Big Red 250 Carb question

[newby200x]

I did a quick cleaning job on one of the carbs of the Big Red collection I got just to see if it would run. Took the bowl off and it was filled full of crap, so scraped it all out, sprayed some cleaner, and blew it out. I put the carb back on and it fired up and ran, not to well, but good enough for now. The only problem is that it constantly is pouring gas out the overflow while it is running... Is this a needle and seat problem? Or the drain screw in the bowl?

[barnett468]

hello

If the drain screw is leaking gas will come out the drain hose. If it is actually overflowing it might be an old dry needle and seat or stuck/mis-adjusted float. Take the bowl off hold the needle up turn the gas on and see if it leaks. might make a mess no smoking. Could be rust from tank stuck in needle, drain float bowl fuel via drain screw into clear narrow glass look for yellow gas, rust bits, water etc. Do this first!

[dougspcs]

There are tons of threads asking why is my carb pouring fuel out the overflow tube..beside you forgot to close the bowl drain there is only one answer.

The fuel flows down the hose from the tank and into the bowl..when the bowl is full the float rises and closes a valve that stops the flow. If this valve is dirty or obstructed it won't seal resulting in the fuel level in the bowl going above the 'safety' level in the bowl and flowing out the overflow tube.

Without this protection fuel would be flowing uncontrolled in the intake and flood the engine.

The solution is pretty clear..start again. This time don't do a 'quick cleaning' but a thorough one..maybe consider investing in a pail of carb dunk and let is soak in there.

Then use compressed air to ensure that any loose particles are blow out of the carb so they don't settle back into a jet, float valve or other small vital passage..

Some will say put a carb kit in it..I've found unless the carb is full of corrosion the original jets and other small parts will clean up if you take the time to do it right.

Good luck..

[Dave8338]

I agree with Doug. ^^^^

A good carb cleaning should include a FULL and complete teardown, soak for 10-12 hours in a carb dip of your choice (I like chem dip) and then chase EVERY casting port in the carb body and bowl, with a fine wire, spray carb cleaner, and compressed air. A simple "shoot from the bottom" with the carb spray does little to nothing. Where ever possible, I use the stock jets, needles, float and replace the float needle and gaskets ect.

[newby200x]

Thanks for the explanation. I have full intentions of cleaning this carb the right way... I just wanted to know what causes the overflowing so I can focus on that part the most.

[tri again]

Thanks for the explanation. I have full intentions of cleaning this carb the right way... I just wanted to know what causes the overflowing so I can focus on that part the most.

Classic overflow is usually float needle and seat.
I've been known to clean the seat with a q tip and toothpaste (mild abrasive)
and carefully rotate the needle on some coarse paper towel with carb cleaner.
It's usually a rubber tipped needle so be careful.
ALSO there is a teeny tiny spring in that float needle that can get stuck.
It only moves about the distance of a spark plug gap but puts pressure on the needle so it presses into the seat, if that makes sense.

then again, I had one leaking after a rebuild and I knew it was all good inside so I opened the bowl drain and sprayed carb cleaner and or a few drops of 2 stroke oil into the fuel line and blew it thru the bowl and out the drain...actually stopped it from leaking.

I also put some fuel line on them and turn the carbs upside down after a rebuild so I can blow into the fuel line and hear it hissss until I turn it upside down and the hissing stops, meaning the float valve is trying to close, at least.

250sx carbs are simply not fun for me to take off and back on.

Keep us posted and good luck.

[barnett468]

newby200x

i was the first person to answer your question reread my post. why should anyone answer your question a second time if you clearly don't read what we've posted?

[tri again]

newby200x

i was the first person to answer your question reread my post. why should anyone answer your question a second time if you clearly don't read what we've posted?

Well put.

When that happens to me I assume it's all overwhelming and too much info.
He may also be 14 yrs old and / or have adhd like me.

My favorite teacher was in biochemsitry. Made NO bones about the fact that we all hated chemistry and would forget it all anyway so he said, "welcome, first, I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna tell you. then I'll tell you, and then I'll tell you what I told you...and you STILL won't remember any of this crap".

I did hear a cool trick:
hook some clear fuel line to the drain and hold it up against the float bowl.
The fuel level in the float bowl will match the level in the clear tubing and wants to be somewhere close to the joint where the float bowl meets the carb body.

To be cosmic, maybe his guardian angels don't want him to fix it quite yet for whatever reason.

[barnett468]

hello tri again

i like your cosmic statement, you never know.

i kinda like your clear tube idea too however i hate to say that since his carb overflows i think we know the level will be above the float bowl skt surface gin this case.

[tri again]

hello tri again

i like your cosmic statement, you never know.

i kinda like your clear tube idea too however i hate to say that since his carb overflows i think we know the level will be above the float bowl skt surface gin this case.

hey there.
my post says 11:18 and yours says 11:30 which is accurate for west coast time.

Does yours say the same?
or is it corrected for MN time I wonder?

My GF 'caught' me posting on here at some odd time when I was actually sleeping.

Yeah, tomorrow is total trike day for us here.
Actually have to move them all for insurance pictures.
At least they all run.

You guys still have snow?

[barnett468]

Thanks for the explanation. I have full intentions of cleaning this carb the right way... I just wanted to know what causes the overflowing so I can focus on that part the most.

you can clean your carb till kingdom comes but if you have debris [rust] coming through a broken filter in your gas tank getting stuck between your needle and seat i guess you can simply keep pulling your carb off to clean it for as long as you want.


Since you said you installed an OLD carb it probably has not been rebuilt since last used. your needle that probably had a soft rubber tip when it was new has now probably turned as hard as the surface of a neutron star and/or it has a small faint ring around it from previous sealing, either way neither one will seal properly in your carb if either is the case.

drain your bowl gas first like i said or don't.

[dougspcs]

newby200x

i was the first person to answer your question reread my post. why should anyone answer your question a second time if you clearly don't read what we've posted?

Dude, there is 3 minutes between you post and mine, maybe I was typing as you hit 'post'..you really gonna get weird because 'newby' didn't respond to your suggestion in 60 seconds and give you cred for 1st answer?

You really that that hungry for a pat on the head for your input and think that after you've answered the question no one else should?

Come on man, grow up..this isn't grade school!

[barnett468]

hello newby

try to disregard the following. I am still happy to help you if I can, perhaps I can't but I think my posts and tri again's posts will be self explanatory. dougspcs seems to think that not making sure your fuel is not contaminated is not a problem. this is not a logical opinion to me but i may be wrong, he also seems to think that carb kits are useless because it's just fine to run a possibly 25 year old needle that just may have a dried up rubber tip on it. this is also not a logical opinion to me but again i've been wrong before. if you think either of theses are logical opinions then i suggest you disregard my suggestions and follow his and those that believe the same thing.


dougs pcs

"Dude, there is 3 minutes between you post and mine, maybe I was typing as you hit 'post'..you really gonna get weird because 'newby' didn't respond to your suggestion in 60 seconds and give you cred for 1st answer?

You really that that hungry for a pat on the head for your input and think that after you've answered the question no one else should?

Come on man, grow up..this isn't grade school!"

Dougspcs, You need a new watch "dude", newby responded at 9, my post 547, yours 550, dave at 720. time difference between newby and my post 3 hours 13 minutes. time difference between newby and daves post 1 hour 40 minutes. This is way more than 60 seconds by even a 1st graders calculations so he obviously had plenty of time to read them before he re-asked his question.

I don't need a pat on the head like you apparently do otherwise you would not have simulated some of my answers. you might have been more creative and come up with something different.

unlike you, you will never see me repeat someone's answer.

tri again seems to think the guy should read the posts first too.

from dougspcs - "The solution is pretty clear..start again. This time don't do a 'quick cleaning' but a thorough one..maybe consider investing in a pail of carb dunk and let is soak in there."

What an arrogant way to state this. 'the solution is pretty clear" you totally missed the fact that as I mentioned he may have debris from the tank stuck in the line what do you NOT understand about this statement?

I'm sure there are some other intelligent people here that understand this but I'm sure your friends will try to come on here and rationalize some way to defend you and your unprovoked comments towards me. I'll enjoy reading those responses.

My only goal is to assist the poster to the best of my ability it is not an ego contest for me like it is for others.

glad i've met the sites new sheriff and dictator of proper etiquette you set a great example!

[barnett468]

dougs pcs

"Dude, there is 3 minutes between you post and mine, maybe I was typing as you hit 'post'..you really gonna get weird because 'newby' didn't respond to your suggestion in 60 seconds and give you cred for 1st answer?

You really that that hungry for a pat on the head for your input and think that after you've answered the question no one else should?

Come on man, grow up..this isn't grade school!"

you need a new watch he responded at 9, my post 547, yours 550, dave at 720. time difference between newby and my post 3 hours 13 minutes. time difference between newby and daves post 1 hour 40 minutes.

I don't need a pat on the head like you apparently do otherwise you would not have simulated some of my answers. you might have been more creative and come up with something different.

unlike you, you will never see me repeat someone's answer.

tri again seems to think the guy should read the posts first too.

"The solution is pretty clear..start again. This time don't do a 'quick cleaning' but a thorough one..maybe consider investing in a pail of carb dunk and let is soak in there."

What an arrogant way to state this. 'the solution is pretty clear" you totally missed the fact that as I mentioned he may have debris from the tank stuck in the line what do you NOT understand about this statement?

I'm sure there are some other intilligent people here that understand this but I'm sure your friends will try to come on here and rationalize some way to defend you and your unprovoked comments towards me. I'll enjoy reading those responses.

My only goal is to assist the poster to the best of my ability it is not an ego contest for me like it is for others.

glad i've met the sites new sheriff and dictator of proper etiquette you set a great example!

[dougspcs]

Barnett, I wasn't making comment on the content of your post..your input is just as welcome as any other.

But your remark..

"i was the first person to answer your question reread my post. why should anyone answer your question a second time if you clearly don't read what we've posted?"

Sounded like a bit of a hissy fit to me..maybe it's just the way I read it!

And you think I copy your answers..like these ideas are all originally yours and if someone has a similar thought they are plagiarizing??