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102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:03 am
by THCL500J8
Hi.
The float chamber on Amil type carbs seams to be in different positions on some of the 102 engines.
Saw a pair in a Melbourne marina today both had the carb bowl towards the sparkplug, not towards the sump, like mine and the other 60's 102pluses that i have seen.

Whats the right position, is there advantages in the other position. Just curious?

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:07 am
by phil
They seem to work ok either way, I think they came with the flat chamber nearer the spark plug. I usually change mine to where the writing is visible which is closer to the crankcase, at least on the Silver Centuries. Don't recall which it is on my 102 AC

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:49 am
by Collector Inspector
Which way depends on if you want fuel inside the transom or outside the transom when you have the Old Dear kicked up.

A full bowl will drain into the motor if at the head end as well as into the water.

Choices, choices, choices.

:roll:

B

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 12:55 pm
by Stelios_Rjk
But on SDs the correct is the float bowl to be towards the spark plug. Otherwise the correct fuel line can't be used and preheat the fuel from the high temperatures of the exhaust.

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:00 pm
by THCL500J8
So that's why its not running perfectly my fuel preheat isn't working. Thanks all .

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:14 pm
by Stelios_Rjk
Why? Is it an SD with a copper fuel pipe? I don't think it's that important the preheated fuel.

Re: 102 float chamber What side is right - Or left

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 5:35 pm
by headdownarseup
i have read somewhere on the main site that after some years of varying useage, owners were finding difficulty in restarting their engines.
BS then came up with the idea that if they moved the float bowl furthest away from the cylinder, the float would not "gas". that is to say, the fuel already in the bowl would'nt evaporate as quick. this all depends on the type of fuel line you have on your motor. the older copper lines(nice as they are) are not that forgiving to being bent into a different position. much easier with the plastic lines.

for me though, any SD or its variants up to about 1950 looks far better with a copper fuel line and float bowl closest to the spark plug. any century or 102 after 1950, clear or black plastic fuel line and fuel bowl furthest from the spark plug.
my own century plus has black plastic fuel line and bowl away from the spark plug. it does make it a little bit easier to restart as well once the motor has been run for a few minutes because the fuel is kept cool so it wont evaporate (not that there's much anyway). i would also point out that there is no performance gains at all doing it this way either.

trial and error i guess. whichever works best for you

jon