Brass Floats

[67 GTX]

Does anyone have experience with buying new floats? I've heard some have had issues with them failing after a year or two.

Where do you guys buy new brass floats?

 

[Histoy]

I ordered my AFB brass floats from NAPA, but they order them from a Carter distributor down South, so it takes 3 or 4 days to get them. I've also ordered them from Mike's Carburetor out in WA state. His number is (888) 689-9758. I've had no problems with floats from either supplier.

 

[dvw]

Never had an undamaged brass float that failed.
Doug

 

[440beep]

Likewise, I've yet to have a Holley brass float in my Six Pack fail me. But if need be, would either order from Holley directly , or Jegs/Summit.

 

[67 GTX]

Never had an undamaged brass float that failed.
Doug

Have you received a damaged one that has failed you later on? I'm just curious if I should look at something specific when my new floats come in.

 

[miller]

Might help...but it's been many years ago...how I've always checked brass floats. Just a can of gas, or other like fluid, not water (it's too thick), and hold the float in the fluid. Main problem is solder joint, or the solder cap drop on one end of the float. If you get air bubbles in the fluid...bad. Good thing is, can be fixed.

 

[dvw]

Have you received a damaged one that has failed you later on? I'm just curious if I should look at something specific when my new floats come in.

No, only on parts carbs that were butched up.
Doug

 

[67 GTX]

Might help...but it's been many years ago...how I've always checked brass floats. Just a can of gas, or other like fluid, not water (it's too thick), and hold the float in the fluid. Main problem is solder joint, or the solder cap drop on one end of the float. If you get air bubbles in the fluid...bad. Good thing is, can be fixed.

I've read on some sites, such as jon Hargrove's, that you can test them in water, especially hot water. Either way, you'd want to test it in a hotter liquid to see if a hole opens up with expansion.

 

[bm02tj]

The hot will make the air pressure inside to go up and show a leak faster

 

[mosquito13]

Those that have had failures. Do you use pump gas or rec. fuel. It costs a bunch more but I only use rec fuel in all but my engines that I do not care about. Alcohol .... The cause of and solution to all our problems. http://www.strohmautomotive.com/ethanol.html

 

[miller]

Forgot about the hot water thing! Right.

 

[SlinktRR]

I've had edelbrock brass floats de-laminate in the carb bowls and then oxidize completely. brass oxidizes to a fine green powder from the copper alloy...which wreaked havoc in my carb with clogs and such. I called edelbrock and they shrugged and sent me some new floats. my "green" floats worked fine until I tossed them but they just wouldnt stop oxidizing, had to disassemble and clean the carb body. something to keep in mind.

 

[67 GTX]

I wish they made a good set of plastic floats for the older carbs, as this would eliminate the problem with the floats altogether.

When testing them in hot water, I assume they should be in the water as it is being heated up, as to not shock them if we drop them into an already hot bucket?

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

I wish they made a good set of plastic floats for the older carbs, as this would eliminate the problem with the floats altogether.

When testing them in hot water, I assume they should be in the water as it is being heated up, as to not shock them if we drop them into an already hot bucket?

No, just use tongs and dunk them in the hot water. If they leak, you will see air bubbles... (I'd rather brass floats anyday.)

 

[67 GTX]

No, just use tongs and dunk them in the hot water. If they leak, you will see air bubbles... (I'd rather brass floats anyday.)

Ok, I will try it that way.

 

[383man]

Been an auto tech for 40 years and have only ever had 2 bad brass floats. And I have worked on alot of carbs. Just recently had a plastic one go bad in my buddies 750 DP as it was filling with gas. But all in all brass floats work good. Ron