Carb Sticks

Can someone tell me if I can use something other than mercury in my carbsticks?

I have lost all my mercury while transporting my sticks to a carb clinic.
I had planed on tuning another bike this afternoon. But when I pulled my carbsticks out they were empty.
Thanks

 

I was at motion pro's web site earlier thay had a note that they had to stop production because of Californias ruling on mercury.

 

Great, thanks for the info. :-(

 

Rich, you can use almost any type of oil, the heavier, the better to keep fluttering down. However, with the heavier oil comes a problem of getting the oil to settle at the bottom and bleeding the air out of the lines. Time and gravity will work if you have the time.
I would hope that you were able to determine where you lost your mercury, it is a very dangerous toxin. I was working in a lab here and we broke a mercury type thermometer while inducting the device from a customer. It was dropped accidently and we had to call the HazMat (hazardous material) folks. Next thing we know, we had a response from not only the on base fire department, but the HazMat team and Ventura County's HazMat Response Team. All for a few drops of mercury. Trouble is that those few drops can contaminate a million or more gallons of water and/or soil. The metal state is not a great problem but the vapors and subsequent leaching could mess up a patch of Mother Nature for years to come (witness Japan's mercury poisoning problem of the late 50's). I'm glad I'm rid of my mercury manometers, they got sucked clean by an 83 GL1100. Pulled the mercury right out, no kidding. Recycled the oil, whew, no problems. I guess what I'm getting at is that I don't want anyone to contaminate anything even if it means me (yup, me) taking care of it. I cannot tell you how many abandon auto batteries and oil containers I've pulled off the side of the road where some inconciderate jackass dumped his problem. Grrrr.... makes me just flat out angry when it is so easy to take care of it for free! Enough of the environmental soap box, I'm done for now. I work in the hazmat world so if any of you have questions about materials or capatiblility, just drop me a line. Peaceful journeys!

 

Thanks Robert,

I'm not real sure where I lost it at, but I think it's spread up and down interstate 40 somewhere.

I think I'll get the carbtune ll, so I don't have any mercury to worry about. Thats what I should have done in the first place, but I was trying to get out cheaper.

 

I've been using vaccum gauges for years and have been very happy with the outcome. May I suggest the Deluxe gauge set from JC Whitney? They are less than $50 and have served me well. The kit includes extender tubes for manifolds that don't have the pipes moulded in. Cheap and safe!

 

Hey Robert,

Part Number?

Thanks,

Greg

 

JD, Where can one buy the Carbtuen II in the US? My googling just keeps coming up with UK stuff.

Greg

 

Here's a new one on ebay. not sure where to find them in US.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Morgan-Carbtune-II- ... dZViewItem

 

Is this the item in question? (link works)

http://tinyurl.com/p4vgp

JC part number: ZX492173W

 

Hey hessenroots, that will not work on our bikes at all. The link is correct though. Thanks for the effort though, it does work on VW rather well (among other carburetors, got one myself). The part number that JC has online is ZX888813T. This is not the deluxe model and the blurb about it not working on Yamaha FZR's is erroneous, I just used mine on my FZR. I expect that the number in the catalog will be more useful. Just ask the person on the phone for the deluxe model, the first picture that is shown on the page is the deluxe model so I'm sure they still have it. It has all the gauges mounted on a metal backing plate. The one shown will work ok but you have to figure out how to mount them all some how.

 

Haha, I must seem bright! I spose the "VW" on the product discription was dead giveaway.

Is this http://tinyurl.com/k68t6 similiar to what were talking about?

 

Yes, but in true JC Whitney fashion, a lot cheaper!

 

Try your maintenance department in your area hospital. Mercury has been band in blood pressure equipment and all equipment has to be replaced. It is not cheap for the department to have it picked up. So they may be willing to part with some.Be carefull handleing mercury and good luck.

 

So what are you asking there Sno?
I believe that the manometer you refered to was custom built.
I have a 2 sets made by Motion Pro, you might try their website.
You can however get them on Ebay see link below,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WHITE-BR ... enameZWDVW
I'd be sure it has plenty of mercury with it as mercury is getting harder to grt now.
Mike

 

The answer Sno, is yes, they are both for the same purpose of syncing the carbs. Only difference is the homemade one has no harmful ingredients and cost about a hundred bucks less.(over here)

 

I have a friend who has the Carbtune ll tool and I borrowed it just to see what I thought. I wasn't impressed as it has steel rods in the tubes and they didn't seem to move freely (thew whole thing seemed slow and sluggish to respond) now that may have just been the one he had!!??
I'm a hazmat operator at the plant I work at and they got rid of all mercury for the reasons previously stated. But I can't help remember when I was a kid and we used to coat pennys to make them silver and roll it around in our hands. Kids were always playing with the stuff.
But then we were drinking out of pipes soldered with lead solder.
I'm 53 yrs old now and most of my friends are still around and well you can see where this is going.
I'm one of those people who's life got impacted by the owl lovers shut down logging, we have the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in AZ. and now it's cheaper to build with a metal stud.
OK, now I'm done whining.

After all I didn't turn out mentaly deficient from messing with all that bad stuff......... by the way what kind of dog was that Sno?
Just joking, I know better now. :roll:

 

You and I may be the lucky ones that show minimum or no symptoms of mercury or lead poisoning Hvnbnd. My take is this: we rode bikes and motorcycles without helmets, didn't have seat belts for years and went swimming right after eating. All of these things have been proven to be hazardous to our well-being but it is a risk we accept or are ignorant of. With education comes enlightenment. You wouldn't want to play with mercury now would you? You have learned of the hazards associated with handling the stuff and act accordingly, with caution and we wash our hands. As knowledge is gained, we improve upon our behaviors and live longer. I wouldn't dream of using lead to solder my plumbing any longer, I've just no desire to expose anyone else to the health problems that are possible from the injestion of the stuff. How did we survive I guess is the question. Man were we stupid. When I was younger, we still used trichloroethelane to wash our circuit boards. Had gallons of the stuff. Used to clean everything with it and man did it work. 'bout killed half our brain cells too while it was at it. Now days, I have short term memory problems. Is it related? Could be but if I had even half a clue then as I do now, I would never have even touched the stuff. Yikes that stuff is nasty (still cleans injectors like nobodies business).