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'84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:30 pm
by dwerbil
My left carb sometimes overflows, and a couple of raps near the fuel bowl will loosen the floats. Could I use a bit of teflon grease on the float posts to help the situation, or would the gasoline thin out the teflon grease and negate that little attempt of a quick fix.
I'm off for a weekend camp/ride in the Hill Country and don't have time to buy new floats.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:50 pm
by ME 109
I don't think grease will do anything Randy.
How old are your float needles? It may be that the needle has developed a 'wear ring' where it contacts the seat.

If the fuel leak is occurring when the engine is running, I would further suspect the needle to be the culprit.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:11 pm
by dwerbil
When I pulled the float bowl, it was full of gas and both floats were low in the fuel. It's like they're a little grabby on the posts. The carb never leaks when the riding.
I changed the float needles about four years/30k ago.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:15 pm
by dwerbil
I'll try shining up the float posts a bit with some steel wool; maybe a pipe cleaner through the float post holes.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:40 pm
by Major Softie
Something more like jeweler's rouge or rubbing compound would probably be better. That shaft normally has a very polished surface.

Maybe it's just varnish in the outer pivoting part. That would be easy to clean up with carb cleaner.

I thought of needle valves first too, but I'm responding to your comments about the pivot feeling sticky.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:43 pm
by Deleted User 72
The way Randy describes it I think he has the alcohol floats that slide on a fire pole rather than pivoting thru an arc.

I think wooling the post and reaming the float is a good approach. I hope the post is not bent.

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:08 pm
by ME 109
Native /5 wrote:The way Randy describes it I think he has the alcohol floats that slide on a fire pole rather than pivoting thru an arc.
Aha! I wondered why Randy used the words 'floats' and 'float posts'

There's always more to it......

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:17 pm
by Garnet
ME 109 wrote:
Native /5 wrote:The way Randy describes it I think he has the alcohol floats that slide on a fire pole rather than pivoting thru an arc.
Aha! I wondered why Randy used the words 'floats' and 'float posts'

There's always more to it......
And here I thought all the posts where about floats. :?

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:44 pm
by Major Softie
Garnet wrote:
And here I thought all the posts where about floats. :?
Where? Like, where the posts are?

Re: '84 RS, sticky floats

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:54 pm
by ME 109
Major Softie wrote:
Garnet wrote:
And here I thought all the posts where about floats. :?
Where? Like, where the posts are?
I think Garnet meant where they were wearing?