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Thread: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

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    Bodger

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    Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Last year when I finished the rebuild of my MK2 Escort I had a problem with the Dellorto Banjo Bolts, twin 45's. I used the Goodridge style bolts to match the braided line and other hose fittings. The actual fittings I used were from Torques. They supply them without the required washers. Not a problem because I had access to a copper washer kit which had the right sizes in it, or so I thought. The problem was they were not thick enough and the bolt bottomed out in the carbs before compressing the washers. Had a word with Torques and they supplied some, however same problem with theirs just not thick enough.

    After some measuring I bought thicker copper washers and although they compressed I just couldn't get a reliable seal and they still leaked. Tried Goodridge alloy washers and same result just couldn't get a reliable seal. All surfaces were checked for flatness, cleaned etc.

    Last resort bought some fuel rated fibre washers which sealed at first attempt. Now we move onto this year.

    Ran the engine a few months ago, no problems. On Sunday switched ignition on, then the fuel pump and waited for the pump to come up to pressure and quieten down, except it didn't, it kept running and the smell of petrol got stronger as it pumped out all over the floor, stunk the house out and got shouted at by the wife! The problem was the washers had dried out and shrunk, the banjo bolts were that loose I could turn them by hand.

    What is the secret to getting copper washers to seal, is there a sealer I could use on them? I'm out of ideas because I've never had this problem with copper washers before.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Stop faffing about - if the problem is the banjo's bottoming out - shorten the thread! A washer (steel, copper, Dowty or fibre) is there to seal not fill a gap in a bad joint!

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Quote Originally Posted by katana View Post
    If the problem is the banjo's bottoming out - shorten the thread!
    Must agree, i have done this on brake calipers with no issue.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    The thicker copper washers stopped the bolts bottoming out but they still leaked so I can see that that shorting the bolts is going to make any difference, the problem seems to be with the washers unless I'm overthinking it. The thick fibre washers work but the same thickness copper or alloy don't.

    The best I could ever achieve was one or other of the carbs not leaking, but then that would only ever last for a short while, 10-15 minutes then that one would leak.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    I've never used copper or alloy washers anyway, only ever used fibre washers an never had any problems.
    You've got nothing to lose by cutting back some of the thread.

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Just checked my dellorto's I have fibre washers on them, but they are the proper banjos that came with the carbs for fuel hose etc.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Thanks for checking guys, before I changed to the Goodridge style fittings I had the original Dellorto banjos with fibre washers and never had a problem either. I'm just baffled as to why I can't get the copper ones to seal.

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    Racer Decade Plus User rallyrob's Avatar

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Well if the threads are still bottoming out then the copper washer obviously isn't compressing enough, as the thread is near bottoming out anyway. Take some thread off the banjo and the copper washer might work.
    But I'd still use fibre washers anyway.

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Quote Originally Posted by rallyrob View Post
    Well if the threads are still bottoming out then the copper washer obviously isn't compressing enough, as the thread is near bottoming out anyway. Take some thread off the banjo and the copper washer might work.
    But I'd still use fibre washers anyway.
    Yep you could just a midges out but enough for them to not seal


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    i had an issue on dellortos once after changing washers but cant remember why - possibly they assemble one way around only or theres a ridge or something similar. i dont have a set here to look at now.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    there are two different sized washers, if you use two big ones on the same carb it will leak. TBH there a high chance its the copper washers causing the leak in the first place, carbs always have fibre washers, theres a good chance your copper ones are too thin or simply they need clamping too tight to work in this application.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    I only use copper washers on carb-banjo bolts as fibre ones tended to split.

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Quote Originally Posted by Miniliteman View Post
    I only use copper washers on carb-banjo bolts as fibre ones tended to split.
    oh well perhaps your fibre washers arnt as good as ours?

    ive only ever used fibre washers as that was what was used when i started out fiddling with such things many years ago and never had a problem

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    Bodger

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Quote Originally Posted by Graham View Post
    there are two different sized washers, if you use two big ones on the same carb it will leak. TBH there a high chance its the copper washers causing the leak in the first place, carbs always have fibre washers, theres a good chance your copper ones are too thin or simply they need clamping too tight to work in this application.
    Your're right on the different size washers, that took a fair bit of searching to find the right diameters and thicknesses. However it's now working which is the main thing. But for piece of mind I think I'll change the washers before I use it again.

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    Racer Decade Plus User wildo105e's Avatar

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dellorto-...IAAOSwl9BWLqqD

    just been nosing the internet and found these

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    We have used fibre washers for Donkeys years on carb fuel banjos and never had any leakage problems. It might be the thickness of the banjos that's not helping your problems. If I were you I would try the correct banjos, bolts and washers and i am sure that would solve your problems.

    We used Southern Carbs for all our Dellorto parts and recieved very good service off them.

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    Bodger

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    Quote Originally Posted by wildo105e View Post
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dellorto-...IAAOSwl9BWLqqD

    just been nosing the internet and found these
    Thanks for that, interesting that those are 1mm thick. To use those, or the original copper ones, the banjo bolts will have to be machined down to stop the bolt bottoming out in the carb. The fibre washers I used were 2mm thick.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User alladdin's Avatar

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    Re: Dellorto Banjo Bolt question / help needed

    im thinking i may have tried without filters which caused bolts to bottom out ? would that happen ? bugging me now lol

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