Thread: Float issues

Hi,
I have been reading and re-reading some of the posts on setting float height and now am thoroughly confused.

The problem: Bike (1976 CT70, 3 speed) starts after a few kicks and then will run for a few minutes. At that point fuel leaks out of the float bowl and overflow tube so I assume float height is set wrong.

I have the Clymer manual and tried using that to set the float at 20 mm, but I am just not sure how to hold the upper part of the float so it just barely touches the needle.

Now when I read the posts here, I have read that flipping the top half of the carb upside down the bottom of the float should line up with the body of the carb. I cannot do that on mine, the float just won't go that far. So I set it as far as possible and then got the flooding.

Any help appreciated... I am certain the float needle is in the right way. But: Is it just supposed to sit in there, or did I lose a spring or retaining clip of some sort? In the Clymer manual the drawing looks different from my needle, like it has a small clip on it. I am wondering if this is the problem? The float itself looks to be in good shape, with no dents or holes etc.

Thanks for reading... any advice?

Ive gone thru the same issues your dealing with.Ive found some of the needle valves have a small wire clip which attach to the float linkage and open the needle as required,Im not sure if its standard in all carbs or not.I recently bought a few rebuild kits and it doesnt come with them either.I know the aftermarket carbs come with it also,good luck

Thanks... this is a stock Keihin carb. On the exploded Clymer diagram no clip is evident. However on the close-up drawing there looks like there is a clip.

Without the clip the needle just operates with gravity... and in that case i am not sure how to adjust the float tab so it just "kisses" the needle, since the needle will always just come as far down as possible.

I know I am missing something simple here... but am at my wit's end on what it could be.

How about a picture of the carb? Maybe its something obvious for those who already gone through a carb rebuild?

http://www.hondaminitrail.com/gifs/C163.jpg thats your float,see how the the tab is level? That should be "about right". Just a little either way for account of slightly bent float arms and you should be good. Are your floats "sinkers" do they have gas in them? If it all fails just keep adjusting till the gas stops coming out. Im no pro,my life is trial and error. Good luck!

Hi, thanks. That does help... I had the tab way up. I pulled the bowl off of another, working bike that I have and noticed that the float arms themselves on the non-functional one are actually bent which was causing the problem of continual flooding. The photo was what tipped me off to look and compare. Runs like a champ now....