Topic: Carb Synching Tool - Best solution? Does homemade work?

[Tim in Ohio]

I'm gonna need one for my CB350F.

Weigh in with your two cents.

Also, I would be very interested to hear both good and bad from those who have tried building their own manometer.  You see som einfo on the web...  build your own for a few bucks with parts from Lowes...  I am wondering if that is kind of the equivalent of the old ads I used to see in the back of comic books: "Build a robot in your basement for just $4.00."

Really... is trying the homemade approach just going to result in me wasting money and time on getting various hardware from Lowes only to abandon this and shell out the bucks for a commercially available tool? 

[stevenmgrr]

Personally, I would just buy one.  That is what I did.  You can always find someone selling one on ebay or craigslist for $40-80, which is what you would spend in time and materials.  I got mine from a guy on craigslist that only used it once.

[BobbyR]

I bought a Motion Pro from Z1 enterprises for $45. You could make your own out of 4 guages and aqauriuin valves. Those huge tube things you see people cobble together work, but what is your time worth. 

[bozo4onion]

Just #$%*, whine and then buy a Morgan Carbtune. It'll be the last time you #$%* and whine. I love mine.

[WFO]

I would go with the mercury manumeter with the dials you just never know if one of them is going to stick or what ever to give a false reading with mercury it's cut and dry and accurate. ( just my 2 cents)

[Tim in Ohio]

These seem like they can be had for $55 to $60:


Clearly they are not as high quality as the $100 plus models such as:


I like nice stuff like the next guy, but in this case, I just want to get something that works.  If I can pay half for the lower quality ones...  but they do the job... I probably will.  On the othert hand, I don't want to pay good money for junk tools because of the price.  Done that at Harbor Freight before and regretted not paying more for better quality.  What is the scoop on these?  Do the cheaper ones work fine or what?

[oldhondarider]

I probably didn't get the best ones around... but I just picked up 4 at harbor frieght for $12.99 each..

[WFO]

These seem like they can be had for $55 to $60:


Clearly they are not as high quality as the $100 plus models such as:


I like nice stuff like the next guy, but in this case, I just want to get something that works.  If I can pay half for the lower quality ones...  but they do the job... I probably will.  On the othert hand, I don't want to pay good money for junk tools because of the price.  Done that at Harbor Freight before and regretted not paying more for better quality.  What is the scoop on these?  Do the cheaper ones work fine or what?

First off what do you want to spend or willing to spend?

[Johnny5]

I've used that carb tuner that's blue. I think it's $50 from Z1enterprises. It has valve adjusters to calm down the needles. It works well for the money.

[75750SS]

If you lived in the Seattle area, you could have my Motion Pro.  Bought a Morgan Carbtune and no regrets.  The MP model worked, but two of the tubes had be spliced together.  They're a bit brittle.

[johnyvilla]

If you plan on owning your Honda\4 for a while, a good gauge set is indispensable. Don't get me wrong, I love making my own crap; But for how many times Ive used my mercury gauges in the last two years, the convenience is well worth it. The homemade sets I have seen look cumbersome.

[MoTo-BunnY]

You should really read this thread (I'm surprised you didn't already find it) as me and several others show our home made setups and fully describe the parts and the process:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=23038.0


I built my own from really high quality components (German gauges / US vacuum hose / Italian ball valves - NOTHING from China - unlike the cheapie sets) for only like $50 total and it works REALLY well and is definitely not 'cumbersome' (fits right on the handlebars). Everyone I have showed it to is amazed I actually made it but it was pretty easy, actually, as I pretty much just copied the Hondaline unit.   

[Buber]

Also, I would be very interested to hear both good and bad from those who have tried building their own manometer.  You see som einfo on the web...  build your own for a few bucks with parts from Lowes...  I am wondering if that is kind of the equivalent of the old ads I used to see in the back of comic books: "Build a robot in your basement for just $4.00."

Really... is trying the homemade approach just going to result in me wasting money and time on getting various hardware from Lowes only to abandon this and shell out the bucks for a commercially available tool? 

I think you are just looking for encouragement to go and buy it, instead of making it yourself. My experience is as follows:
First I got to understand what actually carb synching is. Once I got it (the physical idea) I was shocked that people will pay so much money to do a simple measurement. So, following only the basics - which is, you want to see what is the vacuum on all carbs at once i built this:



And I never looked back. No gauges are necessary. Apart of saved money (this contraption costed me maybe 15 bucks total, maybe less) I have a huge satisfaction. And don't tell me things "it saves your time to buy one, and time is worth something" because then, if you value your time so much, go and buy yourself a new (or newer) bike - you will save  A LOT of time. As it is, our bikes are for tinkering joy, and this (such vacuoemeter) is a perfect example of it.
My opinion -if you want satisfaction, do it yourself. If you want it economical (in general sense) - buy yourself much newer bike... 
When it comes to operation, the biggest hurdle (on CB650) is not the display of measurement - is the adjustment itself which is difficult.

Good luck!

[oldhondarider]

If you lived in the Seattle area, you could have my Motion Pro.  Bought a Morgan Carbtune and no regrets.  The MP model worked, but two of the tubes had be spliced together.  They're a bit brittle.

How much do you want for it...?

[Artfrombama]

Also, I would be very interested to hear both good and bad from those who have tried building their own manometer.  You see som einfo on the web...  build your own for a few bucks with parts from Lowes...  I am wondering if that is kind of the equivalent of the old ads I used to see in the back of comic books: "Build a robot in your basement for just $4.00."

Really... is trying the homemade approach just going to result in me wasting money and time on getting various hardware from Lowes only to abandon this and shell out the bucks for a commercially available tool? 

I think you are just looking for encouragement to go and buy it, instead of making it yourself. My experience is as follows:
First I got to understand what actually carb synching is. Once I got it (the physical idea) I was shocked that people will pay so much money to do a simple measurement. So, following only the basics - which is, you want to see what is the vacuum on all carbs at once i built this:



And I never looked back. No gauges are necessary. Apart of saved money (this contraption costed me maybe 15 bucks total, maybe less) I have a huge satisfaction. And don't tell me things "it saves your time to buy one, and time is worth something" because then, if you value your time so much, go and buy yourself a new (or newer) bike - you will save  A LOT of time. As it is, our bikes are for tinkering joy, and this (such vacuoemeter) is a perfect example of it.
My opinion -if you want satisfaction, do it yourself. If you want it economical (in general sense) - buy yourself much newer bike... 
When it comes to operation, the biggest hurdle (on CB650) is not the display of measurement - is the adjustment itself which is difficult.

Good luck!

I like it!
Pascal's law comes to mind.

A trip to Home Depot after work!!

[750fromhell]

Bought one from JC Whitney, for $20 more than building your own, and definitly not the assle. Less time monkeying around, more time riding before the winter.

[Tim in Ohio]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Good points one and all.  I do enjoy the fun of tinkering and being a DIYer, but 750FromHell pretty much summed up my point of view.  I want to get as much riding in as possible before winter gets rolling.
That said, buying is probably my preference and after reviewing all of the input from you guys, I now just need to decide how much more convenient/reliable are the more expensive ones than the cheaper ones.  I will pay a little premium if it saves alot of headaches.  I do plan on keeping my CB350F four a long time, so I can justify an investment in a good tool, but I am not a professional motorcycle repair guy, so I may not require the best of the best... 

[Artfrombama]

Thought I could make one with clear tubing with four pop bottles filled with colored water until I figured it would have to be 12' tall!!!
I know, the bottles must be sealed. I bought some cheep gauges off ebay.


If I ever get my 48IDA Webers on my Mustang I can use it on them.
Too many projects, too little time.

[BobbyR]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Good points one and all.  I do enjoy the fun of tinkering and being a DIYer, but 750FromHell pretty much summed up my point of view.  I want to get as much riding in as possible before winter gets rolling.
That said, buying is probably my preference and after reviewing all of the input from you guys, I now just need to decide how much more convenient/reliable are the more expensive ones than the cheaper ones.  I will pay a little premium if it saves alot of headaches.  I do plan on keeping my CB350F four a long time, so I can justify an investment in a good tool, but I am not a professional motorcycle repair guy, so I may not require the best of the best... 

I calibrate my guages before i synch. I pick the easiet carb to reach and plug each guage into it and adjust the guage so that all read the same. Then I hook each guage up to the carbs. Whan you have them all reading the same, the carbs are synched.   

[oldhondarider]

I saw this on Cycle Exchange... looks cool.. but not sure how well it would work on 4 carbs..
   
"Synchronizing carburetors is a must!!!!!!!!!!
Mikuni says you can use .020 to .030 wire ( feeler gauge ) under the carb slides to get them equal for idle.
We like this carb synchronizing tool ( above ). Simply put this tool over the carb, when the red ball is at the same height your done.  ( nice and quick)
Carb synch tool   #CA-007   $39.95
Next, adjust cable synch with the cable adjustors, so that slides lift off idle at exactly the same moment.
Use a finger on one slide and watch the other."

[BobbyR]

I saw this on Cycle Exchange... looks cool.. but not sure how well it would work on 4 carbs..
   
"Synchronizing carburetors is a must!!!!!!!!!!
Mikuni says you can use .020 to .030 wire ( feeler gauge ) under the carb slides to get them equal for idle.
We like this carb synchronizing tool ( above ). Simply put this tool over the carb, when the red ball is at the same height your done.  ( nice and quick)
Carb synch tool   #CA-007   $39.95
Next, adjust cable synch with the cable adjustors, so that slides lift off idle at exactly the same moment.
Use a finger on one slide and watch the other."

That is a cool old school decive we used on cars. It will drive you nuts with one of the 4 carb Hondas. One thing you learn quick is that when you adjust one carb to the refence carb, they all change, including the reference carb. The changes are not consistant. With 4 guages you get real time input on all four and you can tweak the problem children. It makes it quicker with 4 guages and the price differnce is minimal.

[MoTo-BunnY]

I calibrate my guages before i synch. I pick the easiet carb to reach and plug each guage into it and adjust the guage so that all read the same. Then I hook each guage up to the carbs. Whan you have them all reading the same, the carbs are synched.   

I calibrated my gauges with a big ole syringe thingy:



Pulling up to the 60cc line, showed 20" on the gauge and was very accurate, the exact same reading being repeatable over and over. Checking the gauges to one another, showed them to be within a "tick mark" of each other, which was negligible enough to not have to even bother incorporating into the carb synch process - gotta love German engineering! (the gauges were German made)

I'm kinda surprised so many of you are hesitant to make a set of your own, since it was really sooooo easy! I just copied the Hondaline gauge set visually, especially noting the needed gauge range (30" Hg vacuum) and that it needed some kind of damper valves. I ordered the parts off on feeBay over a week and once they all arrived, made the whole setup in an evening with a few beers. 

I don't have to fool with bottles filled with liquid and stuff and get to show it off as something that I made, which is pretty fun. (my neighbor didn't even believe me. . .lol) The set in compact enough that I literally put it in one of my saddle bags and went over to my friend's house to help balance his carbs, too. (and wOw!, do balanced carbs make a huge difference in how well your bike runs!)


Oh, and I also made a remote mini-gas tank to aid in carb synching from old weed-whacker parts I horse traded from my neighbor, a day or two after the manometer project, too. . . .  he he he.




DIY - FTW !!!    

[Ecosse]

Hey Moto' that's a fine carb checker thingamabob ya made!

I gave up the idea of making my own but I figure if anyone who likes bunnies can make such a cool tool I can do it too.

Juuust messin'... seriously, that's a cool set up and I might give it a go. Thanks for the info.

[MoTo-BunnY]

Hey Moto' that's a fine carb checker thingamabob ya made!

I gave up the idea of making my own but I figure if anyone who likes bunnies can make such a cool tool I can do it too.

Juuust messin'... seriously, that's a cool set up and I might give it a go. Thanks for the info.

thank ya!  I kinda tried to make the set kinda purdy as well as functional (and with some old stock Honda parts, too, like all the bolts and nuts plus the front fender bracket)

he he. .. I have a real bad rabbit habit! the three lil' furry guys are at my feet, right now - they are my kids, what can I say? 

In that older thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=23038.0  I hope I spelled out the parts and the process alright?  I love the suggestion from others, for using MIG tips as vacuum port adapters too, I saw them for only like $5 for 8 of them or something at Harbor Freight, the other day (much cheaper than the adapters I just bought on feeBay, after California Sport Touring failed so spectacularly on delivery of theirs)

OH, also. .  ..here is a picture I kinda forgot about - shows all the components at once, disassembled (except for the mount frame)



Everything is lined up as how it is assembled. The chrome barb is the 5mm vacuum port adapter - about the only specialty component you have to track down, other than the gauges (unless you go the MIG tips route - even Home Despot has those). Everything else can be had at most (good) hardware stores.

[Ecosse]

Find a friend that has one and borrow it. 

I don't have any friends...






























...who work on these types of machines so it's buy or build for me. Had a sliver of sympathy for a minute? A second? No?