Author Topic: Carb problems explained  (Read 1269 times)

Offline taysidedragon

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Carb problems explained
« on: March 22, 2022, 11:58:19 PM »
Pinched from AWoL Biker Magazine.

Everything about carbs you needed to know..

Gnomes.

The basic secret of carb function is that inside each carb are thousands of tiny gnomes; each with a small bucket. As you open the throttle, more of these gnomes are allowed out of their house and into the float bowl, where they fill the buckets and climb up the carb's passages to the intake, where they empty their buckets into the air stream.
But, if you don't ride the bike for a while, bad things can happen.

Tiny bats take up residence in the chambers of the carb, and before long the passages are plugged up with guano. This creates a gnome traffic jam, and so not enough bucketfuls of fuel can get to the engine. If it gets bad enough, the gnomes simply give up and go take a nap. The engine won't run at all at this point.

Sometimes you'll have a single dedicated gnome still on the job, which is why the bike will occasionally fire as the gnome tosses his lone bucket load down the intake.
There has been some research into using tiny dwarves in modern carbs. The advantage is that unlike gnomes, dwarves are miners and can often re-open a clogged passage. Unfortunately, dwarves have a natural fear of earthquakes, as any miner should. In recent tests, the engine vibrations caused the dwarves to evacuate the Harley Davidson test vehicle and make a beeline for the nearest BMW dealership. Sadly, BMW's are fuel injected and so the poor dwarves met an unfortunate end in the rollers of a Bosch fuel pump.

Other carb problems can also occur. If the level of fuel in the float bowl rises too high, it will wipe out the poorer gnome housing in the lower parts of the carb. The more affluent gnomes build their homes in the diaphragm chamber, and so are unaffected. This is why the bike is said to be “running rich”.
If the bowl fuel level drops, then the gnomes have to walk farther to get a bucketful of fuel. This means less fuel gets to the engine. Because the gnomes get quite a workout from this additional distance, this condition is known as “running lean”.
The use of the device known only as the ‘choke' has finally been banned by PETG (People for the Ethical Treatment of Gnomes) and replaced by a new carb circuit that simply allows more gnomes to carry fuel at once when the engine needs to start or warm up. In the interests of decorum, I prefer not to explain how the ‘choke' operated. You would rather not know anyway.

So, that's how a carburetor works. You may wish to join us here next week for basics of electricity, or “How your bike creates cold fusion inside the stator” and why the government doesn't want you to know about it.
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline robvangulik

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2022, 05:38:32 PM »
Excellent, may I use this wonderful explanation on our (Dutch) board when asked the right questions?

Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2022, 11:08:08 PM »
Excellent, may I use this wonderful explanation on our (Dutch) board when asked the right questions?

Yes of course. I stole it anyway! 😁
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline robvangulik

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2022, 09:31:19 PM »
I know, but now I stole it with permission ;D

Offline Sesman

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2022, 07:14:55 AM »
Which makes you an accessory to the original crime and you are guilty of handling stolen goods🤔😂😂

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2022, 07:54:25 AM »
In mitigation as the source has been named no plagiarism here  might mitigate any copyright offence🤔
Shades of Terry Pratchitt and Discworld.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Sesman

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2022, 07:55:54 AM »
We could ask P&O lawyers for an opinion?.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Carb problems explained
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2022, 08:06:38 AM »
We could ask P&O lawyers for an opinion?.

😁😁😁 Right on brother.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

 

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