What's your favorite setup for float level setting?

I'm looking for the most efficient method to wet set the float levels, it will be the last step before I put the carbs back on.

I seem to remember that someone here put a small transparent container under the float to be set, but I don't remember who it was. Please post pictures if possible, I'm more of the visual kind.

 

specs for xj550 bike on center stand. measure carb one on left side and again on right side to confirm level.
you can do this on a pipe stand as well

http://www.xj4ever.com/setting fuel levels.pdf

 

Thanks XJ550H.

I ask this question because the last time (on another carb rack) I did it I found the process very time consuming. I clamped the carbs on a Workmate, put them level, and started measuring the levels in each carb, having to remove the bowl, tweak the float tang, put the bowl back on, measure level again and so on. Had any of you found a more efficient way?

 

Here you are---Mike Schindler came up with this a number of years back...

Dave F

 

make yourself a few of these, put the big end on the bowl drain, the small tube straight up. you can use one and move it from carb to carb or make four and admire your work.

 

when doing this it is the time to measure float height, then you will know where you are and where your giong with the adjustment of the tang.
record first measurement and when you make your adjustment record that measurement if you went from low to high you will know where to set it with the second adjustment

 

It wouldn't work with my carbs, I have Mikunis, the drain exits are more of the female kind, the way I see it, yours should be of the male kind.

 

How do I exactly measure the float height?

 

you turn the carb upside down pick a common point for your carbs use a caliper ot a rule with a t slide on it.
this is a mikuni carb


www.xj4ever.com sells drain nipples for your carb makes checking hieght simple you can buy 1 and hook it to your hose or 4 and install into your carbs

carb rebuild tutorial for mikuni shows how to measure
http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/Mikuni_BS-CV_Carburetor_Rebuild_Tutorial.pdf

 

Harald Pfeiffer sent me one of his homemade drain nipple a few years ago, when I owned a Maxim-X, I'll use it this time.

 

HCP8494 Aftermarket float bowl DRAIN NIPPLE, for all Mikuni carb bowls on XJ550, XJ650 Turbo, XJ700-X, XJ750-X, XJ900 models (but not on XJ1100 models, which have a cast-in bowl drain nipple). Unlike Hitachi carbs, Mikuni float bowls do not have a permanent float bowl drain outlet port fitting which the clear tube fuel level gauge can be attached to; no, there's just an empty hole there. The factory had a special o-ringed brass adapter fitting that fit into this hole that would be used during fuel-level checks, but very few people have that adapter and even it is somewhat cumbersome to use. These precisely machined nipples are designed for permanent installation into the Mikuni float bowls----just tap them in place, they are a friction-fit----and them you can slip the fuel-level gauge tube directly onto the protruding end of the fitting. Simple 20-second installation: clean the inside of the drain port in the bowl, use a bit of silicone lube on the adapter, place proper end in drain port, and gently tap in place with a hammer. Once installed, it's leak-free but can still be removed (not easily, but it can!), in case your preferences ever change in the future. Protrudes approximately 1/8" from the drain port, enough to install the clear tube gauge but not enough to interfere with other carb functions. Looks original once installed. Fits Mikuni carbs used on all XJ550 models, XJ650 Turbo, XJ700-X, XJ750-X, and XJ900 models. Use 1 per float bowl. Each:
$ 9.95

HCP8494SET4 Aftermarket float bowl DRAIN NIPPLES, for Mikuni carbs, set of 4:
$ 29.95
start a conversation with chacal to get these

 

that would work with Polock's tube setup

 

Thanks for the picture of how to measure the float height.

 

@Polock: I could get creative but what's the end plug made of?

Gary H.

 

those are brass but i think a pencil eraser might be just right