A Call for Help

[bender]

Hello fellow paso enthusiasts,
I have recently found myself needing some help with the Weber carburetor for my paso. When I was trying to clean out and adjust the carburetor, to get ready for some good riding. I was taking off the big brass bolt that holds the little fuel filter on the fuel inlet and the wrench slipped and I snapped off the towers that holds the float. I am sure you can imagine what came next . So now I am in need of a new top plate for my carburetor. I know that there are a few of you that have done the carburetor swap and was wondering if anyone would be willing to part with their old Weber.

[randtcastell]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-paso-web ... 07&vxp=mtr

make an offer perhaps? Good luck on your search!

[lane1feathers]

Sorry dude, sold mine on eBay...got a couple of hundred for it. I imagine that's what becomes of most of them.

[englishstiv]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1987-Ducati-P ... 20cd85281f


Or may be worth sending these folks an email

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ALFA1750S-CARB ... 7675.l2563 they seem to have an interest in all things carb related http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... d=alfa1750 and most likely will be able to source your parts for you?

[bender]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-paso-web ... 07&vxp=mtr

make an offer perhaps? Good luck on your search!

Thank you all for the suggestions I have seen these on eBay I was just hoping to get away with paying less than between $300 and $650 dollars to fix my fubar. randtcastell, the same eBay seller also has this carb available, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-paso-web ... 3f311f4d33. I thought that I would wait until closer to the end of his auction before making him an offer. I was hoping someone in this forum would have one kicking around that I could pick up for a more reasonable amount of money once again thank you all for your help. This forum has been a true lifesaver for me and my projects.

[higgy]

Don't give up yet, have not had the chance to see if I have one kickin around or not

[geomac]

this maybe dumb but I will ask anyway. If just the float towers are snapped off, could you use JB Weld to bond them back on again? That stuff is amazing and has bonded lots of busted cast aluminum parts before. Just a thought...

[higgy]

yes you can make sure you use the marine fuel resistant variety. Devcon also has a two part epoxy which adds aluminium powder to the mix and is very strong. Strong enough to repair transfer ports on two cycle cylinders.
there is also a product called alumalloy which can be used depending on your level of skill

[fester]

Oh my god. Are they really worth that sort of money, given the reason why most get ripped off our bikes at first opportunity.

Did you guys get any of the small capacity Ford engines over that that generally originated in the UK. Didn't they run the same sort of Weber. Or maybe some of the less sporty Fiats etc. Might still be some carbs floating around the wreckers going cheap.

Doubt they'd pull that sort of money here in Aus.

[higgy]

prices are high because the same carbs are used on older Maserati Mereks, Ferrari's and some VW and they are long out of production

[JWilliam]

prices are high because the same carbs are used on older Maserati Mereks, Ferrari's and some VW and they are long out of production

Ha ha, what a laugh. Hold onto your Paso until the carb is worth $10,000. About the carb repair, Lumiweld can be used for minor repairs but you'll need a micro-torch, or search out a specialist - they wouldn't charge much for the job and its likely they'll be 1st class. I'd be wary of chemical bonding due to its working enviroment.

[bender]

this maybe dumb but I will ask anyway. If just the float towers are snapped off, could you use JB Weld to bond them back on again? That stuff is amazing and has bonded lots of busted cast aluminum parts before. Just a thought...

Not a dumb question at all. In fact to to give you a little mor information, this all happened a couple of months ago and after finding out that it could not be tig welded I decided to try JB weld. The normally unproblematic cab began popping, backfiring, and started running so much gas that on cold starts it would leak out the exhaust pipe (read all about Higgy's carb fix, and have some interesting information for him at another time). Pull the carburetor off found that the JB Weld had gotten soft and brittle being commit tenuously merged in gasoline. Sorry, that did not work. At this point I would just like to replace the top of the carburetor. I've never had an issue with this bike running poorly no dead spots or flat spots anywhere in acceleration. Thank you all for the suggestions but this bike will be down until I can find a new top plat. We are starting to hit the low 70s in my area. I would love to ride soon. NewOil seals on the way ordering timing belts tomorrow and hoping to have her back on the road by the weekend.

[higgy]

alumalloy works like solder but is for aluminium parts. All you need is a butane or propane torch. Normal JB weld won't hold up to ethanol but Devcon of the proper blend will and so will alumalloy. In the mean time I just fired off an email to one of my Maserati guys bought a carb from me a while back and I seem to remember he was replacing one that had other issues so he may have a good top for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5sD9hQTyw

[JWilliam]

You can make very fine 'welds' with Alumalloy / Lumiweld etc. It is a Zinc alloy and has a lower melting point than Aluminium. The only drawback being when the working temperature is reached the Aluminium will be soft as it is now near to its own melting point. What this means is you cannot clamp the Aluminium with any force since this will push the Aluminium out of shape. That looks do-able, I'd be tempted to have a go. I recommend creating a Zinc powder from a Lumiweld rod and coat the fracture surfaces with it. Got a lot of cavitation within the parent metal so a Zinc powder will fill nicely. Then accurately and gently jigging the pieces together, heat the break area until the Zinc powder melts and joins. Don't use a plumbers blow-torch but a butane micro / pencil torch. Its scrap otherwise so what have you got to lose (apart from $500)? The picture here shows the join of two pieces of Aluminium by a single stroke of Alumalloy rod along the weld site. Not the method you should try at first with your repair but what it shows is that very small and intricate welds can be made.

[bender]

alumalloy works like solder but is for aluminium parts. All you need is a butane or propane torch. Normal JB weld won't hold up to ethanol but Devcon of the proper blend will and so will alumalloy. In the mean time I just fired off an email to one of my Maserati guys bought a carb from me a while back and I seem to remember he was replacing one that had other issues so he may have a good top for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5sD9hQTyw

Higgy, thanks for the information. I have a butane torch and I would love to try this repair. However, I would rather have one that has not been broken. Thank you for taking the time to try and find me a new top. Just let me know when you find out. That would be great if your friend had one thanks for the help.
PS. Where can I get some alumalloy? I am going to give this a try I think it looks fun