Author Topic: keyster float valves  (Read 1059 times)

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Offline Don R

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keyster float valves
« on: July 09, 2013, 09:51:04 AM »
I installed new float valves on mt 750F1. I ordered them a while back with some other things, seemed like a good idea. They apparently  keyster brand and now the float levels seem low, is that to be expected with aftermarket parts? They are holding the fuel well but I hate to start bending the tabs. dang.
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bollingball

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2013, 10:09:32 AM »
I would not worry about bending the tangs. Even the OEM Honda ones might need this done. More important to get the float height correct along with bowl fuel level. Are they the rubber tipped ones?
Ken

Offline flybox1

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2013, 10:11:42 AM »
adjusting tangs is simple, but if the new valves are the same length as OEM, fuel level should not change. measure against OEM and compare
if your float tang heights are as they've always been set, the clear tube method will show you exact fuel levels.
adjust the tangs accordingly.
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Offline sir funk

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2013, 10:15:39 AM »
In  the cb400f keyster kit, the float valves and seats were a little taller, and the springs in the float valves were a bit stiffer.  I decided not to use them. Since they were taller I assumed I would have had to bend the float tabs to raise the float level to stock.  I assume the stiffer springs would have had the same affect of lowering the level a bit if any affect at all.


Offline 750K

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2013, 12:15:13 PM »
The springs are stiffer in the aftermarket needles for the most part, so you'll have to bend the tab on the float in order to re set the float level to spec.
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Offline harisuluv

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2013, 02:15:53 PM »
Yes those keyster valves are taller than oem. You can compensate for this by adjusting the angle of the tang.  Not just a normal adjustment for float height but the vector of the tang in relation to the rest of the float axis. Hard to explain but they require some time and love.

Offline alacrity

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2013, 02:36:18 PM »
It might be a perception thing, but it looks like the the wires at the top of the Keysters sometimes aren't precisely centered over the plunger tip.  This means you can either move/bend them till they are (and ensure all four are identical), or IF they are all four "off" in the precise same way (mine were in the last set I got), then choose which of the two possible ways you could hang em off the tang and do em all the same way.   I was working on a set of carbs that already had keyster or similar rubber tip parts installed by the PO.  No idea what the stockers look like in situ... so no way to compare.

Bottomline here is that IF you have gas when you need it (no fuel starvation at any rpm or throttle position)  and you aren't leaking out the side of a float bowl or overflow tube because the flow never shuts off... everything else is moot.  So if there is a tiny/minute difference between when one float valve shuts off or turns on the flow, it is an irrelevant anomaly.

Perfectionists will hate me for saying all that - but these are analog street bikes.  "Ballpark" functionality is fine within the parameters described.  After all, what's the goal here? Rideability, reliability, not catching on fire, etc.  So if you get the float levels close enough... if the pilot and main jets are in the juice... and if there are no leaks.. Basically IF the fuel delivery system does all it's supposed to do correctly then you can move on to the next issue (and there is ALWAYS a "next issue").
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Offline Don R

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Re: keyster float valves
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2013, 02:52:07 PM »
They are metal tipped which I like and they seem to seal well. The PO really tweaked the floats and it was a miserable time getting them back to normal with the original float valves. He had also drilled all the jets. On my race car a slight adjustment on the float is equal to a 1/2 jet size so I'm aware of the problems associated with incorrect fuel level.  we  already made a set of clear tube bowls, I just didn't want to do the work. waaah.
Thanks for the info.
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 You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.