austinsailor Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 The 24 Dodge Brothers float has cracks. Talking to The Carburetor Shop, who are experts on all things carburetor, I find that good floats for this are extremely rare. hundreds of dollars rare. I can make one out of cork or balsa, but it must be sealed. They suggest model airplane dope, which some of the antique outboard guys use. Talking to the suppliers of the dope, they are skeptical it will hold up to gas. I ordered some and will try it. My question is, has anyone dealt with this? What worked and what didn't? I'm wondering if sloshing compound, used to seal gas tanks in airplanes and such, might be a good solution? Thanks for any pointers, Gene Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 making a float....start with ice cream...add root beer.... can you post a pic of the float assembly or is it missing altogether? 1 Quote
jeffsunzeri Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 The 24 Dodge Brothers float has cracks. Talking to The Carburetor Shop, who are experts on all things carburetor, I find that good floats for this are extremely rare. hundreds of dollars rare. I can make one out of cork or balsa, but it must be sealed. They suggest model airplane dope, which some of the antique outboard guys use. Talking to the suppliers of the dope, they are skeptical it will hold up to gas. I ordered some and will try it. My question is, has anyone dealt with this? What worked and what didn't? I'm wondering if sloshing compound, used to seal gas tanks in airplanes and such, might be a good solution? Thanks for any pointers, Gene Aviation cork floats used on fuel gauges are sealed with either clear polyurethane or clear epoxy. Sloshing compound is too heavy to use on a float. I would not use cork in the carburetor float. You could make your own float of brass sheet, or more likely use a float or float assembly from another carb. What model carb is it? It's hard to believe that it would be a one-off assembly, especially considering the world of tractors and other vehicles using non-pressurized carbs. Quote
austinsailor Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) It's not a one off, it's just old and not available. I talked to the expert at The Carburetor Shop, he says that of 100 used carbs of this type, 3 floats will be usable. He says they've tried sealing them but nothing will stick to the brass after it's sat in gas at length. His suggestion was the cork/airplane dope method with thin sheet brass where it contacts the "elephant ears" to raise the needle valve. I can't find a big enough piece if cork here, but do have balsa, so I'll try that. I know I can make one that works, I just need to find the best way to seal it. Oh, the company who made the originals is still in business. They will produce more, $85 each, 1000 minimum. A good used one is available at $600. I don't think so. Edited August 17, 2015 by austinsailor Quote
Don Coatney Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 Can you post another picture with something for size reference such as a quarter or match book? Quote
greg g Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 Here is an off the wall idea. Do you have a musical instrument repair place in town? I would bet they could fabricate you something out of brass tubing and caps that they use to repair trumpets and trombones and stuff. Or repair the cracks in yours. 2 Quote
Niel Hoback Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 I have replaced many leaky brass floats in Trabis by cutting down the floats from late model domestic gas tanks. They are big enough to carve what you need, don't need sealing, will never leak. Go behind your local auto repair shop and pick up discarded fuel pump assemblies. Quote
Jerry Roberts Posted August 17, 2015 Report Posted August 17, 2015 Scour the wrecking yards for another float to improvise with ? Make one from scratch from sheet brass from a good hardware store ? Quote
soth122003 Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 Might have put this in another post for you, but did you try Mikes carb parts? http://www.carburetor-parts.com/Carburetor-Number-Lookup_ep_530.html Joe Quote
james curl Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I made one from a bottle cork that I bought at Ace Hardware. They have an assortment of sizes. I sealed mine with schellac and used it for a number of years. Look in the fishing equipment section of your Wal Mart or equiv. for a float used in pole fishing, might find something there the right size. Quote
jeffsunzeri Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 It's not a one off, it's just old and not available. I talked to the expert at The Carburetor Shop, he says that of 100 used carbs of this type, 3 floats will be usable. He says they've tried sealing them but nothing will stick to the brass after it's sat in gas at length. His suggestion was the cork/airplane dope method with thin sheet brass where it contacts the "elephant ears" to raise the needle valve. I can't find a big enough piece if cork here, but do have balsa, so I'll try that. I know I can make one that works, I just need to find the best way to seal it. Oh, the company who made the originals is still in business. They will produce more, $85 each, 1000 minimum. A good used one is available at $600. I don't think so. image.jpg Dope is not fuel-proof. To re-hab the old float, do a mild acid etch then dip in clear fuel-proof epoxy or polyurethane. Depending on the size of the cracks, you may want to brush a small amount on the cracks, and let it dry before dipping to avoid filling the float. Both coatings are available from aircraft suppliers, made by Randolph (Ranthane polyurethane) and Stits (epoxy). Follow the mixing instructions and these coatings are fuel-proof. Quote
austinsailor Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Posted August 18, 2015 Might have put this in another post for you, but did you try Mikes carb parts? http://www.carburetor-parts.com/Carburetor-Number-Lookup_ep_530.html Joe I did. He replied right away, he had none. It's 2 1/8" diameter, 1 1/2" tall. Much bigger than a bottle cork. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I have yet to see a brass float that could not be soldered....you just need to clean it good...maybe use a tinning flux on it that when applied will leave a tin substrate that the solder will adhere to easily...as suggested above...acid etch that baby first if need be...wire brush it good. 1 Quote
Don Coatney Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I did. He replied right away, he had none. It's 2 1/8" diameter, 1 1/2" tall. Much bigger than a bottle cork. Does it need to be that large? Pictured is a new plastic fuel gauge float that is sealed. Quote
T120 Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I successfully repaired a small crack in a carb float about a inch long using a thin layer of solder. The crack was not easily spotted.I submersed the float in gas, dried it with a rag and was able to see where it was weeping.I wicked out the small amount of gas in the float with a rag and left the float in the sun to dry out.I cleaned and tinned the area on the float where the crack was and applied a thin layer of solder.This worked for me.A small patch using thin brass shim stock and solder might also be an option.Some thin brass seems to get brittle with age and your float may be too far gone to repair. Quote
austinsailor Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Posted August 18, 2015 It is a round do donut with a hole in the middle. It attaches to nothing, it just raises against 2 ears that are attached to levers that raise the needle valve when they drop. It has to push a pretty large amount of weight to close the valve. The amount of solder needed to coat the entire outer vertical surface would result in too much weight. So - soldering isn't practical, yes it needs to be that big. The coatings mentioned by Jeff sound like just what I need. I'll give them a try. Quote
austinsailor Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Posted August 18, 2015 Here ae size pictures, and the valve open and closed. 1 Quote
Don Coatney Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 How much pressure is required to close the valve? And don't tell me two Grants. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 show off...you know...a dollar bill is the same size.... Quote
Solution Mlindblom Posted August 18, 2015 Solution Report Posted August 18, 2015 48$ I no nothing about this place. Just found the link online. http://www.myersearlydodge.com/image.php?ws_page=fuel.php&ws_image=MVC-571F.JPG 1 Quote
austinsailor Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Posted August 18, 2015 You don't get nuthin' for these for a dollar - a hundred is more appropriate. And when a guy had one and wants $600 for it, this is only chump change! Quote
_shel_ny Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I did. He replied right away, he had none. It's 2 1/8" diameter, 1 1/2" tall. Much bigger than a bottle cork. We sold large corks like this in the hardware store where i worked. http://www.widgetco.com/size-36-cork-stoppers-agglomerated?gclid=Cj0KEQjwr8uuBRCcg6-s-4TrmIsBEiQAN1TdEV8gG0bQXcpHkaPMD50n2VswU1oyagOH61MV3qfo0W0aAuje8P8HAQ http://www.widgetco.com/size-38-cork-stoppers-agglomerated Quote
Ulu Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 I'm wondering if there are any fuel-proof plastics you could use in a 3d printer? It might be worth asking around. Quote
T120 Posted August 18, 2015 Report Posted August 18, 2015 Is the float in post #20 at $48.00 not the correct size? Quote
austinsailor Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Posted August 18, 2015 Holy crap -I missed that in all the chatter! I was busy making my float. They have it, it's correct, and it's on the way. My float is done except the dope. I'll probably finish it and try it anyway. Thanks very much for the link. Quote
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