Author Topic: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?  (Read 4275 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.


Offline BenelliSEI

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,932
  • 1969 cb750
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2023, 04:20:58 PM »
Those look good. I use an ancient Motion Pro 4 X glass stick unit. They work great but the liquid in them evaporates (and I occasionally suck it away) so they need cleaning, refilling and occasionally ā€œ0ā€ ring replaced. Something fully electronic might be less hassle?

Offline bryanj

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,025
  • CB500 Number 1000036
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2023, 12:27:14 AM »
Price makes me suspect the gauges are not top quality but you can check them against each other and compensate
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline denward17

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,391
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2023, 08:02:00 AM »
I ordered the CarbTune Pro 4.

Hopefully it will work good when I need it.

Offline Ujeni

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 225
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2023, 09:15:37 AM »
Ive used dial gauges like these for many years. Assuming they are calibrated, they will work well.

A few months ago I bought the CarbTune Pro 4 and it certainly feels just as nice if not better!
Ujeni Motors
Sandcast #410
Sandcast #538 Watch the restoration!
Sandcast #6592 All original daily driver.

Offline BenelliSEI

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,932
  • 1969 cb750
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2023, 11:37:04 AM »
I ordered the CarbTune Pro 4.

Hopefully it will work good when I need it.

Will be interested how they perform. Iā€™m due an upgrade.

Offline craz1

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 247
  • CDA, Idaho
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2023, 07:40:04 PM »
I like my homemade mercury gages but if I needed a set I would be interested in these. Little on the expensive end of the scale
https://thedigisync.com
74 CB550,73 Z1900, 74 Z1900, 75 Z1900,
72 XS2650, 73 RD350, 2013 FJR1300, 84 XJ550 YAM

Offline Maltboy

  • Pitter-patter, let's git at 'er!
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 270
  • Making stupid mistakes since 1959
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2023, 06:34:45 PM »
The CarbTune is a quality product. I think you'll be happy with it.

Offline Kelly E

  • Geriatric Hooligan
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,365
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2023, 08:16:32 AM »
I like my homemade mercury gages but if I needed a set I would be interested in these. Little on the expensive end of the scale
https://thedigisync.com

We had a DigiSync but sold it. It's way too hard to use because of the constantly changing numbers. The mercury type or gauge type are much easier to read.
Never Give Up - Never Surrender

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0                                            1971 MGB/GT
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport                          1972 MGB/GT
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD                                   1985 GMC S15
1978 Kawasaki KL 250
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda VF 700S Sabre
1984 Honda VF 1000F Interceptor
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans
1994 Kawasaki Concours ZG 1000A9
2005 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

Offline Deltarider

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,132
  • ... but some animals are more equal than others.
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2023, 03:18:03 AM »
We had a DigiSync but sold it. It's way too hard to use because of the constantly changing numbers. The mercury type or gauge type are much easier to read.
I know what you mean. An exhaust gas analyzer is another example. The changing numbers drive you crazy. Analogue is way easier. You can monitor the dial from the corner of your eye and see the tendency.
Monitoring RPM during tune-up. Use an analogue meter with preferably a scale that has 20 rpm increments.
To monitor the voltage drop during an electric start to check the battery's condition, use an analogue volt meter.
Monitoring voltage dynamically from idle to revved, use an analogue volt meter.
CB500K2-ED Excel black
"There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for anybody's greed."

Offline Johnie

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,609
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2023, 08:11:24 AM »
I've used my Morgan Carb Tune for 20 years now and still works great. No fluttering of the slides. Bikes run smooth. Very happy with it.
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline BenelliSEI

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,932
  • 1969 cb750
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2023, 04:41:05 PM »
I've used my Morgan Carb Tune for 20 years now and still works great. No fluttering of the slides. Bikes run smooth. Very happy with it.
[/quo

I like the look of that. A lot like my old Motion Pro. Are the slides liquid or solid? Thanks!

Offline newday777

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 5,260
  • Avatar is my 76 K6 in Colorado w/Cody on back 1980
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2023, 06:41:31 PM »
I've used my Morgan Carb Tune for 20 years now and still works great. No fluttering of the slides. Bikes run smooth. Very happy with it.
[/quo

I like the look of that. A lot like my old Motion Pro. Are the slides liquid or solid? Thanks!
They are solid bars
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,572
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2023, 01:31:48 AM »
CarbTune Pro 4 work fine. Easy to see all beside eachother.
Double check that you connect to right carb before adjustments.
Easy to reverse order when standing at the cyl 4 side.

You'll see that carbs affect eachother when adjusting.
One carb might be opened more than the other which will increase engine speed and the other carbs underpressure.
I have often seen that #4 is wrong, adjusting #3 helps more than adjusting 4 and vice versa.
This on my Mikuni TMR
« Last Edit: March 05, 2023, 03:40:33 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline bacongrease

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2023, 05:52:55 PM »
 geez..I see quite a large number of available manometers. Sense I am in the market: 
 I am still patiently awaiting recommendations from the peanut gallery for some of the lower priced ones.

 :)
.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2023, 06:11:27 PM by bacongrease »

Offline Deltarider

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,132
  • ... but some animals are more equal than others.
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2023, 02:15:06 AM »
It's a bit difficult for me to advise, because it's decades ago I've used my set. I donated it actually to a friend. I've developed my own - no noise - method. The Morgan thing could be a good choice, but I have no experience with it. For instance, I don't know if it reacts the same as the conventional manometers. By that I mean the pace: indicating underpressure is one thing, but also the pace in which the underpressure changes (comes down after a blip) can provide useful information like a too lean setting. I don't know if the Morgan thing is doing this in the same way as conventional manometers. Others may know.
For those of you interested in where to initially set the adjuster screws of the oldstyle CB500/550 carbs, as a startingpoint for after they have been apart, I can share some advice. But, alert: these carbs do not need to be separated from the rack ever. Only when the O-rings at the T-joints would be shot, which is not likely to happen. Honda fit two on each side! Mine are still the originals (1976). One spring they leaked a bit, after hibernation prior to which I had drained the carbs dry for a change. Never did this before and I will not do it again. Luckily at that occasion those 8 O-rings have swollen back to their original size. Conclusion: if you leave your carbs in a natural state, which is wet and don't feed any aggressive fluids down the lines, they'll live forever.
CB500K2-ED Excel black
"There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for anybody's greed."

Offline rotortiller

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 850
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #16 on: March 11, 2023, 08:20:00 AM »
It's not so much the tool as it is the person using it.

Offline BenelliSEI

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,932
  • 1969 cb750
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2023, 12:24:30 PM »
My Motion Pro is a basic unit and I really like it. Buy a new one, and read the instructions carefully. Synchronization of the four chambers, on every use, only takes a minute, but is important. On occasion (usually when someone borrows it), all the blue liquid disappears. It happens when you blip the throttle and close it too quickly. Order an extra bottle of the liquid, day one.

Offline seanbarney41

  • not really that much younger than an
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 10,835
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2023, 01:22:29 PM »
My Motion Pro is a basic unit and I really like it. Buy a new one, and read the instructions carefully. Synchronization of the four chambers, on every use, only takes a minute, but is important. On occasion (usually when someone borrows it), all the blue liquid disappears. It happens when you blip the throttle and close it too quickly. Order an extra bottle of the liquid, day one.
I too have the Motion Pro set-up, and lol, you must be right  Because I have never had to replace he fluid, and also have never loaned it out.  Having used the Morgan Carbtune, it is much solider, quicker, and easier to use...wish I would have bought it instead.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Stev-o

  • Ain't no
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 34,324
  • Central Texas
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2023, 08:44:11 AM »
I like my old school Honda gauges...


'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Magpie

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,298
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2023, 09:56:26 AM »
rotortiller said "It's not so much the tool as it is the person using it." Too true.
I prefer the old school way of vacuum gauges over the Carbtune. The gauges seem to give me more feedback, I don't how to describe it, more emotional? The Carbtunes were not as helpful.
Like vinyl vs. digital.


Offline PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,572
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2023, 11:14:07 AM »
You will hear when the sync tool show right values.

Do not forget to slowly increase throttle to at least +3000 rpm to see  and hear all carbs stay in sync. 

Slowly decrease should be equal too. Very irritating to ride a bike that are not in sync when slowly increase or roll-off.
A few snappy throttlings too ;)
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Johnie

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,609
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2023, 02:40:33 PM »
And just to be sure put a nice fan on the motor during sync so you don't overheat.
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline Erny

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 667
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2023, 03:41:07 PM »
I will add to this topic my recent finding.

There is interesting tool available (HealTech eSync), having function of carbs sync but also (they claim) you can identify issues with valves  :o https://www.healtech-electronics.com/products/est/
Clear disadvantage is need of notebook, but many of us have it anyway in garage at hand (I do)

Have a look at video (install and test video section)

Did not use it, want to test first if I have opportunity.
It is made in Hungary, Europe, not cheap China stuff...

No doubt I'm fan of old-school tools (as already mentioned RPM meter, voltmeter etc), but sometime modern tool is good too  ;)
CB750K K7 USA model (1977)
CB550K1 USA model (1975)

Offline dugsgms

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 54
Re: Has anyone used the Alpha Moto carb sync gauge tool?
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2023, 04:01:30 PM »
 If you don't mind a bit of work here a set up I made using basic stuff from home depot and some vacuum fittings from the auto parts store. Works well but works even better when the tubes are restricted with some old pilot jets to buffer the readings. First 2 pics show the construction and the last 2 in use(before and after adjustment.
1970 BSA Lightning
1975 Yamaha RD350
1975 Honda CB400f
2008 Yamaha WR250R