OT Small engine repair Carb Float

Bringselpup · Dec 18, 2008

Snowblower is gushing gas out of the intake. I open up the carb looking for something that might be plugging the needle but it all looks clean.
I find the float has liquid in it. I don't see an obvious leak. I'm figuring it's got fuel in it. I figure I need to warm the float and look for the pinhole but I'm not interested in igniting what's inside.

I know I can drill it and resolder but how can I positively and safely identify the leak?

bruster · Dec 18, 2008

If you do drill a small hole to empty it out, put a rubber tip blow gun on your air line and crank the PSI down to 3-5 lbs. stick in a big pan of water and give it some air. That should be enough pressure to find your pin hole leak.

bo · Dec 18, 2008

Let me guess. It's a real old float. I just had two of those problems....on tractor and on welder. On each, I found a really small dent and a hairline, almost invisible crack. Dry off the outside and tip it over, gas has really small molecules and they "wet" the area of the crack. I took my compressor and blew air "past" the crack. That "vacuumed" out the fuel and then I just soldered it up. No problems...shine it up, flux it and drop a bit of solder. I used a soldering gun.
The "vacuum" action of the fast moving compressed air worked really well...you could see a spray of fuel coming out of the crack until it was all gone.
I think that age, vibration causes the crack. I replaced on with new and the other is still in the machine. I'll probably replace it. The soldering is probably a temporary fix.

Jim H SW-PA · Dec 18, 2008

Just done one on my Cub Cadet.

I used a hair dryer to heat the float the gas will expand and push out through the hole. I did this several times, letting it cool in between times til I felt no liquid in the float and used my Weller soldering gun to seal the leak with silver solder and paste flux.

Bringselpup · Dec 18, 2008

Good ideas everyone. I've even thought of the hairdryer but I'll be sleeping on the couch if the wife catches me doing that.

Oh and the reason I'm all amped up about it is I'm looking at a nor'easter in two days. Otherwise I'd order a rebuild kit.

Jim H SW-PA · Dec 18, 2008

Tell her your either going to have to use the hair dryer or { tell her that you need to put it in the microwave}-- bet ya she lets you use the hair dryer---LOL

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2008

If you look closely all brass floats have a vent hole someplace open it up to drain it and solder vent hole shut after fixing the other hole. Like said air will pull it out too. After you solder all the holes back shut give it a test by holding it with pliers in a pan of hot water not boiling and if you still have any leaks will see air bubbles spewing from it. Lots of good tips on how to fix floats at www.thecarburetorshop.com

Bringselpup · Dec 19, 2008

And that is pretty much how it went. Found the leak with my blowgun after drilling the original vent hole open and draining the float of gas. Soldered it shut and checked it under water. Popped it back in the snowblower and I'm good to go. I am smilin like a chesire cat.

OT Small engine repair Carb Float

Bringselpup

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bruster

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bo

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Jim H SW-PA

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Bringselpup

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Jim H SW-PA

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Anonymous-0

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Bringselpup

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