Carburettor heater

[bandsawman]

Can anyone advise?

I've got my carbs off at the moment while I'm fitting a new cylinder head, and I found that the water pipes that connect to the carbs were both blocked.
I removed the pipes and cleared them out, then dismantled the carb assembly to remove the little "Y" shaped hose fittings attached to the carb bodies as they were blocked with crud as well. I got the first one out and reamed all the crap out, but found I couldn't get any connectivity between the water pipe connectors.
This bit is labelled as a heater in the manual. It obviously hasn't been working as the pipes were blocked, but:
1) Do they ever work?
2) What are the consequences of having no flow between these pipes?

I attempted to clear the second heater out to see if that one was any easier, but it was that corroded that it broke on removal.
So ultimately I need to know, do I need to go to the trouble of getting a replacement part - a new one could be expensive, a used one would probably be blocked, and isn't it likely that a new one would eventually block again anyway?

Or do I just join the pipes together and bypass the heater?

Regards, Mike.

[benny hedges]

when you are riding it hard you may find the fuel freezes as it atomizes and you get a spluttering loss of power as though you're running out.
the heater pipes are there to prevent that happening afaik.
should be easy enough to sort?

i suspect this is because the rad has been filled with just tap water and is furred up inside...
when youve sorted it, be sure to use proper coolant which also acts as a corrosion inhibitor

[Gerrit]

I removed the water hoses completely ....no problem.

Down here in South Africa the climate is hot all year round....

Due to heat soak from the engine, the carbs can get quite HOT, and the water floating through the carb body will dissapate the heat.

Instead I have a insulation wrapping at the bottom of the carbs to shield them them from any engine heat.

Works a charm, and less hassle when having to remove the carbs.

Gerrit

[Kev L]

I removed the water hoses completely ....no problem.

Down here in South Africa the climate is hot all year round....

Due to heat soak from the engine, the carbs can get quite HOT, and the water floating through the carb body will dissapate the heat.

Instead I have a insulation wrapping at the bottom of the carbs to shield them them from any engine heat.

Works a charm, and less hassle when having to remove the carbs.

Gerrit

So all we have to do is move to a country with a decent climate, Gerrit. you certainly know how to rub salt into the wounds don't you. We haven't seen the sun for three months. You southern hemisphere bods keep hogging it. And as for the rugby, well.........

[bandsawman]

Ok, I've decided to bypass the carbs and link the pipes out.

[tony.mon]

I have all of the spares for replacing them if it doesn't wok out, chances are it'll be fine until next winter though (hoping we've seen the last of the snow this year).

Let me know if there's any parts you might need.

[Gerrit]

It is not so much the rugby that concerns me, the UK cricket team is scary these days...they should take the World Cup next month.

Hey the sun is not so much around any more, we have rain 80% of the time in our summers the past few years, todat it rained so much my pool is overflowing & flooding everywhere......

It has improved my wet weather riding skills a lot though...

I am considering an entry into the World SBK ....

Gerrit

[bandsawman]

Ok, you've got me a bit concerned now, this reminds me of when I bought a brand new GPZ1000RX and the carbs kept freezing up and causing the engine to cut out...

Maybe the heaters on my firestorm were working to a degree, even though they were blocked - maybe enough heat was being conducted along the blocked pipes to the carbs to prevent any problems?

I think I'd better get the heaters working again...

Let me know if there's any parts you might need.

Yes please Tony - I just need the 2 heaters. Let me know what I owe you and I'll Paypal it to you

Off topic: By the way Tony, I took the head back off again and was able to remove the sheared bolt just by gently tapping it round with a centre punch - it was hardly even tight! It must have been a defective bolt, because my torque wrench was only set at about 9 lb/ft. I've ordered another new head gasket as well. Did you post that bolt to me?

[tony.mon]

Two bolts went in the post this morning first class as promised.

Good news that your sheared one came out that easily!

Heaters- I have a complete pair of carbs sitting around doing nothing, standard as far as I know but could have been jetted, I suppose.
Say £20 plus P+P?

I can post them then let you know what the postage came to; sort me out payment after we know how much it was.
They won't go until Friday now, though- the person who runs them to the PO while I'm at work isn't back until then.

Let me know if that sounds ok.

Pipes come with them.

But as they came with a spare engine I bought I don't know if they need cleaning out- haven't touched them since I took them off the engine.

[bandsawman]

Tony, thanks for posting me the bolts - big time!

But I think I'll leave the carbs for now, I'll do the bypass and see what happens to my carbs next winter (if anything).

[tony.mon]

No problems, I like to keep a spare set of carbs in stock to swap out if someone's having probs with theirs.