1974 J400D, Carb float hieght?

Big Tom · Post by **Big Tom** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:50 am

Totally new to the forum, but the last few days I've been checking out the site and the tech info a fair bit. Anyway story goes the sleds been sitting 10+ years on a pallet out behind the shed, no protection no cover, just fighting the elements! Looks like a complete pile of hacked up garbage, but it turned over... so I thought "Hey, why not" about 1/2 hour later I had it coughing and sputtering, so cleaned the carb roughly, tuned it horribly but it holds fuel and if you choke it it'll start... oh, and to add to the humor I have an "IV bag" since the fuel tank is missing, I put a jug of mixed fuel up on a old mag rack so it was above the carb gravity feeding the beast!

Needless to say it's alot of fun. But, last night I got the clutch and a few more bugs worked out and managed to take it for a rip, didn't get terribly far but it ran! So, now I know it's possible to get the machine going I wanted to pull the carb off again and do it properly this time so here is where the questions come.

It's a Bendix carb so a very simply float system, but I'm not sure what the float hieght should be set for? I did it roughly parallel with the edge of the carb and the needle/seat are holding so if I could find that measurement I could adjust it properly. I read the tech info so I know how to tune it once it's built properly.

And anyone who has rebuilt one of these carbs, does that seal inside the bowl need to be so complex? The old seal was garbage so I cut my own copy out of cork paper and it works but I'm worried it's going to cause problems down the road if the cork breaks down or shifts it could interfere with the needle or something. Why can't I just seal the bowl edge to the carb? Or is there good reason that seal had the odd cutouts and 1/8" holes cut in it etc etc, very different then any carb I've seen in the past

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:14 pm

Hi Tom. Welcome to the group.
Yes, the Bendix is an orphan carb.
You are in luck as one of the forum members has reproduced the gasket and has them resonably priced.
I do not remember who it was but I bet somewone will supply that info real soon....

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:36 pm

Go to the Classifieds, and look under the sub-topic: Reproduction Parts

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:17 am

Thanks Brian.
I see you have 10 more inches coming to add to your misery.

Big Tom · Post by **Big Tom** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:33 pm

Thanks guys, emailed the guy seeing if he has anymore kits available. But what about the float height? Any information on that? It's sometimes a real pain to get the sled to fire up and while it's running it's still not 100% it slowly dies out while idling, and at full go it's not pulling enough fuel.

I followed the tuning specs in the tech section but it doesn't seem to be enough, so if I can get the kit and set the float height, maybe I can get it tuned right in

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:41 pm

Setting float on Bendix carb:

With carb inverted, the bottom surface of the float should be 1/8" from the gasket surface at a point on the float farthest from the hinge. Use a 1/8" drill bit as a tool.

To adjust float, use a needlle nose pliers to bend tang that contacts the fuel valve.

Rodimus Prime · Post by **Rodimus Prime** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:29 am

You have an air leak somewhere.

speedy295 · Post by **speedy295** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:06 am

He's probably got bad crank seals.