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Message started by cstout on 07/22/06 at 10:36:59

Title: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by cstout on 07/22/06 at 10:36:59

I took my carb apart today for the first time. I started by draining the fuel in the bowl and now the threads for the drain screw are stripped (all I did was remove the screw, not tighten it.)

Has anybody tried drilling and re-threading the float bowl? The metal is really soft. I was hoping I could just buy a new bowl but apparently I have to buy the whole carb.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Reelthing on 07/22/06 at 10:53:04

if you have the older style where a large screw comes out of the bottom of the bowl - I would think this would be fairly easy to tap - heck some gas proof silicone is liable to hold it in there -

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Banger on 07/22/06 at 12:22:24

Had this happen a couple weeks ago. If you've got the faculties to do it with, re-tap the hole for a slightly larger bolt. Easy enough to fix. Seems to be a common problem with the carb bowl on these bikes.

Regards,
Banger
=======

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by cstout on 07/22/06 at 14:12:41

Great. It looks easy enough to tap but the metal is so soft that I wasn't sure and didn't want to make it any worse.

I thought about the idea of gas proof silicone or something but I doubt it would hold over the long term.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by red2k1 on 07/22/06 at 14:34:44

I used heli-coil insert and that worked fine. An oversize re-tap may be easier and cheaper if you have the equipment.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Keith_B on 07/22/06 at 20:06:37

Just use JB Weld, and foget about using the drain :(

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by slavy on 07/22/06 at 22:40:31

There is no gas-proof silicone that I know of. If somebody knows about one- please list the info.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Jim_R on 07/22/06 at 22:45:05

buy another bowl from www.ronayers.com

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by cstout on 07/23/06 at 10:15:08

red2k1 wrote:

I used heli-coil insert and that worked fine. An oversize re-tap may be easier and cheaper if you have the equipment.

I was considering heli-coil but it is rather expensive. But with that, I can use the original bolt, which has the length and head size.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Brewbrother on 07/23/06 at 11:23:45

I didn't even consider draining the carb bowl when I rejetted. It only had a few ounces of fuel.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by cstout on 07/23/06 at 16:08:22

red2k1 wrote:

I used heli-coil insert and that worked fine. An oversize re-tap may be easier and cheaper if you have the equipment.

What size did you use? As far as I can tell, it is a 1/4" thread and not metric.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Reelthing on 07/23/06 at 20:42:48

slavy wrote:

There is no gas-proof silicone that I know of. If somebody knows about one- please list the info.

This stuff - sorry it says it's elastomeric synthetic rubber and not silicone - it works like it - says fairly soft and peels off

http://www.permatex.com/documents/tds/automotive/29132.pdf

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by cstout on 07/24/06 at 18:23:29

Well, it appears the bolt is either a 1/4" fine thread (not metric) or an M6 fine thread, which apparently doesn't exist. Either way, I can't get a Helicoil to fit. I don't want to go to a larger bolt because I'm not sure the head will seat in the groove properly to make a good seal.

But I found a carb in a salvage yard for $50 so I'll just do that. Hopefully it has a good float bowl, which is all I want from it.

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by Banger on 07/25/06 at 04:32:30

Yarr, then you can keep the rest of it for spare parts! Good deal.

Regards,
Banger
=======

Title: Re: Float bowl drain stripped
Post by enophile on 07/30/06 at 16:40:08

Since I have a replacement carburetor on the way, I decided to attempt the tapping of new threads on mine. I used a Heli-coil insert for 1/4"-20 threads, used a new 1/4" bolt that I hacksawed to the correct length and used the original rubber washer. It took me about 10 minutes and it worked great.