Have you ever seen worse?

[opus451]

Hello Everyone!

So picked up a 1982 R65LS that I was hoping was a deal, until of course I looked deeper. Have any of you ever seen carbs this bad, and how does this happen? And what is the reality I am looking at here? What's a fix for severely oxidized float bowls?

It's like someone poured baking soda in their enemy's tank.

Bike sat for 4 years in Brooklyn weather neglected.

[dougie]

I would brush off as much as you can with an old toothbrush first. Then submerge it in PineSol for 24 hours. Then see what you are dealing with. With luck the body can be cleaned up, all small passages cleaned out, followed by a rebuild with new jets, needle and O-rings. Floats as well if they are leaking. I have gone the PineSol route with carbs and it worked very well.

[dwerbil]

I'd too drop the belly pan to see how it looks in there. Hopefully the water stayed out of the engine. Does the tranny shift? Same thing there too. Water can sure do damage to this stuff if left unattended. Course you'll be changing all the fluids. Probably more to go over than this.

[Major Softie]

Yep, that's water that did that. Whether from alcohol laden fuel that absorbed moisture, or just plain water in the tank, it's water.

[Bamboo812]

That's nasty! Do you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner? I use Simple Green in mine and it's amazing how much stuff will come off. If you can't get the passages clear, I'd start looking for a set of good used carbs on eBay or the IBMWR.org Marketplace. How do the intakes on the heads look? Does the motor turn easily by hand using the alternator bolt with the spark plugs out?

[opus451]

There was a bit of water in the tranny when I dropped the fluids. None in engine oil. The gas tank has rust so will be dealing with that next. And will be taking all your advice, even considering replacing if nothing else works, thanks everyone! Will try and update as I go.

[SteveD]

Those carbs will have issues, but will be fine when you're finished with them. Become a carb master...read here...
http://home.insightbb.com/~cdpumphr/the ... nicles.htm

[Ken in Oklahoma]

There was a bit of water in the tranny when I dropped the fluids. . .

If you have water in the transmission you have a problem you need to deal with. Water in the transmission is always almost due to rain water or car wash water wicking down the speedometer cable, past the rubber bootie where the cable goes into the transmission, and then into the oil. Strange but true.

The fix is a new rubber bootie on the cable. I like to seal the bootie to the cable jacket with silicone rubber followed by a small cable zip tie around the neck of the bootie. Some people fill in the bootie with grease gun or bearing grease packed into it.

Since you didn't talk about dropping chocolate milk looking oil out of the transmission you are likely OK there. When you dropped the oil did you feel it for metal 'grit. If the fuzz feels smooth between your fingers you are likely OK. But if the fuzz feels gritty, well that's not a good sign.

Ken

[khittner1]

Hello Everyone!

So picked up a 1982 R65LS that I was hoping was a deal, until of course I looked deeper. Have any of you ever seen carbs this bad, and how does this happen? And what is the reality I am looking at here? What's a fix for severely oxidized float bowls?

It's like someone poured baking soda in their enemy's tank.

Bike sat for 4 years in Brooklyn weather neglected.

Um, 4 years ago in Brooklyn weather history was Hurricane Sandy, Opus. If that thing has been submerged in fresh or salt/brackish water, it may just deserve a decent burial.

[Rob]

Hello Everyone!

So picked up a 1982 R65LS that I was hoping was a deal, until of course I looked deeper. Have any of you ever seen carbs this bad, and how does this happen? And what is the reality I am looking at here? What's a fix for severely oxidized float bowls?

It's like someone poured baking soda in their enemy's tank.

Bike sat for 4 years in Brooklyn weather neglected.

Um, 4 years ago in Brooklyn weather history was Hurricane Sandy, Opus. If that thing has been submerged in fresh or salt/brackish water, it may just deserve a decent burial.