked about Ethanol (which doesn't apply AT ALL to your bike OR JWilde's bike?  Why would you recommend a type of fuel to JWilde to address HIS leaking issues when he doesn't have rubber tips?  And how did you FIX the issue of your leaking carbs due to worn metal tips?

I DID mention that my 1100F HATED ethanol fuel.
That bike did leak.  Not from the floats, but the cross over tube.

Didn't leak from the floats, more irrelevant anecdote.

That story was just to show that via personal experience a fuel leak is not something that you should just ignore.

No one suggested that anyone should ignore a fuel leak. 

I will stand by my statements that there is absolutely no reason to ever use an aftermarket carb kit on these bikes.

I don't take issue with this statement at all.

Have you even read what was posted?
You really are off base.

With your comments I would really wonder why anyone would use you for thier carbs.
Don't sound like you deal with old bikes much, or can understand what a customer is talking about to diagnose an issue.

I stand by the statement to use higher octane fuel.  It works for me.
I stand buy avoiding ethanol.  Most agree on this.
I stand by my story about my 1100f, and if you would like to talk more I will be more then happy to tell you, or anyone, what did and didn't happen.  I say it was the fuel.  Never talked about tips or any of that junk.
I stand by the fact my chopper was on fire after a fuel leak.  Never said that was fuel related or the magical tips.

You do know that ethanol fuel effects more then just the rubber bits?  I'm sure someone that rebuilds carbs would have talked about the sediment that forms due to the fuel.  But I'm sure that couldn't cause a metal tip to not seal well....