[Big-Foot]

Mike - The floats are supposed to be able to maintain their buoyancy (sp?) even if the surface is damaged. However, I have run into two of them now that were half sunk because they weighed more (hint - the only way they can weigh more is if they are laden with fuel). Upon examination with a magnifying glass, I found one of them had a small darker spot on the bottom and further magnification showed that the float had been contacting the bottom of the bowl and had rubbed a small bit of the surface away. The Droop tab had been mis-adjusted. The other one had a small nick in the side. This is why I recommend re-sealing any damage or modifications to the float.

Vent Riser Tubes - you can buy a short length of steel, aluminum or brass tubing from a hobby supply store and either swedge or epoxy the riser tube in place.