Topic: Yet another Carb Rebuild question

[Mossy]

Gents,
These new jets are sitting by the ones I removed from the carbs at teardown. Will they work in the carbs for my 350 Four?
The other question I have is where do I measure the float height from (center or an end of the float)? I've seen 26mm height in my old Clymer Honda manual and 22mm online. As you see in the pic, the float doesn't sit parallel with the float bowl mating surface.

Thank you

[bryanj]

Clean the original brass and set the floats to whatever the HONDA  manual says

[Mossy]

Do I measure at the highest point of the float?

[bryanj]

From memory the floats should be level and adjust float height by bending the tab that touches the needle

[Mossy]

Thanks Bryan. The new float valve appears to be a bit longer than the originals.

[AlekStooge]

Follow this video. It's better to do it holding the carbs as if they were on the bike. It's a drag but do it.

[HondaMan]

DON'T use aftermarket jetting, nor needles, nor needle jets, in the 350F carbs. The bike will barely run with that crap.  And, it IS crap.
Jets do not wear out, nor change calibration over time. Even the MTBE we suffered in American fuels for over a decade didn't hurt the brass parts (it did hurt the carb bodies, different topic).

The modern float valves will be stiffer (in their springs) than the OEM versions. For this reason I set the bowls 1-2mm DEEPER of fuel than OEM settings, so the bowls won't run dry when the engine is at speed.

Just replace the rubber parts (O-rings and hoses - ALL the hoses, and especially the little bowl-vent hoses). The rest can be cleaned unless the float valves are just frozen from sitting for decades (although this can often be cleaned by soaking them a few days in lacquer thinner, keep them with their original valve seats).

This is how I've rebuilt all the 350F/400F carbs sent to me, for decades. No one has complained, yet!

[Deltarider]

OK, a few thoughts.
Float adjusting runs like an epidemic in this forum and not in the other SOHC CB Four fora.
Personally I've never had to adjust any floats on a CB500/550. Never ever and on my CB500 they have travelled 140.000kms.
This video from 17:00 - 18:20 shows what goes on in practice.

Note how gentle the movement is and how little force is exercised. Note also the little pin does not compress. It's there to absorb eventual shocks.
Unless you work in a professional workshop and service all kinds of bikes, you don't have to buy any measuring tool. Below is mine cut from some old membership card.
Video courtesy Gruzzel