Carb Float

[t-jacobs]

I have a 64 FLH. The bike would not start the other day and found I was'nt getting fuel. I pulled the carb off and found the float was dragging on the inside of the bowl and would not allow it to drop. Appears to be original cork float. I pulled the float and shaved about 1/16" of the cork with a file on the front face of the float in the area where it was dragging on the bowl. The float moved freely when put back together and bike runs fine. Do the old floats swell with age ? ( I almost had to pry it out of the bowl ) By shaving some of the cork away will this reduce the bouyancy of the float and effect the performance?

I would be greatful for any advice

Thanks

[Chris Haynes]

You need one of the new space age floats from Liberty Motorcycle Specialties. Better than anything else on the market, 309-246-3500 liberty@npoint.net

[Paps]

Chris is dead on ! It is not the float that is the problem, it is the new fuel mixtures. Paps

[t-jacobs]

Carb Float

Thanks guys,

I have heard nothing but great things about Cottens floats and will replace mine once it gets too cold to ride. ( Almost there now ) Does the new fuel make them swell?

Thanks again

[T. Cotten]

t-jacobs!

As Paps pointed out: Its all about the P4gas.

The company that I get my material from, the producer of floats for the MOCO from at least '57 on (commonly called "Armstrong' floats, as they are a rubber compound), has changed formulations at least three times, perhaps more.

The original "Armstongs" lasted many a decade, until detergents and other additives, along with rectification residuals from ethanol production, caused them to swell, and even split.

Your '64 would have had one of these molded black floats from the Factory.
A coated cork would have been an earlier issue (or maybe a modern attempt.)
The molded foam could be cut or sanded, but if you penetrate the sealer upon a cork, it will "log" full of fluid. Even a crack from installing the pivot nut to the lever can cause damage.

As carbureted autos gave way to universal fuel injection, the additives became increasingly digestive. Many "gas-proof' products are still truly gasoline resistant (if it were only gasoline), but the larger brand name fuels such as Shell and Sunoco will now even swell powdercoating, and turn seasoned tank sealers into goo.
(Generics are less harmfull!)

Keeping ahead of this trend has even led to a reformulation within the last year of the material that I use.

The Proprietor of this material, the true supplier of the the worldwide automotive industry, guards it jealously, and demands $10G in royalties up front to allow it to be molded. Thus I must machine it, if I am to provide the latest, most resistant material on the planet.

I used to say it was fuel-proof, but there may come a day when replacing floats is a bi- or tri-annual expense like batteries.
Worse yet, is the specter of what these incredibly reactive compounds in the air may be doing to our lungs, kidneys, and progeny.

...Cotten

[t-jacobs]

Carb Float

Thanks to all for the advice. How do I go about getting one of the magical Cotten floats. Should I just go to Liberty and order one?

[T. Cotten]

As Chris graciously provided:
liberty@npoint.net

I have no website at this time.

....Cotten

[Chris Haynes]

Thanks to all for the advice. How do I go about getting one of the magical Cotten floats. Should I just go to Liberty and order one?

As you see above Liberty is Tom Cotten.

[T. Cotten]

Contrary to mis-information recently posted on the CAImag forum (where I can no longer log on...), My DURABLE Linkert replacement floats are NOT the same material as molded varieties.

The similar ones are an obsolete formulation for which the patent has expired.

I machine the latest, most resistant formulation available, which actually IS the same as all major auto companies now use.

All DURABLE Linkert replacement floats sold at the 2008 Davenport AMCA Meet are of the improved compound.

....Cotten

[T. Cotten]

The original "Armstrongs" survived for decades, until the fuels changed.
DURABLEs have been in service for nearly a decade, but two units of the hundreds machined from the now obsolete formulation have been recently returned to me displaying swelling or distortion.

Their buoyancy change is negligible, but they can rub upon the side of the bowl.
Although they can easily be sanded for clearance without danger of leakage,...

I AM REPLACING FREE OF CHARGE ANY OF LIBERTY'S PRODUCTION, OBSOLETE OR IMPROVED, THAT FAIL IN THIS MANNER, IF RETURNED FOR VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION.

This valuable Forum is greatly appreciated!

....Cotten

[silentgreyfello]

I was having problems with my floats swelling and catching on the bowl. At a mechanic friend's recommendation, I changed to the rubber ducky float. Problem solved.