Float Level measurement

I've read and re-read chacal's instructions, and the service manual, but I'm a little unclear on the proper way to measure the float height.

It's the "incline at 60 or 70 degrees" that throws me. At that angle, essentially, the top edge of the float (or furthest from the mating surface of the bowl) is parallel with the mating surface of the bowl, right?

If the goal is to angle it so it doesn't hang from it's own weight, how does the float impact the needle? Should the tang arm touch the needle at a 60 or 70 degree angle?

I feel like I'm missing something here...

 

don't know about the angle thing ,but I would suggest "wet setting" the floats using actual petro.... er , I mean gas,either by the clear tube method or using a clear plastic jug , mouded to shape of bowl, that's how I did it, you can also see whats going on by this method also.
write-ups are on here

stu

 

When you are manually setting the floats while assembling the carbs--before wet setting them, the 60-70 degree tilt is so the weight of the float will not compress the spring in the needle. This way you can get an accurate measurement. You want to tilt the carb just enough to let the float tang contact the needle spring without compressing it and 60-70 degrees is an estimate.

 

So when the Carb is straight up. The tang should be pressing the spring in?

 

No. Hold a carb in it's "normal" position, with the float bowl off. Gently raise the float as it will when it floats in fuel.

Take a close look at the float mechanism, how it operates the needle valve and does what it does.

You're all hung up on trying to "dry set" your floats, and that's just a starting point for wet-setting.

 

Ok so I need to do this as in the picture above, in fuel with the bowl off. That seems much easier...

 

To do it as in the picture, your "stand in" for the float bowl has to fit reasonably well.

You could also do it the way most of us do, using clear tubing and with the float bowls on.

You've seen this, right? http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf

 

Also, be aware that there is no externally VISIBLE "needle spring"......the spring is internal to the needle unit, and all you can see is the tiny piston (plunger) rod that comes out of the end of the needle unit. It is this plunger rod that actually contacts the float tang arm. You do not want the weight of the float to depress this plunger rod (and the spring inside) when dry-setting the floats.....will give you false readings.

All that being said, Fitz is correct......do NOT get all worked up about setting the "float height" as the way to get the proper fuel level settings........it's the fuel height setting/measurement that is the key thing, and the "float height" procedure is just a "shortcut" method for experienced carb jockeys to use (and even then, they should double-check the results using the clear-tube fuel level measurement, or they aren't really experienced-enough carb jockeys........).

The float-height setting procedure as shown in certain manuals is really a bad practical joke for most people; it causes countless hours of frustration. Remember, the factory service manuals (where all this float-height-setting nonsense comes from) are written for and intended to be read and used by experienced carb jockeys, not first/second/third timers........

 

I have been doing nothing but checking the fuel level, bowl on, bending the tang, and checking again. The fuel level is not changing. Clearly i'm doing something wrong. There is a steady flow of fuel from the tank, but when I check the level it does not rise above the bottom of the bowl. Ever. Tang way up. Tang way down. Bottom of bowl.

Is there something else that could be blocking off the fuel?

 

Dude, based on the picture I see the measuring cup full of fluid, is that when you were testing?

Depending on the carbs/bike you are setting up the gas should not touch the carbs body and be below by a few mm.

You also have the measuring cup on the last carb if you start from the fuel intake. To get fuel to the last carb you have to fill up the other three, just something else to think about.

Good luck.

 

If you are using tubing to check the fuel level with the float bowls on, be aware that it is possible to have an air bubble in the drain. If there is a bubble it will appear that the fuel level isn't rising as the carbs fill. To get any potential air bubbles out I gently blow into the tubing to force the bubble back into the float bowl, which will then allow the fuel to flow freely.

Also be sure that you have opened the drain screw enough to allow fuel to flow into the tubing freely (more than a trickle, not so open as to allow more than a tiny drip past the screw head).

 

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Dude, based on the picture I see the measuring cup full of fluid, is that when you were testing?

Depending on the carbs/bike you are setting up the gas should not touch the carbs body and be below by a few mm.

You also have the measuring cup on the last carb if you start from the fuel intake. To get fuel to the last carb you have to fill up the other three, just something else to think about.

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the measuring jug is not full, its about 1/2 inch from the top, you can see the black float part in and part out of the fuel, this one is set correctly for my bike at 3mm below the carb body.

the other 3 bowls were already full, when checking the next carb, the first one will have the bowl refitted, so theres only one more bowl to fill, and so on.

the beauty of the jug method is you can actually see whats happening with the float, you can watch it rise and cut off the fuel.
if the float is catching or binding with the tube method, you cant see it, and no matter how much you bend the tab, it wont shut off the fuel, and each time you have to refit and dismantle the bowls
its just this method works for me.
stu

 

heres a better shot from the side, this is with the fuel still rising, before settling at the correct level

stu

 

At the price of gas you better get it right the first time! :lol:

 

Always makes me laugh when an American moans about fuel prices :roll: :lol:

$12-15 a gallon suit you? :cry: :cry: :cry:

 

YIKES

 

Bloke, if yall would moan more and louder, maybe you wouldn't have to pay so much. LOL

 

Not worth a damn! I'd be riding a bicycle at those prices.

 

That's true, my compatriots are much too reserved to make a fuss though lol. Me, I moan to any and every one about it as you know from here :roll: :lol:

That said, I "take back" the extra paid in "other ways"... 8)

 

We might have to add a lot of taxes to our fuel as well to fund Obamacare.

 

oh come on now, thats such bullsh*t. the affordable care act isnt adding taxes to gasoline, i work at the state bar association and i promise you as we have lawyers in here debating the rules/etc all the time. its really been blown out of proportion. the issue is insurance companies if you really want to throw mud where it belongs

but hey, thats why we (this forum) ride motorcycles instead of cars and why europeans have small cars and motorcycles. their gas has always, as far as i know, been more expensive than ours assumedly because they dont produce as much. i guess thats just speculation but yes $3.50 is high, but $12 is a deal breaker for me. wouldnt do it. subway and the middle of a city it would be imo

 

I think there are a few of us who freaked out when gas went over 50 cents a gallon. In high school and my first truck I was paying around 32 cents.

 

Thought it was just less subsidized in the UK.

Our economy and livelihoods are much more dependent on driving, so the gov't taxes gas less but also subsidizes oil industry. TG for that!

Edit: just looked it up. UK has a $4 per gal duty + 20% VAT. So if that at some point goes to pay for your social healthcare system (Don't worry, I'm not an opponent), then maybe O'nB is right about gas going up to cover Obamacare (no contest from me)

 

As to the original post, I have no idea, but I like the photo with mom's/wife's measuring cup full of gas

 

LOL.... going from float levels to Obamacare....

and Kudos on the measuring cup pic... just use GLASS!