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Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:58 am
by StephenB
I am still experimenting with my carb settings and have to remove the carb bowls often to change jets, mains, etc.

Got a question on the cork gaskets on the Bing float bowls: they seem to develop leaks easily (at least in my case), seemingly due to shrinkage. That shrinkage is due to age and/or dryness, I assume. Would it help to soak them in water to swell so that they fill the void better? Any other suggestions?

Thanks, Stephen

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:22 pm
by moore84rs
I don't know if soaking them would make them swell or not, but, if you want
to try it, I would soak them in fuel.

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:54 pm
by gspd
Start with brand new ones but coat them with grease before installing them.
When you put the bowl back on, wiggle it around so it is well seated before clipping it.
let me know how it works out. ;)

Did you ever have gassy smelling boots in the wrong social situation?
You stand out like a sore thumb. :oops:

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:16 pm
by StephenB
I did try the grease route before ... I think. What I did notice in the past was the variation of dimensions: some where so wide they didn't even fit into the groove.

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 2:00 pm
by Jean
I grease them too.
Maybe the holding bail is sprung a bit. Try bending it a little (take it off the carbs) to make it fit tighter.
Haven't run into the "too-wide" problem tho...In that case, I would shave the offending edge with a razor blade and straight-edge.
Yes, you can still get single-edge razor blades for such things...maybe even for shaving!!

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:32 pm
by Garnet
gspd wrote: Did you ever have gassy smelling boots in the wrong social situation?
You stand out like a sore thumb. :oops:
Yes I have, but the gas eminated from a different source.

I blame the dog. :P

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:15 pm
by Major Softie
This reminded me of my very favorite typo ever on the old forum. Someone, I don't remember who, posted a question about how he was having a problem with his carb bowels.

I still laugh every time I think about it. :lol:

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:17 pm
by Scot
I remember that, and had a chuckle er 2 myself, when I saw this thread.

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:34 pm
by dwerbil
Scot wrote:I remember that, and had a chuckle er 2 myself, when I saw this thread.
Same here, that typo wuz funny on the old board. What would that be.....a Freudian slip?
That would be the day when we'd see a typo of "carob bowels".

Re: Leaky carb bowls

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:39 pm
by dwerbil
StephenB wrote:I am still experimenting with my carb settings and have to remove the carb bowls often to change jets, mains, etc.

Got a question on the cork gaskets on the Bing float bowls: they seem to develop leaks easily (at least in my case), seemingly due to shrinkage. That shrinkage is due to age and/or dryness, I assume. Would it help to soak them in water to swell so that they fill the void better? Any other suggestions?

Thanks, Stephen

Stephen, I've had trouble like this from time to time, more so on the RS. After dropping the bowl a time or two and fiddling with the gasket and surfaces, it seemed to stop (for now).
I do know the float needle seats got changed out a couple of years ago to match the new float needles. Maybe that's when the leaks stopped.