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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: canuck750 on March 04, 2017, 07:07:02 PM

Title: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: canuck750 on March 04, 2017, 07:07:02 PM

I have one PHF 36 Delorto carb on my Laverda that keeps flooding, pissing fuel out as I run the bike from a remote fuel bottle suspended from above.

I have removed / stripped the carb three times, checked the float height with a float gauge, cables are not sticking, bike is running real nice but it keeps flooding. Floats are the original green floats, the fuel valve is new in a new seat. When I turn the carb upside down and blow into the fuel supply hose the valve is holding, no air getting by.

All I can think of is the floats are leaking, filling with fuel and are too heavy to close the fuel valve??

Can I test the floats in water to see if they sink or do I need to 'float' the float in gasoline?

Title: Re: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: Moto on March 04, 2017, 07:32:50 PM

Quote from: canuck750 on March 04, 2017, 07:07:02 PM

I have one PHF 36 Delorto carb on my Laverda that keeps flooding, pissing fuel out as I run the bike from a remote fuel bottle suspended from above.

I have removed / stripped the carb three times, checked the float height with a float gauge, cables are not sticking, bike is running real nice but it keeps flooding. Floats are the original green floats, the fuel valve is new in a new seat. When I turn the carb upside down and blow into the fuel supply hose the valve is holding, no air getting by.

All I can think of is the floats are leaking, filling with fuel and are too heavy to close the fuel valve??

Can I test the floats in water to see if they sink or do I need to 'float' the float in gasoline?

If you detach them both you should easily be able to feel the difference in weights in your hands, if one is flooding. You can also shake them and feel the gas inside that way. Finally, you can weigh them on a sensitive scale, like one for postage.

I wouldn't float them in water, though it probably wouldn't hurt if you did, briefly.

Title: Re: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: Hahnda on March 04, 2017, 07:33:13 PM

You can use water. Use hot water, not boiling hot though. Dunk the float under. The air inside the float will expand just a bit and create bubbles if there is a leak. If the float has been leaking you can also try shaking it, you might hear a little gas sloshing inside.

Title: Re: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: canuck750 on March 05, 2017, 12:32:48 AM

Thanks for the advice, I will try hot water tomorrow,

Title: Re: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: Old Jock on March 05, 2017, 04:02:37 AM

Just a thought

Thoroughly check the seal needle and mechanism & make sure its all clean. I had similar problems with a PHM 40 and it was the mechanism that was dragging due to the tiniest bit of dirt.

Its pretty fragile and the float should be entirely free

Sometimes carbs make watch internals look tough

Good Luck

Title: Re: Checking Delorto floats
Post by: canuck750 on March 05, 2017, 03:25:49 PM

Thanks Jock, the needle was not fully sealing, the float tab that holds the needle was bent up just a wee bit to allow fuel to bleed through.