Planet Minis

rrev75

My son has a 1974 Honda Z50. We have gone through everything rebuilding it and modding it out. Custom paint, custom headlamp from Ford Ranger fog lamp, flush mount led tail light, polished motor, custom seat, ect. I have been having a problem with the carb forever and now have it down to the float is shot. I can't find one. It's is the round style with the open center and the pivot on the one side. Can anyone help me??? Thanks, Randy

D-Day

Just curious why you think the float is "shot", is it full of gas? what problems were having with the carb? Usually a super thorough cleaning, some times multiple times to get all the small passages cleared is all it takes.

rrev75

I took it to a mechanic that has 35+ years experience. He told me that those neopreme floats after a while break down and won't float.

When I have set the carb, multiple times, I keep fighting it. I set the pilot jet like to manual says to do and every time I start the bike and mess with it, it needs messed with. I ended up having to screw the pilot jet all the way in just to get it too keep running. I forgot the petcock on last night and went out to the garage a few hours later and there was gas dripping from the air cleaner. I pulled the carb off, pulled the bowl and the float and needle moved freely. The float was also set at the correct height. We think it just sinks.

Your thoughts???

D-Day

Thought you may have had a brass float that leaked. Sounds like you have it narrowed down to the float but I just looked at some better vendors for Z50 parts and couldn't find that float available. Maybe someone else here might have a lead for you to that float. Unless this is 100% original rebuild you might think about just putting a different carb on it like:

Honda Mini Trails Honda mini bikes and Honda Z50 Honda 50 Honda Minitrail NOS Parts and services Kitaco and Takegawa performance parts.

Z50 CARBURETION FUEL_AND_AIR

or watch on eBay.

rrev75

Funny you post the Beatrice Cycle link.... That's where I'm from. lol

That's what I had found too. Just was trying to not have to polish a new carb. His motor, carb, well everything is polished. Mostly a show bike. Fully customized. I'll try to post up some pics.

D-Day

I betting if you live by Beatrice Cycle and they said it isn't available then it isn't. Your best bet then is watch eBay for a used 74 z50 k5 carb or hope someone around here happens to have one. If not what's another few hours to buff that new carb up?
Show us a pic of your bike.

mexicanyella

I'd also add that if your float is in fact sinking, you'll get fuel overflow which you noted, but which should show up as RICH running/flooding, which would not require you to screw the pilot air screw in farther. I think there might be two separate issues here. One; you've got a pilot circuit with some junk in it and/or an air leak, making it impossible to set a consistent idle mixture that's rich enough, and two; your float bowl level is getting outta hand and overflowing when it sits.

Have you tried floating the float in a bowl or jar of gas? I've never heard that those go bad; I figured it was closed-cell foam and just kept on working unless it fell apart.

I'd consider changing out the needle and seat anyway. It doesn't take much wear or junk to affect how those seal and whether they hang up on you or not.

Finally, as I recall those jets on those have little o-rings at the bottom. Have you checked those for deterioration? A bad seal here or tiny crumbs of rubber flaking off could cause you some frustration, and I think those come in a rebuild kit.

I have a '74 carb awaiting a rebuild. I'll pull the float out of it and see how high it floats in some gas and let you know, so you can compare yours.

It might be a lot less trouble to just grab a XR of CRF50 carb from someone who went to a larger carb with their big bore kit. At least parts would be more available....