float valve

[jhowes]

I have read where some people lap a float valve in using toothpaste. How do you hold the needle while lapping it in ? It seems to small to keep a grip with my bare fingers. Any ideas? Jack

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I have read where some people lap a float valve in using toothpaste. How do you hold the needle while lapping it in ? It seems to small to keep a grip with my bare fingers. Any ideas? Jack

It is tough, but my drill chuck was barely able to grab it while I lapped it with toothpaste. Been leak free since the 90's.

 

[MikeK]

Attach a short piece of 1/8" rod to the back end of the needle with a piece of polyolefin shrink tube. Works for me.

 

[DANA BIZZELL]

I tried new kit, polishing needle with steel wool, lapping with tooth paste with no result, finally after a year of trials tapped needle with small hammer several times, leak stopped.
Thanks

 

[old31]

I was able to put it in my drill press.

 

[Crankster]

It may seem obvious but, make sure the right toothpaste is used. Certain "gel" types have no abrasive and will not work for this purpose. The classic old school Crest and others have an abrasive - finely ground silica - as the dentifrace or whatever it's called.