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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Overflowing Floats - How to Clean?

My midget has been suffering from overflowing floats repeatedly.
I have tried popping off the float top and giving the needle valve a clean, and have just fitted a fuel filter right before the rear carb.
But sadly no luck!
It seems that there is some stuff still floating around in the float bowl, what is the best way of cleaning this out?
Is it possible to remove the bowls without taking off the carbs?
This is driving me mad, I want to drive my car but doing so with fuel pouring onto the exhaust probably isn't a great idea!

-- Josh
J Levine

you can clean them in situ with carb cleaner or such like, cotton buds or such like to pick out bits

I had loads of problems with needles and seats with my last car and the present Midget's old carbs

I bought two new sets for the Midget and one bowl still leaked a mate gave me a s/h needle to replace the new one and everything was fine

you'll need a magnifying glass and look for indents grit wear

you can blow through to test the float opens and shuts

I know what a pain this is as I had it with my last three sets of carbs
N Atkins

Inside the float chambers, at the bottom, there are two open 'cavities', one either side of the cavity that the jet's flexible hose is connected into. It's my experience that the cavities eventually collect light brown sediment. With some petrol in the chamber, if you gently poke around inside the cavities with a fine, blunt scraper, the sediment will become held in solution. The muddy petrol can then be sucked out with either a turkey baster and/or a syringe. A cotton bud can then be used to clean the walls of the cavities.

As Mr Atkins has already suggested, use a magnifying glass the inspect the conical end of the needle valve and the needle valve seat (inside the valve housing). Any signs of wear (scoring/grooving) mean they must be replaced. There are a few different styles of 'after market' needle valves on the market. I've found 'viton tipped' valves to be successful and long lasting.
Andy Hock

Mr LOL

oh I see, I'm back to an initial I'll change that
N Atkins

has it worked - yes it has (well for now)
Nigel Atkins

How about Sir Atkins? lol.
Lawrence Slater

Thank you all. I will have a go cleaning them as described, and if necessary will get a set of Viton tipped needles.
I have never had any trouble with this, so I suspect it is tank gunge rather then dodgy needle valves.
Now I just have to unseize it's clutch (again), amazing what sitting in damp and foggy North London can do in a couple of weeks!

-- Josh
J Levine

Josh,
I had trouble with viton(?) and brass so don't worry too much about which is available

as for clutch - you'll have to drive it more :)

Lawrence,
Sir !!! there's enough class divide with adding to it

you'll probably be surprised to learn I'm not much for a*se-kissing in either direction

or hero-worship, or celebrity, or rank or unnecessary hierarchy

aaaaarh, you've got me going into a rant . . .
Nigel Atkins

Josh,

When I cleaned up and repainted my tank last weekend, I discovered there was a mesh tube with large ball bearings inside it, rolling around in the tank. This may be an afterthought but Rob and I think its designed to scour the tank and keep it from building up gunk. I think it might be worth popping one in cos inside my tank was very clean.

PS, there is some carb cleaner in the left flammables cabinet in the garage.

C
C L Carter

Hmmm, sounds like you might have a Broquet 'fuel catalyst'.

Discuss...
Dave O'Neill2

Yes sounds like a Broquet

I wouldnt worry about it, or expect it to miraculously turn 95 RON into unleaded. Just leave it unless the idea of something racketing about in your tank scouring the interior doesn't float your boat.

I'd have it out and flog it to a passing Pikey for a few bob, maybe convince him it will make his diesel Transit work better too.

Bill1

Ah, yes thats exactly what it is. Sounds like bollocks to me, I think my definition of what it does is probably more accurate than theirs lol

C L Carter

Hi All,

Finally my Midget is back in action.
I cleaned out the float bowels a bit more thoroughly, and checked that the needles were seating.
The filter seems to be doing it's job and he is running nicely again.
Had a fun drive around the neighbourhood to unseize the clutch (my Father, who came as a passenger, described it as "an experience"), it was amazingly stuck given the short time standing and really went with a clonk.

-- Josh
J Levine

Well done Josh, now drive it more often :)

good long drive on back roads with plenty of gear changing will help it's what the car was designed for

you might need to consider damp in the where you keep the car too
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2011 and 28/11/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.