---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 12/27/15: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:09 PM - Odd float needle problems (Richard Pike) 2. 01:42 PM - Re: Odd float needle problems (John Hauck) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:09:01 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Odd float needle problems From: "Richard Pike" Three weeks ago replaced the primer bulb on the Firestar II, and then unintentionally spammed the list with more than 1 post - will try not to do that today. Two weeks ago got ready to fly the Firestar, it has a 582 with the usual Bing 54's. Once again could not get the engine to prime, and eventually discovered that the float needles of both carbs were stuck up in the seats, and would not let any gas in. Eventually got them to let gas in by rapidly flicking the float arm until I could see the needles drop down, then it primed and ran normally. Ordered 2 carb kits. (Interestingly, carb kits with float needle, gaskets, O-rings, etc. are cheaper than just ordering only the float needles. ???) Since it got up 74 degrees today in E. Tennessee, seemed like a good day to fix things. With the carbs on the work bench, one of the float needles was once again stuck in the float seat, and did not want to come out. Slipped a needle awl through the little spring that goes through the float needle pin, and almost broke the little spring trying to get the needle to release & come out of the seat. Once out, inspected the seat, appeared normal. However - the ends of both float needles are not the usual black, but sort of deep peach or almost brick color. With everything back together with new parts, everything primed normally and the floats, etc. did OK. Not sure what to think of all this, but since things have been slow on the list lately, thought I would pass it along. and one of you guys might know what to make of it. Bogus parts in the last rebuild? No idea here. -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Would you consider yourself to be a good person? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcDXT6pH7A Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451442#451442 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 01:42:06 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Odd float needle problems A probability the fuel needles were not Bing. Always a chance of "junk" getting into the normal parts supply system. Experienced an engine failure on my second flight to the Flight Farm, Monterey, NY, in 1989. Flew the Firestar up, powered with a 447. Figured it was time to replace the Mikuni fuel pump diaphragm because I had a lot of hours on the old one. Didn't want an engine out. Put the replacement diaphragm in and did a quick test flight. Lost the engine about 100 feet AGL right over a nice hay field. Checked it out. Flew back to the Flight Farm very gently. Dug my old diaphragm out of the garbage can. Reinstalled it. Flew from there to Oshkosh and back to Alabama. Got home, called LEAF. Told them they had sold me a no name fuel pump diaphragm for my Mikuni. They were not interested. I am only one customer, but they lost me that day. Make sure you are getting what you think you are getting. john h MKIII Titus, Alabama -----Original Message----- From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Richard Pike Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2015 3:09 PM Subject: Kolb-List: Odd float needle problems --> Three weeks ago replaced the primer bulb on the Firestar II, and then unintentionally spammed the list with more than 1 post - will try not to do that today. Two weeks ago got ready to fly the Firestar, it has a 582 with the usual Bing 54's. Once again could not get the engine to prime, and eventually discovered that the float needles of both carbs were stuck up in the seats, and would not let any gas in. Eventually got them to let gas in by rapidly flicking the float arm until I could see the needles drop down, then it primed and ran normally. Ordered 2 carb kits. (Interestingly, carb kits with float needle, gaskets, O-rings, etc. are cheaper than just ordering only the float needles. ???) Since it got up 74 degrees today in E. Tennessee, seemed like a good day to fix things. With the carbs on the work bench, one of the float needles was once again stuck in the float seat, and did not want to come out. Slipped a needle awl through the little spring that goes through the float needle pin, and almost broke the little spring trying to get the needle to release & come out of the seat. Once out, inspected the seat, appeared normal. However - the ends of both float needles are not the usual black, but sort of deep peach or almost brick color. With everything back together with new parts, everything primed normally and the floats, etc. did OK. Not sure what to think of all this, but since things have been slow on the list lately, thought I would pass it along. and one of you guys might know what to make of it. Bogus parts in the last rebuild? No idea here. -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Would you consider yourself to be a good person? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcDXT6pH7A Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=451442#451442 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.