26-09-2021, 10:26 AM
I have recently become aware of the smell of petrol in the garage where I keep my RL. There has always been a slight aroma, but recently it has become more noticable. Over the last week I have had the engine out to adjust clutch levers, and became aware of a constant slight leak from the reserve tap on the petrol tank. I have always made up my own "tap corks" from sadwiches of thin cork using a hollow punch, centre drilled in the lathe. I assumed that this method could not cope with the E10, so purchased the correct corks from Tony Betts. That cured the tap leaking.
However, on getting the engine back in, I noticed a very slight drip of petrol from the 26va side draught I am using. My first thought was, add a fibre waher under the needle valve. It turns out, I have already done this,but had forgotten I had. I have since changed the needle valve and tried 5 different floats, but the leak from the carburettor persists.
I started thinking possibly, the Spefic Gravity of E10 petrol was lower than E5 and the old unleaded petrols, causing the float to sink slightly in the bowl. A quick "google" search on Petrol E10/5 Specific Gravitries, shows that E petrol have very slightly higher SG than unleaded!!! That report dated 2017.
So what to do next? I have thought of trying to solder a thin copper patch onto the top of the float, but I am not sure how much heat the float can take without distorting.
Any thoughts?
However, on getting the engine back in, I noticed a very slight drip of petrol from the 26va side draught I am using. My first thought was, add a fibre waher under the needle valve. It turns out, I have already done this,but had forgotten I had. I have since changed the needle valve and tried 5 different floats, but the leak from the carburettor persists.
I started thinking possibly, the Spefic Gravity of E10 petrol was lower than E5 and the old unleaded petrols, causing the float to sink slightly in the bowl. A quick "google" search on Petrol E10/5 Specific Gravitries, shows that E petrol have very slightly higher SG than unleaded!!! That report dated 2017.
So what to do next? I have thought of trying to solder a thin copper patch onto the top of the float, but I am not sure how much heat the float can take without distorting.
Any thoughts?