Carbs on their way out
 

Sad day, my carbs have expired. With economy going down to 40mpg and it starting to sound a little rough I tried to balance the carbs, only to find that all the possible adjustment is done.

So, time to modify with some roller bearing linkages. Sure I had some really small ballraces around somewhere....

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

I didnt realise that could happen

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

I am quite surprised at the rate of wear. They've always been lubed with non-sticky PTFE lube too. Hoped parts like this would last longer, bah.

That is actually the spigots on the carb arms (70k) that are worn too, the linkage bar and hence bushings inside it are pretty new (50k?).

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

Totally with you.

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

Not worth buying some used carbs then?

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

Similar problem with my ZX6 at about 110,000, a bit of wear in the bodies around the spindles, would run OK off tickover, but wouldn't idle right whatever I did. Bought a set from ebay for £12, perfect and unworn.

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

Personally, I would love to see the work you put into a Carb refurb, the idea that you could rebuild plain bearings with tiny races and the like does sound fascinating. Please don't tell me that you were joking, it will make me cry today! ;-)

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

YC i think Harry may have a set for sale.


How long did they last BTW?

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

A repair for worn carb bodies/spindles with rollers of any kind is unlikely to be practical, there is rarely enough material to be able to enlarge the holes enough. The procedure ordinarily involves fittng bushes, these can be thin enough to not require a much enlarged hole, and don't need the seals a roller or ball bearing would.
A bush of suitable material will wear much better then the original whatever you use - originally the spindle runs directly in the light alloy of the carb body.

Re: Carbs on their way out
 

Old SU carbs and the throttle bodies we used to make at Jaguar used what were referred to as "DU" bushes, a code used by the manufacturer Glacier for the material and construction.

See here , so if you do need to recon a carb spindle at any time, if it's a very rare or irreplaceable old item for example, then these are the kiddies. They run with a hard brass spindle pretty successfully but will work fine with plated steel.