Triumphrat

daveforty

A first for me; I had a bike inspected for a UK MOT test. It passed - yipeeeeeee. When I collected the bike the right side carb (Mk1 Concentric) was leaking petrol. Having been riding OK an hour before, my first thought was the tickler had stuck down when the inspector tried starting it.

Turned out to be a leaking float. It is the usual Amal plastic / nylon thing, and it is full of petrol. Cannot see a split or crack, shaking it about doesnt cause any petrol to leak out, so I have no idea how or where it got in. I have never seen one leak before.

Is it possible to crack the nylon float by pressing on the tickler too hard? All fixed now, so its not a big deal, but I'm curious.

Mecchanica

This seems to be showing up a lot. Is the carb a new one? Say, in the last two or three years? The solution seems to be to find an old one, from the AMAL days. Never had one of them leak.

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Triumph old, Triumph new, any Triumph will do.

ViLe

Hi Dave! Like Mecch said, this problem is coming up more often than not...

I had my float split & sink "overnight" about a month ago. No apparent reason, just a float full of petrol. Left the float outside to evaporate, and it's still almost as full And this was, like Mecch said a new Burlen-made Amal carb... Contact with Burlen gave me a "fake float"-poppycock tale, but I'm suspecting a manufacturing / material issue.

-Ville

daveforty

The carburettor float that failed is an old one, I bought the carb. (new) approx. 18 years ago. I can see no sign of damage to the float, and the fuel that is in the float shows no sign of coming out.

I am curious that it failed so quickly - it is the first time I have ever had a float leak, it has been working fine while I have been getting the bike ready for the road.

I have replaced it with an equally old float from a 'spare' carburettor and all is well.

Just a strange event that having ridden the bike to the bike shop, then passed its inspection, I had to go home on the bus to get my trailer to bring the bike home :hammer:

Mecchanica

Hmmmm, guess anything can happen at least once. I would be willing to bet that there are a lot more leaky new floats than leaky old floats. Just from what we are hearing.

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Triumph old, Triumph new, any Triumph will do.

ViLe

Echoing Mecch. Again

Still, where's the fun in passing MOT and then driving back home with nothing but a smile on your face :wink: ?

Seriously, odd things happen. And mostly at inconvenient times. Too bad there are too many variables to get to the root of the sunken float problem. Maybe it's just karma

-Ville

daveforty

I was grinning like an idiot riding TO the MOT place. The bike is my Commando, with 'peashooter' exhausts, and is thus impossible to ride in a civilised manner. Also, it is the first time in years I have had it on the road.

Interesting to hear that others have had float problems, may be I'll carry a spare - plenty of space in the tool compartment.

When I got to the bike shop, there was someone before me with an A10, done up to look like an RGS, which was very pretty, TaylorDow alloy yokes, with clip-ons (only) half way to the bottom yoke. Goldie style exhausts sounded nice when he rode off. I guess a bit of nice weather brings them all out.

DAGAD

Unleaded petrol is a very nasty substance. I have experience of fuel pipes going 'gooey' and seals in petcocks swelling to the point that no fuel will pass when switched on. Is it possible this is related to the unleaded curse???
Roy.

Lutz

I believe the problem with the pipes going gooey and the seals in the petcocks swelling is caused more from the use of alcohol in the fuel than the lack of lead .Here in the midwest they are adding alcohol to the fuel .That attacks the adhesive holding the seal in place in the petcock. It will also attack fiberglass tanks and also soften floats and ruin some tank sealers causing them to peel .
Lutz

htown16

The American public is being duped about ethanol. It produces less energy than gasoline. The Feds subsidize every gallon by $1.36. It takes huge amount of water to produce. Marginal land is put into cultivation destroying wildlife habitat and putting more pesticides and fertilizers into waterways. Also, have you noticed how much the price of meat and milk has climbed this year because corn is being diverted from cattle feed? Have you seen which vehicles have E85 stickers? Giant SUVs, the car companies love this dodge, they don't have to make more fuel efficient vehicles. And last but not least to us it messes up vintage car and motorcyle engines. Sorry about the rant, but our politicans are leading us astray with an easy answer instead of trying to solve the hard problems.

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Htown16, Houston, Texas
1978 T140E Bonneville, 2004 XL 1200R Sportster

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