Carb fuel needle valve - Repair a leaking carburettor - reseat the valve

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The fuel needle valve was slightly worn, and the carburettor was leaking fuel.
The float and needle valve was not shutting off the fuel supply.
This is the fuel-float needle-valve.

Normal thinking is to replace the needle valve.
However, by slightly re-seating the bush, the valve can once again function correctly.

The only safe way of doing this is:
Using a bamboo skewer in a Dremel type tool, and metal polishing paste.

The skewer compresses to the size of the bush, while the metal polish cleans the bush perfectly.
It removes just a few microns of brass.

The result was a total success.
When the fuel bowl is full, the valve can stop petrol flowing.

[EngineTuning]

This is a nice tip, that really works.
If you want more carburettor information, or carb tuning software ... go to my site:

For anyone interested in 'carburettor tuning for performance' ... here's a video that you might like:

Thanks for the likes and comments :)

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[garydore]

Thanks for posting this! I used your method successfully on my 2003 Katana 600 where cyls 2 and 3 were dumping fuel into the cylinders. When I got this bike there were 2 extra qts of oil (fuel) in the crankcase. Fuel seeping was unresolved by previous M/C tech before I got it. I replaced the needles; reset float height; replaced seat o-rings and used the q-tip in drill with Simichrome polish to buff the bush proper - all with no joy (bench testing between each change). Then I found your YT and BINGO! your system worked to refresh the 'pin-seat opening contact area' and bike is running. Brilliant!

[erinbegiac]

"Needed just a little tickle of the bush.." Busted out laughing at that one! Thanks!!

[spindrift]

Having this problem now on a Chinese knock-off of a Walbro LMT carb that usually is attached to a Briggs&Stratton 6hp etc. Mine is a Powermore engine on a Huskee 208cc snowblower. It leaks gas out the o=ring on the bowl assembly. Ya, I know I also need an o-ring as it should not leak there but should fill the crankcase with fuel instead. So also will get an o-ring as I can find that. But not able to get a new needle and seat today and it is snowing. Have no doubt this is going to work and I thank you for putting the vid up. Machine is last years model so seat should just need a bit of mirroring on the finish or as you put it "a little tickle on the bush". If all goes well I will get that tonight but today I will just mirror the seat. Thanks.

[tonic.]

Really very smart idea! Carb of my Kawa started leaking,   found with some good luck a new needle with a bit fatter point but after some time the really exacerbating problem came back!! No much help from mechanics! Tried the bamboo method and wauu!!!
Thanks a lot for sharing the idea!!!
Toni C.

[colinevans]

Thanks for that tip, going to try this tomorrow, I was going to buy and fit a on and off tap, never been fitted with one but would be better your great idea. Great regards colin from croydon surrey

[keonfrederic]

oh, now that is a very very smart way to do this... I have been trying to fix that very issue with my outboard carb but didn't know how to proceed safely without damaging the seat... Can't thank you enough for posting this..

[kirk]

Thank you for posting this, much appreciated

[soajpg]

thanks for the idea. i just fixed my needle leak this way.. using valve grinding compound on conical diamond (china grade) grinder bit on a cordless driller. grinding the hole where the needle sits for a couple of turns (less than a minute), dont want to grind too much, but eventually it is fixed on first try.

[brokuly]

Just did this to my snow blower. Was pissing gas everywhere. Worked great! I used a lollipop stick sanded down.

[pixelatedicon]

Very practical simple tip. Well thought out.

[shawngrafe]

Dude!!!...it worked!!!...I was having the exact problem and i also was tired of smelling gas....all reasons why and how are not important...the bottom line is that it flipoen worked!!. Thanks dude with the old school horizontal stripped shit...lol...No, but for real, Thanks man....

[Presario]

If all it takes is a little tickle of the bush im all in. 😏😉

[jessereed]

Hey looking at MacGyver tweaker ain't that what carburetor cleaner spray is for

[edropper]

He said "Going down into the bush" lol..Yeah yeah, , ehhh ehhh ehhhh