Author Topic: Cheap manometer (Read 10323 times)

cleveland · « **on:** November 28, 2006, 10:47:04 AM »

This is the best deal I have found so far for manometer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vacuum-Carburetor-Synchronizer-Gauges-carb-sync-gauge_W0QQitemZ330054848016QQihZ014QQcategoryZ35597QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The more I look at it, the more I think I could make one for even less. I have seen the home made water ones, but they look like they take up too much space. Maybe I could just get gauges at Harbor Freight and slap some tubes onto them. What do you think?

SD750F · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2006, 11:07:57 AM »

Something to consider when looking at mechanical dial manometers. There will be a difference between their readings! If the indicators are not "matched" within a predetermined specification at the factory with a common vacuum source, there will be different readings between them. Will this be enough to make the readings useless? I don't know. A good mechanic how has a lot of experience with matching carbs will have the best answer for that question. But I do know about pressure sensors mechanical and electronic because that it what I design. Very accurate pressure measurement systems for precise altimeters. I will be using a Setra Model 370 pressure standard when I do my carb balancing. This instrument will be valve ganged so I can select one carb at a time and adjust to a very accurate measurement. The Setra 370 is accurate to 0.02%! I know, way too much overkill but I do have the tool...

Can anyone really give the specs on the balancing set points as well as some good old experience along this topic?

Scott

05c50 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2006, 11:19:30 AM »

I have that set of gauges-I think I bought them from JC Whitney. They work good enough for me. The bikes always run better when balanced. For the price of these,i don't think you could buy 4 gauges,hoses,restrictors and brass adapters. The gauges are adjustable and the base line can be set using a hand held vacuum gauge. I'm sure there are better gauges at a higher price,but I'm not sure that you need them on a non-competition motorcycle.

Master Ted · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2006, 12:12:19 PM »

I've been interested in the Morgan Carbtune after reading so many positive posts. Problem is it's now up to $107 and climbing fast with a new freefall in value of dollar. A couple of weeks ago the exchange was 1.8USD to 1 and is now about 2USD to 1. Estimates are it's going to get worse... allot worse (unless you are on the other end of the stick).

hahnda · « **Reply #4 on:** November 28, 2006, 12:15:36 PM »

What about one of these?

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/TwinMax-Synchronizer-p-16947.html

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #5 on:** November 28, 2006, 01:52:35 PM »

It appears to me that you can only do two cylinders at a time. I know some feel this would work, but when I was sorting mine out, I found that I was usually going back and forth among all four as I was zeroing in on the balance.

Patrick · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2006, 05:05:24 PM »

I use the Harbor Freight vacuum gauges, which I picked up for $8.95 each on sale. They may not be the most precise gauges in the world, but what I've done the last couple of times I used them was to balance the carbs, then switch the gauges among the carbs to make sure the readings match. So far, the gauges are working just fine. It makes a huge difference in how my 750 K5 runs and idles.

Patrick

mrbreeze · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2006, 05:21:12 PM »

Thats really all that matters Patrick. I used to have a real cheap set of vac gauges that I bought used when I had my Kawi 1000. I had to take the glass off and zero the needles all the time. I also had to screw around with the pulsation dampners on each hose quite a bit. When I sold the bike,I gave the guy those gauges and don't miss them one bit. I took the plunge last year and bought the Morgan Carbtune and have to tell you...Its the way to go if you are going to run multi-carbs.

cleveland · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2006, 05:49:11 PM »

Are these the ones you have Patrick?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93547

Seems simple enough. Did you attach then to a board?

Patrick · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2006, 07:24:53 PM »

Yeah, those one the ones. Looks like they're on sale again. You still need the adaptors to screw into the carbs, but I've been real pleased with the gauges.

Patrick

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2006, 10:41:41 PM »

You can find a discussion on homemade meters on this thread. What works and what doesn't.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=10891.15

Also, thanks to Serge, here is where you can get 5mm adapters to screw into your carbs.

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=24003&Category_Code=twinmax

Master Ted · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2006, 07:45:18 AM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on September 19, 2006, 06:32:44 PM

Consider also building your own carb sync tool like this one. I've spent maybe $5 on the parts so far. I have yet to use it as I'm looking for the correct tube barbs to screw into the vacuum ports. It's filled with water dyed with food color and relies on the carbs to push/pull against each other to establish each carb's relative vacuum. You won't get absolute pressure or even trend data from this, but do you really need it?

OldSchool, how has your construct worked out? Did you switch to ATF?

paxtonpony · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:10:40 AM »

The JC Whitney set is $52. That a descent set? Would be nice to quiet down the chain rumble at idle but I don't have a ton to throw at a tuning tool.

angeldeville · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2006, 10:43:32 AM »

Quote from: paxtonpony on November 29, 2006, 10:10:40 AM

The JC Whitney set is $52. That a descent set? Would be nice to quiet down the chain rumble at idle but I don't have a ton to throw at a tuning tool.

That should be good for balancing, the vacume gauges just aren't as accurate,

I recently got the Morgan, and I'm very happy with it, got it for about $125 shipped, with the case.

cleveland · « **Reply #14 on:** November 29, 2006, 11:34:30 AM »

Quote from: paxtonpony on November 29, 2006, 10:10:40 AM

The JC Whitney set is $52. That a descent set? Would be nice to quiet down the chain rumble at idle but I don't have a ton to throw at a tuning tool.

Got a link? I couldn't find them.

Thanks

angeldeville · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2006, 12:19:18 PM »

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2004169/p-2004169/N-111+10211+600014252/c-10111

read the review looks like it got a bad one

Here is the one I have

http://www.carbtune.com/

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #16 on:** November 29, 2006, 04:15:33 PM »

Staph,

I just got the adapters. Haven't had a chance to give it a try yet. I'll post results when I do.

medic09 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 30, 2006, 05:27:32 AM »

Quote from: angeldeville on November 29, 2006, 12:19:18 PM

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2004169/p-2004169/N-111+10211+600014252/c-10111

read the review looks like it got a bad one

Here is the one I have

http://www.carbtune.com/

Hey Angel, have you had a chance to use that yet?

cleveland · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2007, 06:03:40 PM »

Guess what I just ordered

I figure, SCREW CHEAP! You can get by on a lot of things that are cheap, but I think in the long run I will be happy I spent the couple extra bucks.

Quote from: staphcar on November 28, 2006, 12:12:19 PM

I've been interested in the Morgan Carbtune after reading so many positive posts. Problem is it's now up to $107 and climbing fast with a new freefall in value of dollar. A couple of weeks ago the exchange was 1.8USD to 1 and is now about 2USD to 1. Estimates are it's going to get worse... allot worse (unless you are on the other end of the stick).

$130 shipped

, but I bit the bullet and got it anyways. Even the JC Whittney one is up to $75.

Bikebuff, I'll let you know when it get's here. I was going to wait for my father-in-law to buy it, but I just couldn't wait any longer.

BobbyR · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2007, 08:22:57 PM »

Quote from: SD750F on November 28, 2006, 11:07:57 AM

Something to consider when looking at mechanical dial manometers. There will be a difference between their readings! If the indicators are not "matched" within a predetermined specification at the factory with a common vacuum source, there will be different readings between them. Will this be enough to make the readings useless? I don't know. A good mechanic how has a lot of experience with matching carbs will have the best answer for that question. But I do know about pressure sensors mechanical and electronic because that it what I design. Very accurate pressure measurement systems for precise altimeters. I will be using a Setra Model 370 pressure standard when I do my carb balancing. This instrument will be valve ganged so I can select one carb at a time and adjust to a very accurate measurement. The Setra 370 is accurate to 0.02%! I know, way too much overkill but I do have the tool...

Can anyone really give the specs on the balancing set points as well as some good old experience along this topic?

Scott

I bought a set from Z1 Enterprises for like $45 and they work well. As far as differences between gauges I wondered about that also. When I went to synch my carbs I picked #4 and attached each gauge to that carb and adjusted each so they read the same, they I hooked them up to the carbs.
What we are doing is making sure that each of the other 3 carbs are pulling the same vacuum as the #2 reference carb, as long as the gauges are reading the same the scale is meaningless. When doing the synching it is intersting to note how each carb interacts with the other. This is why I chose not to make a one guage and a manifold
with valves. You really have to see all 4 working together and tweak each one until the needles are all in the same position.

Steelo · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2007, 09:44:42 PM »

Go with the Carbtune - easy to set up, accurate and easy to read.

News:

Author Topic: Cheap manometer (Read 10323 times)

Steelo