Kawasaki Triples Club

I had the carbs on my S2 ultrasonically cleaned this week and they looked great. However, the guy that did them called me a day later and said that he had found some small brass balls (2 mm and 4mm) in the tank afterwards. I said I wasn't aware of them as a component of my carbs, but hang on to them all the same...…

When I put the carbs back on today, as soon as I turned on the fuel tap, petrol gushed all over the engine! The cleaning had dislodged the small, 2mm brass ball that seals what seems to be a redundant outlet just below brass pipe where the fuel enters (see attached picture). It had also detached a larger, 4mm brass ball near the choke that must perform a similar function. I have no idea why these seemingly redundant features are on the carbs, does anybody know why? Anyway, if you do get your carbs ultrasonically cleaned, examine them very carefully after!

Hi,
I think you'll find the balls are to block drillings that are done in the manufacturing process
of the carb.
I guess you could refit the balls and smear araldite, or other epoxy glue, over the outside to seal the ball.
Hope this helps
Ade

Thanks for the reply - I am waiting for the Araldite to set now!

Roger

Not sure about Araldite and petrol together long term....could degrade.
I'd try and get a mechanical fix too (peen over the alloy) just in case the Araldite gives up.
Brilliant article by Dave Higgs in the resources section on carbs.

The Araldite will be fine. I made a temporary repair to my H2 tank where they commonly fail by the strap bracket, and it stayed put for years with no problem.

[quote="RogerE"]I had the carbs on my S2 ultrasonically cleaned this week and they looked great. However, the guy that did them called me a day later and said that he had found some small brass balls (2 mm and 4mm) in the tank afterwards. I said I wasn't aware of them as a component of my carbs, but hang on to them all the same...…

When I put the carbs back on today, as soon as I turned on the fuel tap, petrol gushed all over the engine! The cleaning had dislodged the small, 2mm brass ball that seals what seems to be a redundant outlet just below brass pipe where the fuel enters (see attached picture). It had also detached a larger, 4mm brass ball near the choke that must perform a similar function. I have no idea why these seemingly redundant features are on the carbs, does anybody know why? Anyway, if you do get your carbs ultrasonically cleaned, examine them very carefully after![ Thanks for the warning

Try tapping holes out to accept short grub screws and loctite them in.

Doc

Thanks for the useful advice. I did a bit of investigation and araldite should be ok, but I will keep a close eye on it. I filled a tiny hole on the underside of an exhaust with araldite and that has been fine for years and that is subject to petrol/oil gunge and some heat.

Products called Chemical Metal and JB-weld sound like the best stuff to use though.

Roger

The same thing can happen to the intakes.... and where the ball goes depends on which side carb you have...

JB Weld is great stuff.

Thanks, great pictures mraxi, I'll check if those balls are still there!