I Think Bing Floats Really Do Stop Floating...

[Ben_Carufel]

I got the fork seals on easily on Thursday, but was having a hell of a time getting the axle back in. Mike V. was extremely kind and rode over to my place yesterday morning (ok, so maybe it's only a mile, but it's still awfully kind) and show me his restored R65. While he was here, he and I messed around a bit and figured out that the LH fork on my bike is a few millimeters lower than the RH fork. I presume this is something that a previous owner did. Seems plausible that someone would make the mistake while they were installing the Tele-Fix clip ons that came on the bike.

Anyways, we got it figured out, got the wheel back in, and Mike took off. I just had to put the gauge surround back on before going for her maiden voyage. Of course I had some errands to run, so in the meantime the bike sat...with the petcock open, as I had forgotten to shut it off after starting the bike for Mike. When I got around to putting the instrument surround back on later in the afternoon and went to start the bike, I noticed fuel leaking from the carb overflow ports. It would start, but wouldn't stop leaking fuel. Unfortunately it was late and I was out of time for the day...

So this morning I fiddled with the float bowl a bunch and found that the rubber needle tip looked to be in fine shape. The float would easily shut off the fuel flow when pressed up gently by hand, but when the bowl was reinstalled and the petcock opened, it wouldn't work. By the way...clear plastic float bowls for troubleshooting purposes...who's with me?

Anyhow, I called Mike and he offered to loan me his used (but known to be good) float for testing. Got back home, installed it, and voila. Kept my needle, so I know that wasn't the problem.

Mike thinks that possibly the tab on the float which presses the needle up was misaligned, possibly letting the needle fall too far and cocking it sideways (jamming it) in the needle bore when the float tried to press it up. Otherwise, it's just a matter of my float no longer floating.

I guess the only way to really tell is, once I have a new float installed, to soak both Mike's float and my old float in gas for a set period (say, 24 hours) and weigh them both. If mine's heavier...well, then it just ain't impervious to gasoline anymore, is it?

Overall, glad to have the bike running and driving. I took her for a quick spin around the block this evening, but I'll go on a longer ride tomorrow to see what's what.

And these things are fun...I'm already looking at another. I figure it'll be nice to have one to ride while I'm working on the other...

[Crossrodes]

Ben I've read here that some of the old floats deteriorate because of the ethanol now in most gasoline.  I just replaced mine with floats from Bing that will not deteriorate because of the ethanol.  Bing sells both types so if you buy new floats be sure to get the ethanol compatible floats  (mine are black).

[Barry]

By the way...clear plastic float bowls for troubleshooting purposes...who's with me?
 

Good idea. I've been thinking about this for ages. It would be the perfect way of checking float levels.

At School we have a vacuum moulding machine which might be able to produce a temporary clear plastic bowl using the original as a former. Don't know if the plastic we use would stand up to the fuel though. I'm going to try it one day and hope it doesn't mess up my good float bowl.

Issues would be that you would never get a good seal on the gasket and with the tilt on the carbs the fuel level may be  higher that the front edge. I'm sure it would work with the carbs level or off the bike though.

If I had an old spare bowl an easier option might be to fit a clear plastic window in the side again only for temporary use.

[montmil]

Another thought here, Ben...

Do you have the t-i-n-y wire clips that attach the float tab to the float needle? These clips often go missing on "used" bikes. They install a specific way but it is simple to miss-fit 'em.

Number 43 in the diagram -

http://www.bingcarburetor.com/pdf/MOTORCYCLE%20CV%20EXPLODED%20VIEW.pdf

Monte

[Mike V]

Monte,

Great point.  Ben and I closely examined his wire clips and some extras I had laying around.  I've found some of the clips a bit different in size.  I like to sqeeze them down just a hair, for a more positive contact surface for the needle plunger.  And I've never been able to determine what's better...wire loop up, or down?  I also discussed with Ben how to carefully decrease the opening of the float pin hinge with needle-nosed pliars.  I had a situation a while back where the float was sloppy on the pin and had some lateral slop. May have caused the needle jet to wander a bit finding its seat.

Ben's bike is very nice and he has some interesting ideas for it.  I'm looking forward to watching his progress.  He's a great technitian and will add lots of help to the forum.  You guys need to see what he has lurking in his garage in the way of cages.  If I could be 30 years younger and single again...  

[montmil]

Monte,

Great point... If I could be... single again...

Careful what you wish for, bro'.  

Let's hear about the cars! Hello?... Ben?  Do they really exist?

Monte

[Semper Gumby]

Does anybody have a part number for the new Black Bing Float?

Mine still appear to be functioning properly.  Perhaps all those years of Marvel Mystery oil and now SeaFoam has done some thing to them to keep them working(floating).  It's a theory....

[Crossrodes]

Bill I didn't get a part number when I ordered mine.  I just called the Bing Agency and asked for the ethanol proof floats.

[Bob_Roller]

The Bing part number for the black molded floats is : 35-310, about $37US each .

[Ben_Carufel]

Thanks for the kind words, Mike.

I'll likely submerge and weigh all 3 floats when the new ones arrive...a new example, Mike's working-but-old example that fixed my problem, and my seemingly fuel-logged one. Should be an interesting data point. At least if we have the gram weight of a brand new one, it should be quite easy for us to determine in the future if our floats are indeed sucking up a bit of fuel.

Monte, at risk of taking the thread totally off topic, here are a few pictures of the cages I've got sitting around (OK, to be honest, only two of them aren't drivable, so they're not doing THAT much sitting around).

The '67 MGB GT:





The 2000 BMW MZ3 Coupe:





The 2000 BMW 528iT (Daily):





The 1989 BMW 325i with a 300hp 1995 M3 motor in it:





The 2002 Silverado 1500HD (For sale -- know anyone who needs a good 2WD truck?):





And last, a recent addition, a 1998 528i that needs a transmission:





That's all. The truck is for sale and will be gone shortly. The MGB will likely be sold after the new year to make way for another bike or three. The 528i on the trailer will get a new transmission and be sold. The 528i wagon will be sold, as well, after I get a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van. So, I'll have the Z3 M Coupe, the 325i with the M3 motor, and the Sprinter...and some bikes. Sounds ideal to me.

[montmil]

Monte, at risk of taking the thread totally off topic, here are a few pictures of the cages I've got sitting around...

Jesus, Mary and all the Saints! What a stash [smiley=beer.gif]

Monte

[Semper Gumby]

Hey Ben, (selling the MBG) giving up on the Brits and becoming a German?  

[suecanada]

Wow, you must have a huge garage!! And a very compliant partner in crime!! Or significant other as they say. Very nice. Love that MGB!!

[Ben_Carufel]

Hey Ben, (selling the MBG) giving up on the Brits and becoming a German?  

Hah! My first car was the white 325i pictured above, which I bought in 2002 at 17 and sold a year later (to put the down payment on the blue M Coupe), then bought back from the guy who I sold it to about 4 years later. I've only owned the MGB for barely a year now. It was my childhood dream car. I've decided that I'd like to own a fully restored one someday, but I don't want to be the one to do the restoration. I think I'll start with bike restorations and work my way up to a full vintage British car restoration. I actually wrote an article for MG World magazine in the UK when I was 14 (way back in 1999).

[Ben_Carufel]

Wow, you must have a huge garage!! And a very compliant partner in crime!! Or significant other as they say. Very nice. Love that MGB!!

The last girlfriend was a BMW Master Tech, and as fun as that was sometimes, the last thing she wanted to do on the weekend was work on cars. Instead, she bought a 1924 Craftsman-style house, and managed to somehow convince me to spend almost two years of weekends and free time restoring it for (with...sometimes) her.

The newer girlfriend is enthusiastic about cars and motorcycles, though I don't know that she'll be riding a Beemer or joining me on the race track anytime soon.

The house I rent has a 2 car garage with an attached third car enclosed carport (shielded from the street by a garage door). That carport is where the bike(s) go. I'm also eyeing a motorcycle lift table from Harbor Freight that would go nicely there...