Thirty dollar eBay replacement carbs...

[filthyhat]

So, I have been having a bit of a struggle with my 85 250sx, It keeps leaking fuel from the overflow tube on the bottom of the float bowl. I have cleaned the carb numerous times and just can't figure it out yet.

In my searches on this forum, I have come across numerous mentions of brand new replacement carbs for these on ebay for thirty bucks. In this economy, everything is more expensive than before, but the most recent post I saw touting the virtues of these humdingers was from just six months ago. I have seen at least three mentions of these thirty dollar lifesavers, and as I am looking at getting a rebuild kit for mine anyway, which may or may not fix the problem, I thought that they sounded real nice.

So I went to ebay, and searched, and was not able to find any such creature. The cheapest chinese junk replacement carb I was able to find as listed for this atc was 85 bucks.

Is there some secret term or number that I should search for to find this wonderful, magical, ultracheap replacement carb? I don't mind working on these things, but I get real fed up when I just can't seem to fix a problem like this.

Thanks for your help.

[dustrunner]

welcome, sounds like your float is sticking ? the carbs are pretty simple once you been into a few of them and understand how to clean everything up. was it good before and then started acting up ? did u just get it and its been leaking ?

[filthyhat]

Hello there. I actually bought the trike at an estate auction for 70 bucks. The tank was ruined, and the carb had some really nasty crap in there that I cleaned out. The other day I went to an atv park with friends and we hooked up a tiny oil tank from an old two stroke dirtbike as a temp fuel tank as the one I ordered isn't here yet.

I understand roughly how carbs work, as I have been inside of plenty of them. ( I only wish it worked that way with women! ) LOL

But this problem is stumping me. Also, when I was cleaning the carb, I tried to turn out the idle jet and the tabs stripped right out. The bike runs great, but is hard to start and floods like a banshee.

[captainweezy]

There is a member here that refurbishes them and I tell you these are very very nice. I have one myself that i put on the shelf. I think his name is flyinw Not sure what he charges for them but they are original honda and you cannot tell them from new. I will search for a his post and post it up here.

[filthyhat]

Well Captain, that sounds like a helluva thing. I wonder what someone would charge for such a service...

I must admit that the most alluring thing about the replacement carb is the price. Thirty bucks for a brand new carb, and it does basically the same thing as an oem carb which would cost more like a couple hundy. If I could get one of these to work, then I would get to feel like I totally put one over on the man.

IDK, I had a couple of friends down in TX a few years back, and we all scored some little chinese Honda monkey clones brand new. Four speed manual clutch 49cc, with all the lights and everything. I've never had so much fun on a bike, and those little baseturds were as reliable as an old porch dog, even with the serious abuse we gave them. I also rode a friend's E-ton four wheeler the other day, and although it was nothing like a real Honda, it ran good and he said it had been ultra reliable for him.

The chinese carbs on ebay remind me of the old carb that was on my 72 KE100, the first dirtbike I ever had, and the first carb I ever "entered"... I know i could get one to work, but I don't really know a lot about jetting and I have heard about people having a lot of trouble with that. I use my trike mostly as a workhorse, and I take it out and ride with friends but I'm not looking for top race speed or anything.

[Flyingw]

Tahlequah????? Oklahoma? The aftermarket carbs for the SX leave little to be desired. I have rebuilt carbs on my shelf for sale. 100.00 with exchange. If you are in fact in OK, come see me.

[Bebo]

I've been having issues with my 250es carb and I've been looking around eBay for a carb myself. All the carbs I seen say "some modification needed" which scares me pretty bad. There is one for 125 that says exact oe replacement but for that price you would definitely be better off with a good rebuilt carb. ^^ seems like a pretty good deal, you'll get a lot of life outta the old original once you do get it right.

[fordtech90]

These carbs are extremely easy to rebuild and your leaking/flooding issue definitely sounds like a sticking float..pull the pin for the float clean it and dissasemble the rest of the carb put the two halves in a carb bath or even mineral spirits overnight and meticulously clean your jets, and other small parts and re assemble...then your cost is FREE unless you cannot re-tap your stripped idle jet. I rebuilt mine saturday night, slide was stuck and float was nasty 2 hours of cleaning and 20 minutes of disassemly and reassembly and she purred like a kitten.

[filthyhat]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Yes, Flyingw I am from Tahlequah, OK. I didn't realize you were from Oklahoma. Choctaw's quite a ways from me, but I'm sure I can make it out that way sometime. Any good places to ride out there? Also, are you saying the aftermarket carbs are good or are not good?

I think I've been talked out of the cheap chinese carbs. I know the OEM carb will be right once it's working, I'm just getting frustrated with the dadgummed thing. I think the next step is to order one of those carb kits and go through it, replacing everything I can get out. I'm not really sure what to do about the slow jet but since the bike idles fine now, I will probably just leave it in there and hope for the best on that for now.

Hopefully my tank will be here today, I'm pretty excited about that. It was pretty beat up looking, but it's supposed to be rust free with a new petcock, so It should work fine for me. As much as I'd like to have a trike that looks all nice and new, I'm not bothered by a little character... When I've got the throttle open, the last thing I'm usually concerned with is what my bike looks like!

[filthyhat]

And Bebo, I liked the idea of a thirty dollar carb. That direct replacement sounds nice, but like you said, for that price I would go ahead and get one of those rebuilt ones from Flyingw. I'm a cheap ass sumbitch (like you couldn't tell!) so I'm def going to try and rebuild mine first, but if I have to get a replacement I will probably give ol' Flyingw a call myself.

Good luck with that ES Bebo, that's the Big Red right? That's the dream bike man I hope you like it. I got my sx at auction, and I effing love it but all I really wanted was a workhorse for pulling my yard-cart around. What I got was a sporty little deathtrap that's got my name all over it. And a gaping hole into which I can throw vast amounts of legal currency, gasoline and lit matches. Honestly I was just being ridiculous when I bought the trike, but I won't be selling it any time soon!

[filthyhat]

Hey Flyingw, you seem like the man to talk to about carbs. When I got my sx, it had sat for years with the old gas in the carb. I had a heckuva time getting anything to move at all.

Long story short, I got the choke plunger out and cleaned it all up, put it back together. Now the choke on the handlebars works, but when I try to choke it there it is hard to move, it will only go about halfway to the choke position and it will not stay there on its own. It's like there's something pulling it back.

Does this sound like something you can diagnose? What do you think I did wrong?

Of course, I'm about to completely disassemble the carb again and maybe I will get it right this time, I just thought that with your expertise you may have come across this problem before.

Thanks to everyone for your help and/or interest in my thread! Trikes effing rule!

[Flyingw]

Look closely at the choke barrel. Be sure it isnt gouged and the needle is straight. Put a dab of vaseline around the barrel before reinstalling. Pull the cable. Clean it up by soaking it in a solvent like rubbing alcohol. Blow it out and lube it up or replace it. Before reassembling the choke cable. Install the choke barrel and with some tweezers or needle nose, move the barrel in the hole to ensure it moves smoothly.

I'm 2 minutes off I-40 at exit 166 (Choctaw Rd) on the East side of the city. If you feel froggy this weekend. Grab your carb, choke cable, hop in the truck and come see me. I know we can resolve your carb problems.

To answer your question though, the aftermarket carbs are pretty much junk so dont waste your hard earned dollars. Come see me and we'll do it on the cheap. Promise.... I have a cache of SX carb parts and stuff. you can always get me at 405.420.1114 or jamesbaldwin99@gmail.com.

GPS address

14712 SE 77th St
Choctaw, OK 73020

[Flyingw]

Bebo, send me your carb if you like. I'll do it up for ya. I'm a little bored right now...... Just cover the carb kit and shipping and I'll take care of it.

[filthyhat]

Well I typed out a big long thing but it got erased, so here is the long and short of it.

Thanks Flyingw for your kind invitation, I won't have any amount of time off until mid January sometime, but I'm sure I can make it out sometime after that. It will be good to meet another trike lover!

I think I may have fixed the leaky float needle, it had a burr on the side from where I had to remove it initially with needle nose pliers. I sanded it smooth and now it appears to be seating correctly. My tank did not come in today, so i can't be totally certain that it's not leaking just yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

It could probably still use a bit of a rebuilding, but for now I'm going to slap the tank on when it gets here and see how she does. I'm optimistic!

[filthyhat]

Hey Flyingw, I just thought, I am looking for a hitch attachment for this old beast as well. I don't know if you have any non-carb related parts, but if you've got one you'd let go of cheaper than ebay let me know. That'll be one more reason to come out that way!