Water in the Carbv Float

So I got one carb half disassembled. Among all sorts of other problems, there is water in the floats. There is no hole in the floats, so I don't know how it got in. But it's there.

I have two questions:

1) Can I run it temporarily like this? The carbs need a rebuild kit. But I just want to clean them well enough to start the bike.

2) Am I just stuck buying new floats? Or can I drill a hole, drain it, and solder it? (there are already solder globs all over the seams of the floats)

What makes you think it's water rather than fuel? Ed

PaulyWally wrote: ... water in the floats. There is no hole in the floats, so I don't know how it got in. But it's there... there are already solder globs all over the seams of the floats)

Would suspect fuel seeped into the float through a leaking seam past one of the solder globs.

Good Fortune!

650ed wrote: What makes you think it's water rather than fuel? Ed

Because it froze at some point... causing the float to bulge out on the sides. Last I checked, gasoline doesn't freeze, and metal doesn't spontaneously bulge out.

Either way, I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be any liquid inside the float. I mean, I don't know a lot about this. And this is the first carb I ever took apart. But physics tells me that there should be no fluid inside the float. Otherwise, how the hell is it supposed to do that thing that it is named after? :whistle:

I'm going to replace the float. After I saw that it's bulged, I wouldn't think fixing is an option. But all I want to know is if I run the risk of doing more damage by using it to try to get the bike running.

Another reason for checking the wet fuel height with the clear tube test. Different weight floats will drop further/ float less, causing higher fuel level. If it still has a leak, well your float will sink. Brass floats can be repaired, and it sounds like someone had a go at it before. Putting it in the oven, at say 150 or so for a few hours should dry it. But finding the pin hole, well I would hold it down in some fluid and look for air bubbles, then mark the spot. A good soldering Iron, or even JB Weld will fix it.
You could use a scale to check weight differences.

Ebay is your friend!

PaulyWally wrote:

650ed wrote: What makes you think it's water rather than fuel? Ed

Because it froze at some point... causing the float to bulge out on the sides. Last I checked, gasoline doesn't freeze, and metal doesn't spontaneously bulge out.

Either way, I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be any liquid inside the float. I mean, I don't know a lot about this. And this is the first carb I ever took apart. But physics tells me that there should be no fluid inside the float. Otherwise, how the hell is it supposed to do that thing that it is named after? :whistle:

I'm going to replace the float. After I saw that it's bulged, I wouldn't think fixing is an option. But all I want to know is if I run the risk of doing more damage by using it to try to get the bike running.

I agree that it is unlikely that gasoline froze inside the floats; it would have needed to had been exposed to extremely low temperatures; too cold for normal atmosphere. Considering that carbs are pretty high up on a motorcycle, I am surprised to read that the floats were somehow submerged in water long enough to absorb water. It would seem that the only way that much water could get into a carb would be to fill the fuel tank with water. Have you checked the tank for rust and the oil in the crankcase for water? Running the bike with water in the floats seems like a bad idea as it will require bending the float tangs to compensate for the weight of the floats. Then after the floats are replaced, you will need to bend the tangs back. You may end up spending far too much time trying to adjust and re-adjust the tangs rather than just fixing the problem first. With that in mind, replacing the floats before running the engine is an excellent idea. Ed

PaulyWally wrote: ... it froze at some point... causing the float to bulge out on the sides... first carb I ever took apart... After I saw that it's bulged, I wouldn't think fixing is an option....

Pic?

Good Fortune!

So... I assume it's water. But who knows. The float has obviously been raped of it's purity by some dipshit with a roll of solder and half a brain. I suppose an extremely steady hand and a ton of patience MIGHT be able to make this float "workable". But I'm guessing that (even if it's drained) there's just too much added weight from the solder for this to be a long-term solution.

And besides that, both carbs need a rebuild. There wasn't a lot of gunk, but there was a lot of rust inside. One of the vacuum pistons was actually seized from rust desposits.

I've been scouring the internet looking for a place that sells these floats... no luck yet. Has anyone had luck replacing floats with a set that came from different carbs (i.e. an entirely different part number, but fit the carb nonetheless)?

Ideally, I'd like to get the carbs operable soon and start the bike so it can finally experience some fluid flow after 2 years of being dead... and then spend the winter rebuilding the carbs.

That's what I'm thinking... but I'm open to suggestions.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationLooks to fit several models.
KDX250-B2 (KDX250) (1982)
KDX250-B3 (KDX250) (1983)
KDX250-B4 (KDX250) (1984)
KX250-B1 (KX250) (1982)
KX250-C2 (KX250) (1984)
KX250-E1 (KX250) (1987)
KX500-C1 (KX500) (1987)
KXT250-A2 (Tecate) (1985)
KZ750-B1 (1976)
KZ750-B2 (1977)
KZ750-B3 (1978)
KZ750-B4 (1979)
KZ750-G1 (LTD II) (1980)

This listing on Feebay looks like it. Guy is a Sudco dealer, maybe check with him to see if its right.

Motor Head wrote: Looks to fit several models.
KDX250-B2 (KDX250) (1982)
KDX250-B3 (KDX250) (1983)
KDX250-B4 (KDX250) (1984)
KX250-B1 (KX250) (1982)
KX250-C2 (KX250) (1984)
KX250-E1 (KX250) (1987)
KX500-C1 (KX500) (1987)
KXT250-A2 (Tecate) (1985)
KZ750-B1 (1976)
KZ750-B2 (1977)
KZ750-B3 (1978)
KZ750-B4 (1979)
KZ750-G1 (LTD II) (1980)

That was the first thing I looked for to try and locate a replacement. No luck right away... but I figured in time something would come up.

That eBay link is a great help. Thanks! It also took me a moment to realize that these handful of Kawasaki's were not the only bikes that Mikuni BS38's were put on. Yamaha put them on some 650's also. So I managed to locate a couple other potential sellers.

Continuing to comb the desert... er... I mean internet...