78 Honda Twinstar CM 185

[Guest]

ah ha. thanks.

[Guest]

As I'm putting this carb back together with the new gasket and seals I'm confused about this float needle...thing.




The Honda service manual shows to make sure the plastic tip is in good condition, and it is.




But I was watching this video of a carb disassemble (https://youtu.be/HeMjppADyTM?t=573) and he mentions that some of these have a spring loaded valve pin on the other end that should move freely. If mine is supposed to move, it does not. It looks like a new one is about $20 plus shipping, so I?d rather not have to replace it. Short of holding that end in carb cleaner by hand for an hour and trying to free it up, anyone have any advice on getting it moving again?

[Nessism]

Stand it up with the end in carb spray (not carb dip). You may need to prop it up in a small shot glass or similar to keep the rubber tip out of the sauce. After soaking for a while you may have to try grabbing the tip with tweezers and moving it back and forth to free it up. Don't gouge the metal though or the needle is junk. If necessary you can get aftermarket tips. They are fine and not overly expensive.

[Guest]

Thanks I'll give that a try. Would brake cleaner work as a substitute for carb cleaner in this instance? Not sure what's open around me today and I know I already have break cleaner on the work bench.

[Nessism]

Thanks I'll give that a try. Would brake cleaner work as a substitute for carb cleaner in this instance? Not sure what's open around me today and I know I already have break cleaner on the work bench.

Should be fine. Remember, soak the spring loaded tip end and try to keep the rubber tip out of the chemical.

[Guest]

Local auto parts store was opened, so it's soaking in carb cleaner now. Fingers crossed!

[Nessism]

It will work. I freed up a bunch of those needles that way. Tape the jaws on some needle nose pliers or some tweezers and push the small tang in and out. It will come loose. After it starts to move continue to work it until is springs back easily and strongly.

[steve murdoch]

Have you tried some heat?
This seems too drastic to me without ruining the rubber tip but if the carb cleaner doesn't work it might be worth a try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0egD-1XWN4

[tkent02]

Too much heat would ruin the spring as well as the rubber tip. It will come free with the carb cleaner.

[Guest]

Well, one hour of soaking didn't do it. I'll leave it in there overnight, maybe I'll get a working float needle for Christmas tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the additional suggestion of heat, if it's still not unstuck by tomorrow I'll try that. Though I don't have a torch. Maybe the gas stove could help though.

[Guest]

Leaving it soak overnight isn't an option, the cleaner evaporates

Got a good 2 hour soak that time and it's still not moving at all. In all the videos of people fixing these the pin is stuck in, on mine it's stuck out and won't budge at all. Is this definitely supposed to push in? What exactly does this thing do?

[Nessism]

Grab the pin like I suggested and push and pull to get it moving. You gotta force it a little to break the bond.

[Guest]

I've been trying that with a wrapped needle nose, but this thing isn't moving, all I'm doing is tearing up the pin.

[Guest]

$20 to buy a new one was totally worth it to hit this $#@!ing thing with a hammer.

[tkent02]

to hit this $#@!ing thing with a hammer.

Did the hammer free it up?