Idea for refurbing carb floats

[BB~]

I have a 79 GS750 that I recently pulled from a barn where it has ben sitting for the better part of 2 decades. After a nice long cleaning the carbs work with no problems for about 2 hours then the floats sink and dump gas all over the garage (resulting in one hellva scare and small gas fire). The only place that I have been able to find that can order new floats is quoting me $25 a pop. $100 for a new set of floats 1/2 what I paid for the bike and seems more than a little excessive. I kreemed the tank to take care of a heavy rust issue that it had and have some left over and was wondering if anyone had ever tried painting that stuff on the rubber floats to prevent them from sucking up the gas.



Any ideas or general tips and tricks would be greatly appriciated and the sooner I can get this beast on the road the happier i will be.

Also, I seem to have a problem with with the electrical system (a true shocker on these things I know). Any suggestions of where I can find a replacement rectifier before I go down and try my luck at the junk yard?

[chef1366]

I have a rectifier.
Post in the parts wanted for a float.

[BB~]

I just need the actual floats

looks like this


except they are rubber nubs instead of hollow metal

[Suzuki mad]

What about getting a full set of carbs as spares? There's no guarantee that the floats will be any better mind.

You might be well served by bitting the bullet and getting new floats.

Suzuki mad

[Suzuki_Don]

Are you sure its not rust from the tank that has got into the inlet needle and seats. I know you've Kreemed the tank, but stuff might have still found it's way in there. What makes you think the floats are sinking. Is there fuel inside them when you shake them. Are they made from brass or plastic. You might just need to adjust the floats.

[SqDancerLynn1]

What I would sugest is to remove the floats, put them in a container of fuel with a weight on them & let them set. After your two hour time frame Check to see if they float. The floats could be bad, but I would bet you have bad needles, maybe even a bad petcock

The kreem coating would probably make them too heavy

[makenzie71]

Kreem IS too heavy. I've used POR15 with success, but I don't suggest it. Best stuff is the epoxy spray sealers they use to coat submersible stators.

[trippivot]

do not re-furb floats. ever seen a bike burn to the ground next to rush hour traffic on the highway?? I have, not mine but some poor slob that cut corners on safety issue parts. I did have the pleasure to try to get it running again at the kawasaki shop. boy was that guys bill was huge.

crying about 100 in floats is gonna just get you ready for 140 in float needles also very necessary and do wear out.

fuel control,bad tires,bad chain,bad steering head bearings, all parts that can KILL you if you try to cut a financial corner.

used stuff is out there and if you look well enough you'll get the gas issue shored up.

[Nessism]

I suggest you do as Lynn states, test the floats before doing anything based on assumption. Most likely the tank rust is the cause of the issue and not the float.

If you do need floats, post in the parts wanted forum. Lots of people have spare carb parts...me included, GSR is amazing when it comes time to locate a simple part like a float. If you need a float needle and seat, K&L brand is way cheaper than OE parts - I don't like using aftermarket parts like this but considering the cost of the stock parts, I'd gamble since K&L is pretty reputable.

Good luck.

[BB~]

I actually already tested them (pulled the bowls off and hung the whole carbs over a bowl with the floats in the gas) took about an hour to go from floating to completly sunk. When I take it out I can squeeze the rubber and it gives up gas so they are acting like a sponge. At the moment the tank is still sitting on the shelf in the garage and an old 1liter soda bottle is being used as a temp tank till I can get around to rebuilding the petcock (it was seized and I am waiting on new seals)

I have gone for a couple trips round the block and it works great at all throttle positions, up till gas flows out the overflow ports that is.







random other info on the bike -
'79 GS 750E

I am using K&N cone filters (airbox was missing) and already rejetted to a larger size when I tore them down for the cleaning. I think they are 115s, but I will have to double check on that.

Stock pipes

[spyug]

I know money is an issue for most of us these days but there really is no cost effective way of fixing plastic floats. Replace them. If I were you, I'd try and get another full set of carbs which you usually can score for under $100. Failing that and you should go with the OEMs or after markets you located, even at $100.

I had a Virago a few years back with more or less the same symptoms and I couldn't get oem replacements and even hunted for months to get a spare set of carbs. I finally got a set and it seemed to cure things.
The problem with the plastic floats is they wiill break down and start to soak up the gas. You can't really coat them with anything as that will add to the weight of them which will likely cause them not to float correctly and or cause them to dissintegrate further (if not chemically compatable).

For peace of mind, just change them out.

good luck with it.

Cheers,
Spyug

[Suzuki_Don]

Sounds like you have got it sorted as far as finding out the problem. I have never come across rubber floats in my life before. I have brass floats in my VM carbs and I have seen plastic ones. But never rubber and soaking up the fuel like that. WOW.

As Ed said, put an enquiry in the parts wanted section for some floats.

[Nessism]

I think the floats in question are a foam material. Pretty amazing to have one float failure no less four. Either someone did something to them to cause the foam to break down or something is wrong with the testing method used.

[salty_monk]

I may have 1 or two but definitely not 4 of them....

Dan

[BB~]

I think the floats in question are a foam material. Pretty amazing to have one float failure no less four. Either someone did something to them to cause the foam to break down or something is wrong with the testing method used.

They guy I bought it off said he filled it with alcohol to prevent it from gumming up before he shoved it in the barn. When I got the bike it was bone dry but I assume the alcohol ate into them.


I decided that while it would be nice to invest that $100 in a new keg for the garage (everyone should have one next to their workbench). I REALLY dont want to experiance another gas fire in the garage and even less so on the road so I nuckeled under and paid the parts guy.