New member of the 'Sinker Club' (carb floats) - Page 12

Piper J3 · #**111** 04-19-2019, 02:15 AM

Further update to post #96…

I emailed Marvel Schebler and again got no response from them. How can a company in today’s economy have such poor (non-existent) customer relations? Anyway, my friend was able to talk to them via phone and apparently the majority of the original production lot of blue epoxy 912 floats went to Europe and sold out fast. MS says they are working on a sub 7-gram redesign but can’t estimate a time line for delivery.

So, we ordered $150 Bing 861 189 and installed them in the right carb. While we had everything apart, we decided to check the left carb. When we dropped the float bowl, we could immediately saw one of the floats sunk directly to the bottom of the bowl – completely submerged in the fuel. The pair of floats from this carb weighed 10.24 grams. Unbelievable…. Back to the ATM machine and now buying yet another set of Bing floats.

When does this all stop? A single manufacturer for floats that don’t float? The real rub is you have to buy more floats from this same manufacturer that again don’t float. I like that business model – planned failure – and with aircraft safety-of-flight component.

Thanks for listening, I feel better now…

Dave12 · #**112** 04-19-2019, 06:20 AM

Today I am installing the third set of new floats.........this year.

mturnerb · #**113** 04-19-2019, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper J3

Further update to post #96…

I emailed Marvel Schebler and again got no response from them. How can a company in today’s economy have such poor (non-existent) customer relations? Anyway, my friend was able to talk to them via phone and apparently the majority of the original production lot of blue epoxy 912 floats went to Europe and sold out fast. MS says they are working on a sub 7-gram redesign but can’t estimate a time line for delivery.

So, we ordered $150 Bing 861 189 and installed them in the right carb. While we had everything apart, we decided to check the left carb. When we dropped the float bowl, we could immediately saw one of the floats sunk directly to the bottom of the bowl – completely submerged in the fuel. The pair of floats from this carb weighed 10.24 grams. Unbelievable…. Back to the ATM machine and now buying yet another set of Bing floats.

When does this all stop? A single manufacturer for floats that don’t float? The real rub is you have to buy more floats from this same manufacturer that again don’t float. I like that business model – planned failure – and with aircraft safety-of-flight component.

Thanks for listening, I feel better now…

I don't have a dog in this hunt any more but it's hard to conceive that Rotax and/or its resellers aren't taking more ownership / control of this issue. But it's not as bad as the news for V-tail Bonanza owners: there's an active thread on Beechtalk saying that basically the raw materials to make new skins for ruddervators (special thickness/alloy of magnesium) is not available, and Textron isn't motivated to share the data needed for aftermarket suppliers to fill the void. It's being said that once the supply dries up completely (from wrecked / retired airplanes) the ruddervators will represent the entire value of the airplanes. The small volumes of production in any aviation product make the markets kind of crazy.

bobg56 · #**114** 04-19-2019, 09:32 AM

It ends either when they make a float that floats or a reasonably priced throttle body fuel injection system is made for the engine. The cost of these floats is nuts, $75 for each one. I would think a metal or plastic float could be made by Bing to fix this.

NinerBikes · #**115** 04-19-2019, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobg56

It ends either when they make a float that floats or a reasonably priced throttle body fuel injection system is made for the engine. The cost of these floats is nuts, $75 for each one. I would think a metal or plastic float could be made by Bing to fix this.

Maybe more a shame someone like MS, Keihin or Mikuni Carburetors can't come up with a workable solution to just replace the Bing CV carbs, altogether.

DaleB · #**116** 04-19-2019, 01:03 PM

After reading this thread, I'm baffled at how we're 8 years and 450+ hours in on or original floats. Of course having said that, when I start the CI on Monday I'm sure I'll find all four sunk to the bottom of the float bowls.

Piper J3 · #**117** 04-19-2019, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave12

Today I am installing the third set of new floats.........this year.

3 sets x $300/4 floats = $900 and it isn't even summer flying season yet...

Piper J3 · #**118** 04-19-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave12

Today I am installing the third set of new floats.........this year.

Dave

Any chance you could send me one or two sets of your old heavy floats. I still want to experiment and see if I can't hollow out the float and leave a large air bubble in the center. Long shot... but it might work.

Send me email and I'll forward my shipping address. I can pay postage easily if you have PayPal.

strickjc@frontier.com

DaleB · #**119** 04-19-2019, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper J3

Any chance you could send me one or two sets of your old heavy floats. I still want to experiment and see if I can't hollow out the float and leave a large air bubble in the center. Long shot... but it might work.

I also wonder about the possibility of drying the floats out (ambient air or even a low temp bake, maybe) and coating them with something impermeable to keep them from absorbing gasoline.

Piper J3 · #**120** 04-19-2019, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleB

I also wonder about the possibility of drying the floats out (ambient air or even a low temp bake, maybe) and coating them with something impermeable to keep them from absorbing gasoline.

Exactly. I'm pretty sure the absorbed fuel does eventually "bake" out. I've been thinking about this for a while. Maybe conformal coating used for electronic circuit boards. Don't know if it's impervious to fuel.