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Alternative float material

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 40fordtudor, Sep 2, 2013.

  1. 40fordtudor
    Joined: Jan 3, 2010
    Posts: 2,503

    40fordtudor
    Member

    Need a little help. Anyone know of a parts source for a carburetor float for a 1924 Cadillac single barrel carb?? The fuel we have these days
    eats the cork float in a short time. Draining the carb is helpful but the float is still soaked and doesn't tolerate the gas well. A replacement material source would be fine too. Appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. B Ramsey
    Joined: Mar 29, 2009
    Posts: 646

    B Ramsey
    Member

    ive seen tail-light bulbs used...
     
  3. gatz
    Joined: Jun 2, 2011
    Posts: 1,817

    gatz
    Member

    with some modifications, this may work. It's made for a Model A

    I used this once for a tractor fuel tank float. IIRC, it has an 1/8" through hole. The rod & hairpins were part of the existing gauge a'y.

    btw, ignore the Made in C%$&@
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Joe H
    Joined: Feb 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,525

    Joe H
    Member

    Whats it look like? A lot of the small engines use brass floats, maybe they could be adapted. The old Rochester Model B carb used a dual float set up, just one side could be used since they are really small, they are also brass.

    Joe
     

  5. thedapperone
    Joined: Aug 4, 2013
    Posts: 17

    thedapperone
    Member

    I have heard of people using seals all to coat old cork floats. I would want to test it first on a wine cork in a jar of gas for a week or so before coating the existing one.


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  6. y-oh-y
    Joined: Feb 14, 2012
    Posts: 116

    y-oh-y
    Member

    Could you seal/dip the cork float in a fuel resistant epoxy ?
     
  7. 40fordtudor
    Joined: Jan 3, 2010
    Posts: 2,503

    40fordtudor
    Member

    Thanks a lot fellas---some real good suggestions. Gets old replacing the float, and draining the carb.
     
  8. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Might be able to take a modern black nitrile float and cut it to the size you need. It's been done.

    I bet one of the antique carb specialists has run into this before.
     
  9. jnichols
    Joined: Jul 10, 2011
    Posts: 22

    jnichols
    Member

    I have coated my cork float with fuel tank lining stuff and it is holding up for a year now. It sits lower so it took some adjusting.
     
  10. carbking
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 3,715

    carbking
    Member

    Cadillac during this time period used Johnson carburetors.

    The float is more or less in the shape of a doughnut with several very precise cutouts for various components extending into the float bowl.

    Also, Johnson used a double float pin arrangement with a flipflop such that the float rises and lowers almost in a vertical plain rather than a conventional pivot. This feature was necessary to make the float as large as possible very nearly filling the bowl. To function correctly, a replacement MUST be virtually an exact duplicate of the original. In retrospect, a much larger bowl and a conventional float would have been a much better idea. Too late for that now.

    At one time we were making these out of the new polynitrate closed cellular foam. However, the required precision of the various cutouts meant approximately a 4 hour machine shop time-frame to make one float. Machine shop labor rates are NOT at the minimum wage. We had price resistance to selling the floats, and have discontinued them for this reason.

    Most modern cork is a composite, make up of ground cork and glue. IT IS HEAVIER THAN FUEL! Natural cork is quite difficult, maybe impossible, to find in small quantities.

    Balsa wood in a chunk large enough to use may be found in many hobby shops.

    Either natural cork, if you can find it, or balsa will have to be sealed after you machine the float. We have tried gas tank sealer with terrible results, but have been successful in using POR-15. We have had a number of customers tell us that the fabric dope used to treat the fabric on model airplanes will work well, if you live in an area with a model airplane shop.

    Jon.
     
  11. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Could an amateur carve out a float by hand using files etc? Can you buy the nitrile material?
     
  12. carbking
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 3,715

    carbking
    Member

    (1) probably, although for the Cadillac float allow an 8 hour day when you start the day in a good mood. And with the Cadillac float, a milling machine with a slitting saw, and a number of different size end mills is very useful.

    (2) I don't know. About 8 years ago, we were notified by the manufacturer that they were moving to China, and discontinuing their non-OE blocks. We bought all we could afford (hoping it would be a lifetime supply). We have already used more than half, so not selling except in those kits (mostly Marvels, Kingstons, and Ensigns) which require a float. We currently have no source.

    Jon.
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2013
  13. 40fordtudor
    Joined: Jan 3, 2010
    Posts: 2,503

    40fordtudor
    Member

    The fabric dope seems to hold promise---thanks guys.
     
  14. rocketsled59
    Joined: Mar 14, 2010
    Posts: 811

    rocketsled59
    Member

    Model airplane dope. We coat them all the time with it. The kits we get for 30s era marvel carbs come with bare cork blank. After finish fitting I brush two wet coats on and it works great.
     
  15. jkeesey
    Joined: Oct 12, 2011
    Posts: 652

    jkeesey
    Member

    Snyders Antique Auto Parts sells a large puck of float material designed for the Model Ts but it can be carved into any shape desirable using a sharp pocket knife.
     
  16. nali
    Joined: Sep 15, 2009
    Posts: 828

    nali
    Member

    Superglue works also , when you can t find the modern airplane thing.
    I use it on cork vintage outboards floats.
     
  17. 40fordtudor
    Joined: Jan 3, 2010
    Posts: 2,503

    40fordtudor
    Member

    Thanks for all the great ideas---
     
  18. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    PM me, I can help with making a fuel proof foam (expanded nitrile rubber )float.
     
  19. I wonder if there might be a suitable material that could be used to duplicate the float with one of those 3D "printers" used for prototyping and making one-off parts? :confused:
     
  20. dremels and a dust mask!
     
  21. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,516

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    As for a coating, you could also try using the 'hot fuel proof' epoxy for the flying gas model airplanes. I have liked SIG brand since using it in the 70's. Eventually it gets brittle w/hairline cracks, but for me that was equating to something like 10+ years.

    I did a friends' OT (~'37 wheelhorse garden tractor) float like this, used a large replacement bottle cork cut down to size, then sealed with 2 thin coats.

    Marcus...
     
  22. nali
    Joined: Sep 15, 2009
    Posts: 828

    nali
    Member

    OT, but by garden tractor, do you mean a small one ? I d be curious to see it.
    I love vintage engine, I have a few outboards, the oldest is a 1929.
     
  23. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,516

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Hey, Nali;

    I don't have any pics (sorry), but yes, it it the small 2wheel walk-behind type. I call them rear-tine roto-tillers, but these have attachments that do more/other things. It has a large (physical size) engine, but lower hp rating, due to slow rpm. Typical of the day.

    Marcus...
     
  24. jkeesey
    Joined: Oct 12, 2011
    Posts: 652

    jkeesey
    Member

    Float Slug

    <FORM id=frmProduct style="FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left" method=post action=/cart/add.php>
    • Modern material that is resistant to the ethanols in today's fuels. We have had a lot of requests from customers with other applications wanting this material for making their own floats. Hole in the middle is 1.250", diameter is 3.850", 3" high.
      <TABLE><TBODY><TR><TH>Part Number</TH><TH>Specifics</TH><TH>Price</TH></TR><TR><TD class=part><LABEL><INPUT class=auto size=3 name=7452> T-6201-B</LABEL></TD><TD>Any</TD><TD>$25.00 / ea.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><INPUT title="Add to your shopping cart" class=addToCart src="http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/images/button_cart.gif" type=image>

      Return to the product list

      [​IMG]
    </FORM>
     
  25. ol fueler
    Joined: Oct 6, 2005
    Posts: 935

    ol fueler
    Member

    [

    Either natural cork, if you can find it, or balsa will have to be sealed after you machine the float. We have tried gas tank sealer with terrible results, but have been successful in using POR-15. We have had a number of customers tell us that the fabric dope used to treat the fabric on model airplanes will work well, if you live in an area with a model airplane shop.

    Jon.[/QUOTE]


    If you use airplane dope , be sure to bet butyerate dope also called "hot fuel proof " the Nitrate based dope will not stand either gasoline or model airplane fuel which is nitromethane based.
     
  26. ol fueler
    Joined: Oct 6, 2005
    Posts: 935

    ol fueler
    Member

    [

    Either natural cork, if you can find it, or balsa will have to be sealed after you machine the float. We have tried gas tank sealer with terrible results, but have been successful in using POR-15. We have had a number of customers tell us that the fabric dope used to treat the fabric on model airplanes will work well, if you live in an area with a model airplane shop.

    Jon.[/QUOTE]


    If you use airplane dope , be sure to get butyerate dope also called "hot fuel proof " ---------the Nitrate based dope will not stand either gasoline or model airplane fuel which is nitromethane based.
     
  27. fordor41
    Joined: Jul 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,011

    fordor41
    Member

    get some thin sheet brass and duplicate the old float and solder it together.
     
  28. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,250

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Have you ever done this?
     
  29. nali
    Joined: Sep 15, 2009
    Posts: 828

    nali
    Member

    This one was made for a 1933 Johnson outboard :)
    [​IMG]

    It takes patience, but it s doable.
     
  30. fordor41
    Joined: Jul 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,011

    fordor41
    Member

    No but it can't be rocket science. shape the brass, flux, then solder. may have to form some of the parts, brass is soft.
     

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