Bendix Zenith Carb Rebuild
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland TX
Bendix Zenith Carb Rebuild
I have been searching the forum to try and answer my own question, but I'm not having much luck. I have a '79 FLH with a Bendix Zenith butterfly carb on it. I have purchased the rebuild kit for it and installed the majority of it. The last PITA is the accelerator pump, it's actually still leather in this new kit (that kinda surprised me) and is VERY tight going into the tube. I'm basically looking for some words of wisdom on how to treat this seal and make it do it's job. I have read some posts of soaking it in a little oil to soften it up, what type of oil would be good? I was thinking of something like WD 40 or 3 in 1, something along that lines. Do appreciate any wisdom from the shovelhead crowd.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 802
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
It must be a old old kit for the accelerator pump to be anything but neoprene,in fact I would think that if it is so dryed out that it will not work properly. If you want to try to soften it up with a oil (such as regular engine oil) the fix may only be temporary as the gasoline will wash the oil off anyway.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 39
From: NW Florida
You can use oil or WD40. I guess my dealer just have old kits because I've never had anything but leather for the pump. I've put old dried up pumps in boiling water to plump them up again, then oiled them. When you get tied of playing with the Bendix/Zenith try a CV you won't believe the difference it will make.
The old bendix. Used to love that carb. They either worked good or real bad. FilthyLucre is right, hang it on a wall and go with either a warmed up CV or a Super E, and forget about carb problems.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Kenilworh, UT
Bendix are good carbs for a stock shovel. The ex-pumps have always been leather. What I use is white lithium grease and a small dull screw driver to work it in. Be careful where you use WD-40 it can be a corrosive in some apps.
Stage II
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have gotten a couple bendix rebuild kits with leather acc. pumps, haven't had any issues at all with them. But I agree, **** can the bendix and get yourself an E.
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Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 240
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Yes, only ever leather.... not an old kit at all(though it may be, but there are no newer designs)
It always seems like it is too tight to fit in, and then the pumper does not want to go up and down properly
Use any product designed to soften leather
soak in in petrol for a few days
It always seems like it is too tight to fit in, and then the pumper does not want to go up and down properly
Use any product designed to soften leather
soak in in petrol for a few days
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