Which way to bend the tangs so fuel level lowers?

This cold snap has prevented me from fixing my XJ750's carbs for weeks now. It's ONLY 30 today so I'm going to try and tough it out. I need to take the carbs off and lower the float heights, as they keep flooding the engine. To save me the trial and error, if I am holding the carb upside down, do I bend the tang up or down to lower the float height? Thanks!

 

You bend them EVER SO SLIGHTLY toward the valve to make them shut off sooner, effectively lowering the fuel level; and away from the valve to allow more fuel if you had a low level.

You then need to check them by mounting the rack in a jig of some sort (I use my bench vise) so they're perfectly level and then using fuel and the clear tube method, confirm the fuel levels. If any are off, drain the rack and re-adjust; retest.

Don't just bend on them, and slap the rack back in the bike. Too low and you'll run lean and risk damaging the engine, although it will run GREAT.

And make very small adjustments or you'll drive yourself crazy going back and forth.

 

Here's a picture of a similar set up like what Fitz said.

 

How important is the float level, what I mean is if they are just ever so slightly off from carb to carb will it affect, or what is a good rule for tolerances? And does the fuel in the tube need to be as close to the bowl line as possible or a hair under? I am a first timer

 

The float level spec itself varies from bike to bike but the tolerance is always + or - 1mm, for a total of a 2mm "zone." For instance, on the 550 I know it's 2mm + or - 1mm, so the height has to be between 1mm and 3mm.

The fuel in the tube needs to be wherever the spec says it's supposed to be, 2mm below the line on the 550s, not sure about your bike.

Just slightly off is fine, but 2mm isn't a very big "slightly."

 

Fuel Level Height Specs.

 

Cool Thanks guys, didn't mean to hijack the thread btw

 

Like they are showing...plus or minus 1mm ( 2mm spread) reason is the idle ckt emulsion tube has little holes in it and that fuel level is optimum for idle to work correctly. That would be my guess for the small level tolerance.