Topic: Clear tube method. The EASY way and CHEAP

[goldarrow]

I've seen and read many of you guys have come up with all sort of ways to do this, but here's my way.  Hope pictures are self explanatory.  If not, questions are welcome.







Is my float level good? 76 Cb550k

[seanbarney41]

that's about right, now make sure the bike is standing up level and check all four against that level to make sure they are close to the same

[Don R]

And accurate! No guessing how the float is floating or how soft the spring has become.

[Nick0]

Can someone explain what this does to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[goldarrow]

Can someone explain what this does to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is for double check, triple check the fuel level in carbs bowls

[seanbarney41]

Can someone explain what this does to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With aftermarket replacement parts, different fuel formulations, and general wear and ageing, setting floats to factory specs no longer necessarily results in the correct fuel level inside the bowl.  This lets you see inside the bowl.

[brandEn]

So that tee fits snug enough to not drip fuel?

[goldarrow]

So that tee fits snug enough to not drip fuel?

Yes

[flybox1]

So that tee fits snug enough to not drip fuel?

Yes

Too complicated
I only need the tube.....and a screwdriver to open the drain screw

Just ribbing Ya    You set your floats well. Nice work 

[PeWe]

I have Mikuni Smoothbores VM29 that really needed this method when it flooded fuel, not very much but enough to foul plugs and engine ran bad .
Possible to order "Fuel Level Gauge Tool for VM29 smoothbore carbs'"
http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?item=ZSM-VM29FT

This method is a must when tuning carbs.
EDIT: Photos make everything more interesting, carb 3 might be a little bit low. I'll see what happen after 200km/h

[750K]

So that tee fits snug enough to not drip fuel?

Yes

Too complicated
I only need the tube.....and a screwdriver to open the drain screw

Just ribbing Ya    You set your floats well. Nice work 

One more reason to love pd's lol

[BobbyR]

Can someone explain what this does to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am not sure your question was answered.  Since liquids seek there own level. The level in the clear tube will be at the same level in the float bowl. It is a quick way to see if all of the float bowls have enough fuel in them. I had some popping on deceleration and using this method I found one bowl was low. Rather than take all the bowls down and measure, I could simply drop that bowl and adjust the float. Quick job.   

[Don R]

Not all carbs drain from their overflow tube, on these you need to convert an extra bowl by cutting the overflow tube off inside.

[brandEn]

Not all carbs drain from their overflow tube, on these you need to convert an extra bowl by cutting the overflow tube off inside.

That's a great idea! So simple and obvious. I never would of thought of doing it this way. Glad I saved the bowl with a broken drain screw. Sweet!

[SohRon]

Another method is to get a spare bowl drain plug and drill it out to accept a tube that the hose fits over. Works great for carbs that do not use the overflow tube as a drain; and moving the plug from carb to carb might be a little easier than swapping the bowl as suggested above. Both are good ideas.

[Don R]

Another reason why I love this forum. A great exchange of ideas.

[lucky]

I've seen and read many of you guys have come up with all sort of ways to do this, but here's my way.  Hope pictures are self explanatory.  If not, questions are welcome.







Is my float level good? 76 Cb550k

NO... this method is not correct, and it will not run right.
You must measure the float height.
You can only use the "clear tube method AFTER you have set the float height by measuring.

Think about this:

If you used the "clear tube method" and the float level is ABOVE the overflow drain tube in the float bowl,fuel will constantly be running out of the overflow drain tube.
Save yourself hours of anguish, Do it by the book. It is not that hard.

I worked in Honda dealerships and we NEVER used the "clear tube method to check float levels. We just did it by the book. It always worked perfectly as long as the float needle was in good shape or new.

[FuZZie]

I don't see any harm in double checking with a water level, been used in construction for thousands of years?
You think they are rebuilding and trying to set the floats after closing with the level?

[flybox1]

Lucky, the goal is FUEL LEVEL, right? Too much or too little the bike will not run correctly.  I know we can agree on this.
By setting the float height, by the book, you are assuming you set them correct AND the floats are operating correctly. Nothing wrong with this method, but, once you put the bowls back on, the clear tube method is the only way to ensure the fuel level is correct.   
We are just double checking our work here, nothing more.

[Black 750K8]

Someone is off there meds again

[FuZZie]

He may have a valid point, not everyone reading the site may understand it's for double checking.

 

[TwoTired]

Not all carbs drain from their overflow tube, on these you need to convert an extra bowl by cutting the overflow tube off inside.

True, only if there is no drain screw or plug at all.  Which carbs are those?
Otherwise, you just fit a tube (tapered is good) or something into the drain screw hole.

There was a thread a ways back the used a rigid plastic tube, heated it and stretched it to a point.  Then cut the tapered tube so it would jam into the drain plug threads.

You don't need to do this on a PD carbs.  Bowl drain plug empties into the bottom nipple.

Despite Lucky's religious fervor, the clear tube method is MORE accurate than mechanical measurement.  Many of the replacement float valve pins have springs in them stiffer than the originals.   This results in the wrong fuel level even though the mechanical measurement is to book spec.

[Bootlegger56]

[/quote]


Despite Lucky's religious fervor, the clear tube method is MORE accurate than mechanical measurement.  Many of the replacement float valve pins have springs in them stiffer than the originals.   This results in the wrong fuel level even though the mechanical measurement is to book spec.

[/quote]

TT is spot on on that.  After meticulously checking my K5 carbs over and over again and then double checking my checking to make sure I had the levels set right mechanically they checked differently using the clear tube method.  I made myself one out of an old drain plug that had been screwdrivered to death by drilling it out and soldering a fitting in it for the tube.  I reset them as required using the tube.  A little time consuming and aggravating to take the bowl back off and adjust but you get good at it after several go arounds.   Works fine, fails safe and drains to the bilges!

[BobbyR]

Another reason why I love this forum. A great exchange of ideas.

The float bowl fuel in the picture is right on the money. The fule should be just under the gaslet. It may be the camera angle, but the carb looks a little tilted. You really want the carb as lavel as possible.

Lucky is a purist and a zealot. That does not mean he is wrong, it also doesn't mean he has the best procedures either.

[vames]

I think some confusion is because not all carbs drain through the overflow.

I know mine don't, so if I were to even get any gas a tube hooked to my overflows, it would just be an indication that the float valves aren't working and it's overflowing (don't need a tube to tell me that!).

For those types of carbs that don't drain through the overflow, it seems that somehow jamming the clear tube into the actual drain hole (or creating a special plug with a tube attached) is the way to go.