DISCLAIMER: The modifications described in the following text are for educational purposes only. In no way do I recommend that you apply these modifications to your own motorcycle. If you do choose to go ahead and modify your motorcycle based on the information in this document you will accept all responsibility for your own actions. The author(s) of this document, and host(s) providing it for you, accept no responsibility whatsoever. If you are unqualified to make any of the changes described herein but are bent on doing the modification, seek out a knowledgeable friend or professional mechanic for assistance.

Repairing a broken float pin post on a TTR250 carburettor

It is an unfortunate fact of TTR250 life that a float pin support post can be broken off when removing a stubborn pin no matter how careful you are.

This step-by-step guide takes you through my recommended repair from start to finish. I hope you find it useful!

Tools needed: 4mm tap, 2mm (ideally 2.2mm) and 3mm (ideally 3.3mm) drill bits and, preferably, a Dremel with cutting disc and the use of a pillar drill.

Part needed to use as a replacement post: M4 x 10mm steel thumbscrew - available from eBay and elsewhere costing just over £2 for a pack of ten.

This was my first attempt and I have been putting off doing it for ages as there is potential to trash the carb body! But be reassured, it was far easier than I thought and quite a quick job.

Firstly I test drilled a 3.3mm hole in some scrap aluminium and tapped it out to 4mm (a) to gauge the depth I would have to drill the float post and (b) to make sure that I drilled a hole that would take the tap. At a push, the 3mm drill will work

I then checked the thumbscrew fitted and checked the depth I needed to drill the post.

Put some tape on both the 2mm and 3mm drill bits at the depth you require.

Centre punch the pin post stub on the carburettor body.

Because of the need for accuracy in drilling, I used a pillar drill and a 2mm drill to make a pilot hole. If you have a proper centre drill bit on hand, that is much preferable as the small drill bits are apt to "wander"

If the pilot hole is OK, follow up with the 3.3mm drill. You should end up with something like this - the hole ready to run the tap down.

Run the tap down trying to keep it at right angles to the carb body.

Test fit the thumbscrew and estimate how much it needs to be shortened by so that the hole you later drill for the pin as near central to the "ear" of the thumbscrew.

The thumbscrew is awkward to hold firmly to do work on. I lock nutted it so that I could hold it in the vice to shorten it with a cutting disc on the Dremel. The added advantage of having the nuts on it is that the help clean the cut thread when you remove them. Nevertheless, you will probably still have to dress the end of the threads so that it easily screws into the post.

Fit the thumbscrew and use the float pin to work out where to drill the hole and then centre punch it to make the drilling more accurate.

My float pin was 2.27mm in diameter and I only had 2mm and 2.5mm drills so I drilled some test holes with them to see which was best to use. The 2.5mm hole was too sloppy so I used the 2mm drill knowing that I would have to enlarge the hole somehow. (Update - I have a few carbs to repair so spent an enormous £1.69 to buy a 2.2mm drill bit!)

Holding the thumbscrew for drilling took a bit of trial and error. This is what I ended up with.

I found a burr to fit the Dremel to do some initial enlargement of the hole and finished off with a small round file. It is important that you don't go too far as you need the float pin to be a snug fit not loose.

Test fit the pin.

After successfully test fitting the pin, I ground the sides and top off the "ears" so that they clear the float bowl.

Job done!

Brian Sussex