Topic: carb synchronizer how to

[Mavryk03]

Hey guys wanted to know if anyone knew where to get a carb synchronizer gauge thatis  not to expenses but not cheap. Didn't know if you could rent one from autozone with there tool rental or somewhere like that or know how to make one?

Thanks in advance for the help   later

[flybox1]

Motionpro makes one.
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0411/

Morgan (Carbtune) makes one.
http://www.carbtune.com/

YOU can make one.

[Deltarider]

Follow this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75973.0

[Duanob]

I'm in the same boat but I was curious if anybody in the Seattle area has one to borrow or rent? Having a hard time thinking of spending $100 on a tool when there are still so many parts to buy. Any time I needed a special tool for my boats or cars I usually rented them.

[Popwood]

My guess is finding a rental will be tough. I bought the Morgan set and am pleased. Would suggest if buying the Morgan spring for the brass screw inserts for a few bucks more. I'm using the plastic ones that came with and they work but I don't think they will last over time. They're sturdy enough, but you have to be pretty delicate with them. 

[Duanob]

So what's wrong with the 4 vac gauge sync tools? They are half the price and considering it's 30+ year old technology we'er trying to sync, does the carbtune do twice the job?

[Mavryk03]

Follow this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75973.0

OK so looking at the thread it shows a guy that made his own. let try to get this right so get four clear plastic tubes from Lowe's for any hardware store of equal length get some oil or AFT transmission fluid connect the four tubes to some plastic connectors so that all tubes are running oil or trans fluid together, then hang or put them on something so that they are in front of you. then run the other end of the lines to the intakes on the carbs use some 5mm inserts so that the end of the tubes can be stuck on there, then with the bike running so can adjust the cabrs with the idle screw to get them perfect or close to. Also on one of post someone else said that if you added a five line then it could make it more accurate. So i think i said that right let me know what you guys think. thanks

[TwoTired]

So what's wrong with the 4 vac gauge sync tools? They are half the price and considering it's 30+ year old technology we'er trying to sync, does the carbtune do twice the job?

No.  The gauge/dial type works fine.  Over the years, the operator has to check the gauge for equality by attaching them all to a common vacuum source to ensure the needles point to the same numbers.
Once you know the gauges are equal, you can trust the readings to adjust the carbs to be equal.

I've had my dial type gauges since 1975.  I had to clean the internals about 10 years ago as the internal lubricant turned to varnish.
Clean, re-lube, they work as new again.

Cheers,

[Duanob]

Follow this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75973.0

OK so looking at the thread it shows a guy that made his own. let try to get this right so get four clear plastic tubes from Lowe's for any hardware store of equal length get some oil or AFT transmission fluid connect the four tubes to some plastic connectors so that all tubes are running oil or trans fluid together, then hang or put them on something so that they are in front of you. then run the other end of the lines to the intakes on the carbs use some 5mm inserts so that the end of the tubes can be stuck on there, then with the bike running so can adjust the cabrs with the idle screw to get them perfect or close to. Also on one of post someone else said that if you added a five line then it could make it more accurate. So i think i said that right let me know what you guys think. thanks

I have thought of that route BUT 4 vacuum gauges even from HF (can you trust them?) are $12 each X 4. By the time you buy all the other little stuff to adapt you're looking at $60 anyway. I was thinking of picking one of these up if I can't find a rental anywhwere.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-4-cylinder-bike-/390238798652?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5adc0b833c

[Mavryk03]

Follow this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75973.0

OK so looking at the thread it shows a guy that made his own. let try to get this right so get four clear plastic tubes from Lowe's for any hardware store of equal length get some oil or AFT transmission fluid connect the four tubes to some plastic connectors so that all tubes are running oil or trans fluid together, then hang or put them on something so that they are in front of you. then run the other end of the lines to the intakes on the carbs use some 5mm inserts so that the end of the tubes can be stuck on there, then with the bike running so can adjust the cabrs with the idle screw to get them perfect or close to. Also on one of post someone else said that if you added a five line then it could make it more accurate. So i think i said that right let me know what you guys think. thanks

I have thought of that route BUT 4 vacuum gauges even from HF (can you trust them?) are $12 each X 4. By the time you buy all the other little stuff to adapt you're looking at $60 anyway. I was thinking of picking one of these up if I can't find a rental anywhwere.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-4-cylinder-bike-/390238798652?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5adc0b833c

i dont think you need to buy gauges if you use the liquid way the oil or ATF is used as the gauge so you just get them all equal across the lines let me know if im wrong guys

[BobbyR]

So what's wrong with the 4 vac gauge sync tools? They are half the price and considering it's 30+ year old technology we'er trying to sync, does the carbtune do twice the job?

No.  The gauge/dial type works fine.  Over the years, the operator has to check the gauge for equality by attaching them all to a common vacuum source to ensure the needles point to the same numbers.
Once you know the gauges are equal, you can trust the readings to adjust the carbs to be equal.

I've had my dial type gauges since 1975.  I had to clean the internals about 10 years ago as the internal lubricant turned to varnish.
Clean, re-lube, they work as new again.

Cheers,

To calibrate mine, I warm up the bike and put an adapter in #1 or 4. The dial face pulls off and there is an adjustment screw on the face. Get them all reading the same and you are ready to go. Hook up the other three adapters and do not forget to put a fan or fans blowing on the motor to cool it while you are running it.

[fmctm1sw]

Follow this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75973.0

OK so looking at the thread it shows a guy that made his own. let try to get this right so get four clear plastic tubes from Lowe's for any hardware store of equal length get some oil or AFT transmission fluid connect the four tubes to some plastic connectors so that all tubes are running oil or trans fluid together, then hang or put them on something so that they are in front of you. then run the other end of the lines to the intakes on the carbs use some 5mm inserts so that the end of the tubes can be stuck on there, then with the bike running so can adjust the cabrs with the idle screw to get them perfect or close to. Also on one of post someone else said that if you added a five line then it could make it more accurate. So i think i said that right let me know what you guys think. thanks

I have thought of that route BUT 4 vacuum gauges even from HF (can you trust them?) are $12 each X 4. By the time you buy all the other little stuff to adapt you're looking at $60 anyway. I was thinking of picking one of these up if I can't find a rental anywhwere.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-4-cylinder-bike-/390238798652?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5adc0b833c

i dont think you need to buy gauges if you use the liquid way the oil or ATF is used as the gauge so you just get them all equal across the lines let me know if im wrong guys

Lot of pictures in this one: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=23038.0  May help you...

[DH]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-4-cylinder-bike-/390238798652?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5adc0b833c
[/quote]




If jc whitney is still around, check their catalogue. i got my set there, and they are identical to these. JCW used to include discount coupons in the catalogue too. Think I paid like 16.00 for mine. Probly more nowadays, but worth a look.

[JBMorse]

I love my carbtune tool.  I went through the same thing last year: "Do I really want to spend $100 on a tool I'll use so infrequently??"
But I wound up syncing my carbs 3 or 4 times in the last year for various reasons (tuneup, new cables, had manifolds off, etc), and also I will be using it on my next bike project as well.  I think it will pay for itself because it gives you the freedom to use it how and when you want.
That said, I have not tried the dial gauge syncronizers, I'm sure they're fine.  I really like the carbtune for its idiot-proof ease of use (and I am a supreme idiot when it comes to carbs).  It's also a nice sturdy tool, I think it will last me a long time.  There's no calibration, no fussing with fluids like the motion pro tool, and it's really simple.
If you were in New England I'd let you come over and use it.  But you're not, so I can only recommend buying one. 
Good luck with your tuneup!

[mgbgt89]

I just bought a morgan carbtune and love it. So easy to use, Don't have to mess with assembling a homebuilt contraption every time you want to sync the carbs.

Well worth the $100+ I spent on it IMO.

[Mavryk03]

thanks JBMorse would love to use your and come to England but i cant  so i just broke down and bought one on eBay for $60. I went to autozone my local auto part store to see if they had one to rent and the guy looked at me like i was crazy he said never heard of that i was like OK so then went to the hardware store to see if i could get the parts to build one and i couldn't find 5mm brass extinctions or something like it so i said forget, so im just bought one now to wait for it to get here cant wait to have her purring like a kitten lol. thanks everyone for all your help u guys are the best god i love this forum. 

[bparro]

Hey, Iam in Castleton...wanna synch my carbs?

[Mavryk03]

Hey, Iam in Castleton...wanna synch my carbs?

sure when ever i get my kit and learn how to do i will hit you up added you on my buddy list always willing to help out a fellow biker 

[Brian G]

then with the bike running so can adjust the cabrs with the idle screw to get them perfect or close to. Also on one of post.....

You adjust the carb vacuum with the throttle stop adjustment, not the idle mixture screw (if that was what you meant). Two different adjustments - don't get them mixed up! The vacuum varies with the position of the slides, the fuel/air ratio is controlled by the idle mixture screw.

Hth,

[TwoTired]

Actually the carb vacuum is determined by the individual slide position in the carb, which has it's own adjustment.

The pilot screws adjust mixture ratios.  And the idle knob moves ALL of the slides in unison.

Cheers,

[Mavryk03]

no i meant the idle screw to make it more or less lean

[Brian G]

'Kay. The idle mixture screw - which makes it more or less lean - should be adjusted according to the book and you don't need gauges or a Carbtune to do that. As TwoTired said, there's an individual throttle stop adjustment for synchronizing - equalizing the vacuum in other words - and to do that, you will need the gauges.

Regards,

[Mavryk03]

oh, OK that's what i need to do with the gauges then to get it running more smooth i though the idle screw is what you did when the gauges are hooked up to get  everything equal i will have to look it up i think i saw a youtube video of someone demonstrating on how to use it thanks. 

[Rdlbs]

I have thought of that route BUT 4 vacuum gauges even from HF (can you trust them?) are $12 each X 4. By the time you buy all the other little stuff to adapt you're looking at $60 anyway. I was thinking of picking one of these up if I can't find a rental anywhwere.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync-Gauge-4-cylinder-bike-/390238798652?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5adc0b833c
[/quote]

I just plunked down the money for one of those.  I'm going to be on vacation next week, but hopefully it will be there when I get home.  If anyone is interested, hit me up after October 1 for a review.

[Deltarider]

A suggestion. Why not do more with less? Normally our carbs have to be synced very rarely indeed. Always try to make your motor run nicely by checking (and doublechecking!) all ignitionrelated points first. That's after the valveclearance check. Then when you're absolutely sure your plugs, plugcaps, plugwires, breaker points, condensers, dwell and timing are all in good order you may, after another check, consider a carbsync. Then look in this forum for someone who has a device and lives within reasonable riding distance. Sync them there and enjoy social contact.
Remember: after the first 750s that came with cable-operated quadruple carbs, Honda wanted to anticipate all possible criticism for once and for all and did a clever job by making it desmodromic.
I maintain your carbs will not need synchronisation unless somebody messed with them before. The same goes for float heights. They are always right unless somebody has messed with them (easy to check).