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Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:42 am
by celt_rock
DSC02664.jpg
Look at the carb on the right. It comes with an extra drain. :wink: Anyone ever seen this before? From the looks of the inside, whatever fluid was in there ate through in this one section. Short of finding a replacement (there's a float bowl on eBay for $25 right now... ugh, more $) is there anything that can be done? JB weld? Actual welding? I don't suppose anybody has a spare float bowl they'd like to part with for a more reasonable price?

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:44 pm
by Craig380
I think (not 100% certain) that epoxy will work for holes like that, pretty sure you can fix leaks in fuel tanks with it ...

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:12 am
by celt_rock
I have some in stick form, an outer layer and an inner core. You cut off a piece, mold it around in your hands to mix it up and
it hardens solid in 5 minutes. Used some on my dishwasher to fix a hole that developed in the tub under the heat ring. So far THAT
fix has lasted a couple of months under some pretty intense heat, I'll have to see if the same stuff can hold up to being immersed
in gasoline. It's worth a shot. The worst that can happen is that I'll have to pull the carb again and buy a 'new' float bowl!

Thanks Craig.

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 7:32 am
by Coyote
That hole looks suspiciously round. Castings are pretty thick in that area. Hmmmmm. I see a vacuum fitting. Are these off your 380?

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 8:22 am
by Eddie
my superhawk had this on the petcock bowl, same thing it had a hole just like that , gas sitting in it since 1969 till 1995 , between gas and condensation water will do that, I would say if you can find a float bowl i would get it, other option I would say would be j.b. weld i hjave used j.b. weld on stuff like this just to get it going untill i could find a replacement and I never had a problem, jb weld is pretty good stuff and they have different types, I think the marine grade one is the strongest and is fuel resistent, thats what i would try untill you get another one, or if this is not a show bike or restoration just jb weld and go...

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:46 pm
by ConnerVT
Coyote wrote:That hole looks suspiciously round. Castings are pretty thick in that area. Hmmmmm. I see a vacuum fitting. Are these off your 380?
That's the overflow/vent for the late model T500 carbs. Would be correct for his '74/'75.

Re: Ever seen this on a Float Bowl?

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:51 pm
by celt_rock
It may look round on the outside, but it's corroded as hell on the inside. I don't think the hole was an original option on
these carbs :wink:

Picked up some fuel resistant, marine-grade stick-epoxy made especially for metal fuel tanks and the like. That should
hold it! I only need a tiny bit, maybe the rest will come in handy some day. I'm going to mix up a little, press it in from
the inside, smooth whatever oozes out, cross my fingers and hope for the best. In the meantime I'll be looking to get
another float bowl, one without corrosion's customization!