Float Chamber needle of Type 14/245 - to fit original Amal TT, RN and some GP Type alloy 14 float chambers, as fitted to most TT and RN carbs of late 1930's to mid 50s period, where an alloy float chamber was fitted. Manufactured to the original design.
July 2023: New batch - back in stock
Price is Each.
These float needles are of the type fitted to most alloy Amal competition TT, RN and GP float chambers (as per the photos) of the late 1930's through the 1950's - and this type are easily identifiable because of the larger bottom coniclal section at the bottom of the needle (to allow a larger flow of fuel) than the early Type 14 needle - which was fitted to earlier TT carbs and roadgoing Amal 276/289 type carbs (our Item 0613),
As well as the larger cone on this type of needle (which is relieved underneath, as per the original design), you will see it is also 'wasted', i.e. of thinner section, along its shaft, and also has a small hole close to the float clip groove - all these features are faithfully replicated from the original design.
If you are not sure if your TT/RN/GP carburettor requires this type of float needle - then look closely at the float chamber in these photographs - you will see it is of light alloy manufacture (i.e. not the earlier 1930's brass TT design, or the roadgoing 'pewter' style 276/289 float chamber - which normally had 'Amal' cast into the side), but it also has a large brass/plated hex nut screwed into the bottom of the floatchamber, where the hex is 1.100" across the flats - this larger nut with the internal float needle seat is the the large flow type, designed for this type of float needle.
These needles are manufactured just as the original Amal design, and designed to take the standard Amal copper float (not modern plastic floats, which have a clip notch in a slightly different position).
If you are wondering why this original type of needle had a hole in it - we believe this was because when used on period competition GP bikes (i.e. Manx Nortons at the Isle of Man TT), it was possible with long use and vibration for the float spring clip to come adrift from the notch. Therefore, as additional insurance - original TT/RN copper floats for this type of floatchamber had a small hole on the brass tube that protruded above the float - so it was possible to fit split pin. You will see in one of the pictures - when the genuine Amal RN floatchamber (which I have had in my possession for many years) was stripped - it was found to still have the original crossdrilled float and needle in-situ, and a split pin still fitted!
It is up to each owner to decide if they wish to fit a split-pin (this is the only carb I have ever found with one still fitted!) - but these needles replicate that original design. And of course - it is quite rare these days to find carburettors which still have all their original parts, so you may find that your (copper) float does not have the required drilling to the small brass tube that protrudes up from the float - look side onat the float, and you should see a brass tube that the steel spring clip sits on top of - original racing floats normallly have cross drill there for the split pin.
It is not unusual for the original needles to get worn, resulting in a groove around the conical area - which can affect smooth running and sometimes cause flooding - hence why fitting a replacement will often restore performance to original spec
Other Background Information:
A final point on float chambers to fit Amal TT and RN carburettors, and those fitted to Norton SOHC motorcycles: the TT carburettor had a variety of float chambers available - in the second photographs is a 'Remote' type, with mounting bracket to the frame and also a fixed height float chamber, on the right. The fixed chamber had the advantage that providing you had the correct type fitted - it would automatically set the fuel at the correct height. However, the remote float chamber had the benefit that it did allow some adjustment of height - I used to prefer the remote type for short circuit racing using methanol, and set the height so that if on level ground the bike was tipped (approximately) 15 degrees off centre towards the engine timing side, then fuel would dribble from the bottom of the air slide casting. However - if dribbling when the bike is upright . . . it is flooding!
If intending to use a 'fixed' type float chamber - the correct type for SOHC Nortons are 'Left mounting' 15 degree offset float chambers - if you are not sure what yours is - look underneath, there should be a number stamped on it - 0 / 7 / 15 etc, indicating the degrees off upright. The fixed type in the photo showing two floats is a 15 degree offset TT float chamber - but is actually a 'Right mounting' type - i.e. the float chamber sits on the right of the carburettor body, and is actually intended for my Vincent Grey Flash, not a Norton! Not surprisingly, the 15 degree Left Mounting type are probably the rarest to find - bad luck for us needing one for our next cammy Norton project!
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