Topic: Carb floats

[Mavryk03]

So does anyone know about floats that are square? the ones in my 75 CB550k1 are circular and the ones from siriusconinc.com are square which are replacement. Will they fit, and will there be a weight difference b/c they are square? Also does it matter if they are square or circular? thanks in advance

[flybox1]

So does anyone know about floats that are square? the ones in my 75 CB550k1 are circular and the ones from siriusconinc.com are square which are replacement. Will they fit, and will there be a weight difference b/c they are square? Also does it matter if they are square or circular? thanks in advance

yes there will be a buoyancy difference.
if they fit your carbs..they can be made to work. you'll have to "tune" one of them based on the "clear tube out the bowl drain screw hole" method to get the porper fuel level in that bowl (might not be able to use the typical float height method)
once you get the fuel level where it needs to be, you can then measure the 'new' float height, and set all the others to match.
shoot for 3-4 mm below bowl gasket level.

[Mavryk03]

So does anyone know about floats that are square? the ones in my 75 CB550k1 are circular and the ones from siriusconinc.com are square which are replacement. Will they fit, and will there be a weight difference b/c they are square? Also does it matter if they are square or circular? thanks in advance

yes there will be a buoyancy difference.
if they fit your carbs..they can be made to work. you'll have to "tune" one of them based on the "clear tube out the bowl drain screw hole" method to get the porper fuel level in that bowl (might not be able to use the typical float height method)
once you get the fuel level where it needs to be, you can then measure the 'new' float height, and set all the others to match.
shoot for 3-4 mm below bowl gasket level.

I will have to get a float measuring tool correct? do you know where to buy the circular ones i cant find them anywhere?

[flybox1]

no need to spend $ on a special float tool...u got a dial caliper? i've had good luck using the ID measuring points of mine.
or....once you figure out what your float height needs to be, just make a cut out an old plastic credit/gift card with your exact height.

looks like this is your original part #
16013-329-004
round ones are still available, but at ~$45 ea

[bollingball]

Do a search in Faq look for carbs. To learn about the clear tube method you don't need the tool if you use the clear tube. I have a tool but prefer the clear tube You can learn a lot in the Tip & Tricks & Faq

[Mavryk03]

no need to spend $ on a special float tool...u got a dial caliper? i've had good luck using the ID measuring points of mine.
or....once you figure out what your float height needs to be, just make a cut out an old plastic credit/gift card with your exact height.

looks like this is your original part #
16013-329-004
round ones are still available, but at ~$45 ea

Yeah i know for four of them it would be around $126 bucks ouch i will give it a try thanks flybox

[Mavryk03]

Do a search in Faq look for carbs. To learn about the clear tube method you don't need the tool if you use the clear tube. I have a tool but prefer the clear tube You can learn a lot in the Tip & Tricks & Faq

Will the faq explain how to mesure the floats to adjust them like you said with the clear tube method?

[flybox1]

its simple...but since you are trying to find the right height based on fuel level....just work on either #1 or #4 float.  leave the rest until you get the fuel level dialed in.
here's how....
getcha some 1' of clear tubing - 1/4" OD.  
slowly heat and stretch the middle . your goal is to make a gentle taper in the middle.
now, cut the section in half at the smallest point of the taper.

remove your carb drain screw from #1 or #4 and empty the fuel from your bowl.
screw the smaller tapered end of the tube into the drain screw hole.
secure the loose end of the tube up alongside the carb bowl. a loose ziptie works well.
now. slowly turn on your fuel, while tapping on the rack of carbs to get the float to freely move up with the fuel.
you'll see where the fuel stops in the tube.  thats your fuel height and it needs to be 3-4 mm's below your bowl gasket seam.

turn off your fuel.
lower the open end of the tube and drain the bowl again.
remove the bowl and adjust your float tang.
repeat until your fuel level is dialed in.
when it is, measure that float height, and then set the rest to match.....

[bollingball]

Have you looked to see if your service manual is on this site? You really want one of those.

[Mavryk03]

Thanks flybox sounds complicated  but i will give it a try and let you know if need anything else thanks again.

[Mavryk03]

Have you looked to see if your service manual is on this site? You really want one of those.

no but i need to i have some papers that I have printed out before but yeah i need a manual  thanks

[Mavryk03]

another question do floats go bad at all?, i can see if they are damaged and how do they keep getting stuck, is it b/c of old fuel i have cleaned mine like 3x now and i fill as if they are still getting stuck or could the float highth be wrong and causing them to stick , was talking about buying new ones so wanted to check with this before i bought new ones. thanks

[flybox1]

Mav...need this info.
1. where is the fuel leaking from when you turn on your tap?
2. are your floats the black foam/plastic ones?
they are solid, and unlikely to go bad. 
if you've fingered the float valve and it shuts off fuel, then either your float height is still incorrect OR the floats are not hinging correctly on the float pin.

when you turned on your fuel, did you bang on your carbs with a wood block or rubber mallet to free up the floats?

[Mavryk03]

Mav...need this info.
1. where is the fuel leaking from when you turn on your tap?
2. are your floats the black foam/plastic ones?
they are solid, and unlikely to go bad. 
if you've fingered the float valve and it shuts off fuel, then either your float height is still incorrect OR the floats are not hinging correctly on the float pin.

when you turned on your fuel, did you bang on your carbs with a wood block or rubber mallet to free up the floats?

There is no fuel leaking out as i could see standing there, there was a little on the ground from the over flow tubes, I banged on them with a rubber mallet and the floats are the black foam, i will have to check the height again to make sure they are set correct. The hing is where the float is attached to the carb right?

[flybox1]

no need to worry about a little piddle on the floor when carbs go back on. sometimes the floats just need to free up when the fuel enters the bowls. 
if it did shut off fuel, you'll just need to verify that the fuel is at the correct level when the floats depress the float needle and stop flow(by performing the clear tube test as detailed above)
yes, the float hinge is a brass rod, about 2mm in OD, which the float pivots on between the posts.
if your's has burrs, take some 0000wool to it and clean it up. be sure there is no wool fibers left when you install.

edit....also, you should make sure that any and all debris in your tank is GONE!  carb cleaning is good, but clean gas in a clean tank is better.....that is if you dont want your time spent cleaning carbs to be wasted 

[Mavryk03]

no need to worry about a little piddle on the floor when carbs go back on. sometimes the floats just need to free up when the fuel enters the bowls. 
if it did shut off fuel, you'll just need to verify that the fuel is at the correct level when the floats depress the float needle and stop flow(by performing the clear tube test as detailed above)
yes, the float hinge is a brass rod, about 2mm in OD, which the float pivots on between the posts.
if your's has burrs, take some 0000wool to it and clean it up. be sure there is no wool fibers left when you install.

edit....also, you should make sure that any and all debris in your tank is GONE!  carb cleaning is good, but clean gas in a clean tank is better.....that is if you dont want your time spent cleaning carbs to be wasted 

I can test all this with the carbs off the bike right i was thinking i could just set the fuel tank on the work bench and hook eveything up, Also i did clean the tank when i 1st got her and just put a new petcock in with a new fillter screen as well. I will clean the floats off as well i do think one has a little rust color to it. going to check all the levels and hopefully eveything is right thanks again flybox for all the help. 

[flybox1]

yeah, you can do this all with carbs and tank on or off  your bike.
if you find your fuel level is high in one or more of the bowls, just drop that bowl and adjust the float tang.
Its way easier to quickly make adjustments if not on your bike, butbe sure your carbs are perfectly level.
if tank and carbs are on your bike some hand calisthenics are involved.. 

[Mavryk03]

yeah, you can do this all with carbs and tank on or off  your bike.
if you find your fuel level is high in one or more of the bowls, just drop that bowl and adjust the float tang.
Its way easier to quickly make adjustments if not on your bike, butbe sure your carbs are perfectly level.
if tank and carbs are on your bike some hand calisthenics are involved.. 

Yeah i could see that it's already hard enough to work on it when it is in the bike, alright hopefully this works out then on to the trans problem then hopefully riding it yaaaaahhhh  thanks again