Amal needle valve fault

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kerinorton

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Over the last few months, twice I have forgotten to turn of the fuel in my 850. Never been a problem but got woken up at night twice now by the wife saying she smells paint of some thing. Never seemed to be a problem when riding till I went down to Hampton Downs a few weeks ago. Got to service station at Oakleigh and saw the l/h carb leaking. While attempting to fix problem and while wiping fuel with paper towel., it stopped leaking. Did it again on a ride on the 8th so made the effort and pulled the bottom off the l/h carb [ "port to fellow Yachtees" ] Could not see any marks but on a close look found the red needle point coming away from the brass swaging at one point. Luckily British spares had two needle left so back on the road again.
I necver expected to see that happening. the new needles are aluminium with black Viton seating's.

Dereck
 
oh oh, I guess I had better learn how to post photos. Been putting it off. Too busy having fun. I will see what I can do tonight.
Dereck
 
Hi Dereck,
i emailed Amal a year or so ago (could be more, time does fly) enquiring whether the tips on these needles were ethanol tolerant and had an ambiguous reply along the lines that recent ones were.
Not that we have that much of the devil's brew here but if you did fill at the wrong place with older needles that may be an issue?
Iain.
 
I generally fill up at Caltex or BP. I don't know if they have ethanol in their mix. I know Gull does so I don't use it, besides at gull in Whangarei they want you to pay up front and who the fcuk knows how much you want.
regards Dereck
ps I don't even know if the red tips are Viton. Shit now I see its a black tip. I am looking at photographing it, but I think it is going to be hard to see.
 
Caltex or BP. I don't know if they have ethanol in their mix.

Depends what octane you buy but the higher octanes almost always have ethanol. It should say on the pump but if not the company websites will tell you. Also by law in NZ they should have MSDS on site (Materials safety data sheets), which will tell you.
 
Amal have never made Viton tipped needle valves with a red tip - they have always been black. The Viton used is a grade suitable for use with ethanol but is not recommended for use with Methanol.
 
Just curious, is the red tip an aftermarket (pattern) part? Or gen-u-ine Amal?
 
ebsbury said:
The Viton used is a grade suitable for use with ethanol but is not recommended for use with Methanol.
Click to expand...
This sounds logical to me. I've been using the same black (Viton?) float needles since 1980 or earlier when I replaced the plastic originals and they still look brand new, just a slight circumferential dent around each one where they seat. I bet you just got one that just wasn't made quite right. By the way, the good old United States was one of the first if not the first to jump on the ethanol bandwagon. Anything else is virtually impossible to get through normal means. We have been dealing with that material eating crap for a long time.
 
I've been using the newer type aluminum body with viton tip needles for 3 years now and nary a drip , other than tickling action and I usually leave the fuel tap on at all times other than end of season out of fear of sooner or later bending or snapping off the weak lever. I believe ethanol addition to fuel was announced as a temporary measure due to the crippling Arab oil embargo , now that the U.S.A. is rapidly approaching total petroleum self sufficiency it's time to remind congress representatives of that pledge. Whilst you're all doing that , remind them also that the Income Tax Act was a temporary measure for the War effort to be repealed after victory. :lol:
 
That's all comforting to know regarding the ethanol. I usually run the 91 octane most of the time unless I am likely to be riding hard on hills, then I will us the 96.
Sorry about the senior moment thinking they were red tips. Duh. I am have trouble with photofucket, and the pixels seem to be too much coming out of my camera. Didn't think you would see the needle where the Viton is bulging out but if you know what to look for it is visible. Had to get the camera 60mm away and photo it under one of our wall lamps. The lamp was able to shadow the bulge side [ it is very slight though ]compared to the good side.
I like those Viton seals as they heave never given me trouble [ before this ]. The original metal needles were a pain in the ass. I had to replace the originals when I restored my 750.
 
needing said:
ebsbury said:
Amal have never made Viton tipped needle valves with a red tip - they have always been black. The Viton used is a grade suitable for use with ethanol but is not recommended for use with Methanol.
Click to expand...

Feels good to think that but without evidence to support it!
Viton and Ethanol testing:
http://www.dupontelastomers.com/autofoc ... ensAltFuel
Click to expand...
Well I don't have a lab to publish a definitive report so my 'evidence' is merely the inspection of the float needles that are still fine after 30 years or so. That's really all we can do.... Or worry.
 
By the way needing, I love the color scheme of your bike, is that two shades of blue or??? Do you have a bigger photo?
 
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