The carburetor rebuild continues on the M74-B Linkert Carburetor on the '48 Harley Davidson Panhead. Finally got a new float. Assembling the float, float bowl and needle valve.
Step by step, slow & steady and calm & cool...something learned over the years. EXCELLENT video. It will sure help me with my Winter project in teh cold, dep snow couny of New York State. Thank you !
Howdy Mike, Float Setting what I am prone to call: "the ARGUE" ... 1st too HIGH striving for the " 3-Bears " setting = just "RIGHT" Thanks for taking us along for the Reassembly COOP ...............................................
Never boring, I never knew it needed to be adjusted off of the float. Always turned it upside down and bent it to level ,or just below level. Thanks for explaining it the correct way.
When I don't have enough fingers, sometimes a dab of white lithium grease, AKA white lith, will assist in keeping small loose parts together during assembly. A small blast of brake cleaner gets rid of any excess. Most people don't understand why a tiny bit of debris in the needle and seat does such a thorough job of flooding the carburetor. When the foreign object gets in the valve, the fuel getting past increases the float pressure against the needle, wedging the object even tighter. The quick fix is to drain the float bowl, allowing the float to drop the needle out of the seat. Letting some fuel through washes out the offending particle(s). It's usually effective. Of course, if the tip of the needle is shot, all the flushing in the world can't fix it. Just a couple thoughts. Be well all.
Only in the last few years have I learned this kind of patience. I’m not sure if it’s due to age, or maybe it’s because I ride (and work on) a shovelhead.
My dad always said "The devil is in the details". He was also very particular about doing things properly and referencing the manuals, they have a purpose. I did have a question for you. I could Google it, but I prefer your input on it. Were linker carbs used on shovelhead bikes? Or are there adapter setups to use for them? Not that I'm looking to change from s&s, just curious. Great video regarding patience. ✌ Louis
The "DC" series "Pot Metal" Linkerts were used on the early Shovelheads. I believe they were used for 66 and 67 only. Early Sportsters used them too. They were smaller and looked like the S&S "L" series carburetors, although the S&S was a much larger carburetor. I've always figured a Shovelhead required a large carburetor.
I installed a new rubber duck float. I got the bike started and it sounded sweet except It ran out of gas. When I went to add gas there was gas leaking out the port by the right side adjustment screw. Would this mean I set the float to high? I aimed for a 1/4" and it was right there but maybe it's still too high? I love your videos, they are very helpful.
I've been researching setting the float and I found a comment from someone who rebuild Linkerts. He echos the same thing you said, you need patients. "Could take 5 minutes or 5 hours".
Rubber Ducky floats are the best it's OK. You waste your time with any of the other ones.. they swell up and stick. Maybe should replace the needle and seat
I lap needle and seat in with toothpaste ,I prefer the round body needles ,fuel reacts better with a heaver needle ,yes mike words from a old man . Excellent assembly take notes kids
Remember when we all were on the brass float kick and you could get 103 octane gas that was wine red? I just threw away 3 of them, they sink like a rock in today's gas, the ones that don't leak. Frustration and repetition can be overcome occasionally with a little well placed, dignified screaming and yelling. But it's just a band aid.
That's a tedious process. I'm glad you showed us that you have to do it over and over until it's right, instead of just showing it perfect the first time.
I am curious if bending the plate that is screwed into the float just too risky to bend it while attached to the float. I believe that you did bend it while it was fully assembled. I wonder if the original float that Harley used was a hollow float that may have been prone to damage if the adjustment needed to be done. I remember dealing with a certain manufacturer that had a problem with their floats absorbing fuel ended up getting heavier and so it no longer was able to stay lighter than the fuel it displaced. I know you will get it right!
great stuff...can you expand on the benefits of using white lithium grease next one? Don't worry about recommending products. If its well made, say it, if its crap say it. If they gave it to you for free/sponsor tell us. We're smart enough to understand the differences. Thanks
I go over it all the time. Seals really well, doesn't contaminate. Stays well between surfaces under pressure. Great for carburetors, oil pumps. Old method. Worked then, works now.
Ah, the art of mechanical feeding, & teaching them how to sip, for dinner in balls is bad for the walls & washeth away the slip, nor does it really burn well, too wet, too rich & too messy, but running them lean is equally mean, in Canada, Rome or Crecy. For their diet supply is best constant, with the cutlery so bent to suit, for that level of lip doth suiteth their sip, allowing thy motor to scoot. ('The Linkert Concentric' eh? Has anyone 'got home' by whittling down a wooden curtain ring to fit one of these? : )
Never boring, I never knew it needed to be adjusted off of the float. Always turned it upside down and bent it to level ,or just below level. Thanks for explaining it the correct way.
Nice to see you using the linkert on that old Pan. In retrospect I think the worst thing I did to my pan was trash the Linkert and put a Mikuni on it . That of course was before the new style Mikuni. Back in the 70s.
Hello from Sweden on this sunny day😎. I enjoy the way u do things over and over again until u get it right🙂. It is a beautiful carb to just look at👍. I hope that u start it up so we can hear how it runs. Take care. Have a nice day. Kjell Blomstrand 🇸🇪.
What I like the most about simple things like this Mike is, I could probably watch the video of you doing this and then do a similar carby of my own at the same time using this as step by step instructions. Thank you so much for all the details. 👍
Always, always good stuff man. The best lesson in wrenching is that virtue of patience. Knowing what you're doing can really aid the patience though. Thanks for your willingness to prepare our patience with your time true knowledge and experience. It amazes me the things I continue to find myself learning from your videos.
Thank you Mike for this video. I changed the float on my 1960 Panhead without having the instructions by setting it at random, necessarily it was difficult to start ... ;) Jean-Claude from France
Nice job Mike. I remember the bronze floats that had the lever soldered on them, I worked with one for about an hour once and the owner asked why I couldn't have done it quicker.
Cool trick on the hollow stamped sheet metal floats = if you found a pinhole or split causing loss of buoyancy one could carefully use solder to repair it
@@pacificmike9501 a delicate task for sure... Done them on different carb of similar design & old fuel send unit floats that were made from "unobtainium"...
@@pacificmike9501 I would do same these days as replacement parts would be in hand before the fuel vapor in float would evaporate to safe enough level to solder...i.e. small torch,plumber solder.LOTS of flux & most of all patience with trial & error method...
Sorry, it was another guys' comment. I don't remember what it was, but Google translated it for me. He said something nice. You cut and paste it on Google Translate, and it immediately translates it.
Okay. "Threaded Plug," maybe "Float pin support." I'm sure you're right though. When speaking on camera, my mind has a tendency to forget words and terms. Thank You
I have used a ball bearing bigger than the needle seat hole to correct the seat shape. I do this by striking the ball a sharp blow with a hammer. I then lap the steel needle into the seat until it will hold a vacuum with gas on the seat., have had to do this on a new needle and seat.
Hey, Mike, in my experience you sometimes need to be careful that the float doesn't hang up on the stem of the carburetor, in addition to possibly hanging up on the bowl.
Hello from South Georgia Mike how is everything going for you great to see you again thank for the shows and Gods blessings for you and all your family
I have a buddy with an S&S two throat. I haven't touched one in probably 20 years. Interesting carburetor though. I think that's the carb you meant. Don't have one to play with. S&S, I'm sure has instructions o their website. Got to sscycle.
Good morning Mr Pacific, Cameraman Mike. I’m right there with you when it comes to white lithium grease, I even have it in aerosol and I swear by it myself. Adjusting floats, no matter what carb I’ve worked with has always been a tedious task, especially inline 4’s. Once in a blue moon, I’ll notice my idle might be a little high, so I’ll close the petcock and reset the needle, not sure if it’s the case but it’s worked anytime it’s happened, which has been a handful of times in 3 years. Look forward to our next history class Mike, take care of yourself.
