Topic: float level tester?

[westondc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170432372156&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Ran across this on ebay. so my question is, how does it work? where does it connect?

[Joel]

I believe it attaches to the bowl drain.  The open end is held above the float level and the fuel level shows in the tube.

[Markcb750]

Looks like it screws into the bottom drain hole, should work just fine.

The guy was a clever to find or have made the adapter. A member here?

[Duke McDukiedook]

Well, hopefully it is the same size as your drain plug screw, screw it in, turn on the petcock and voila! Instant static pressure reading in your float bowl, no more guessing if the gas is at the correct level or not. The measurement from the top of the fluid to the top of the bowl is the float height.

[westondc]

nice, i like this idea. i might just get one and give it a try. it should be easy to find the parts and make one of my own. if it really does work as well as it seems it should, then i'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this item before... i've had leaky bowls lately

[Deltarider]

You can make one yourself. I did years ago. Be aware: thread is 'fine': 0.75 (metric).

[BobbyR]

You do not need to make anything. slip a piece of clear hose over the drain. When you open the bowl drian while holding the tube next to the float bowl, you will see the float bowl level.

[Deltarider]

You mean like this...
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60492.msg656236#msg656236  
Works on new style carbs only.

[kenolds]

I have done this also by soldering a float bowl overflow nipple to a drilled out drain plug.  Works great.  The only thing I have not taken the time to determine is the relationship between the advertised float level and the level of the fuel that you measure.  I plan to just try to see the difference between the bottom of the float and the fuel level.  Anyone already know what that relationship is?  I suppose it would be different for every float.

Kenolds.

[Duke McDukiedook]

My post does.

[mystic_1]

The specified measurement in the manuals is for the distance from the float bowl mating flange to the bottom of the floats, when the float is touching the float valve but not compressing the needle.

I don't think your statement is correct, Dookieduke, for the following reasons:

- When the float bowl is full of fluid and therefore the float is trying to, well, float, the needle on the float valve will be compressed somewhat.

- The top of the fluid level in the bowl will not be even with either the top or the bottom of the float, the float will be partially submerged.

When the float bowl is full, the fluid level is very close to the float bowl mounting flange.  The distance between the top of the fluid and the bowl flange will be a few millimeters, not the 26 millimeters that's specified in the book.

I think, however, that one could come up with a relationship between these two measurements.  It would just take some measuring and number crunching.

mystic_1

[Duke McDukiedook]

You have a point there, that measurement would be specific to the carburetor, I think you would want to check your float measurement with the gauge and the piezometer tube to make sure they are all about the same height. That is probably the best you can do.

[RRRToolSolutions]

These are absolutely required on the Z1/KZ900/1000 series bikes. Any bike with composite floats would benefit from having the fuel level checked because float height has little to do with fuel level unless you have copper floats. I learned the hard way - there is a "right" tool for the job.

Regards,
gordon

[Alan F.]

CNC Turned, Made Right Here in Wabash Indiana by.....


Sure, right!

[westondc]

These are absolutely required on the Z1/KZ900/1000 series bikes. Any bike with composite floats would benefit from having the fuel level checked because float height has little to do with fuel level unless you have copper floats. I learned the hard way - there is a "right" tool for the job.

Regards,
gordon

i wonder if those instructions can be applied to the CB carbs? it looks like the level tester in the service manual has level indicators for accurate measurement. it states that the level tester is a "special tool", so where can you obtain an original one like the one in the manual?

[mystic_1]

That "special tool" looks like it's just a valve so you can fill the bowl without fuel leaking from the attached hose.


My ancient Clymer manual describes this process of checking the fuel level in the bowl.  It describes drilling out a float bowl drain screw and installing a nipple on it, since early 750 carb bowls have separate drains and overflow.  On later carbs you can just hook your like to the overflow and then crack open the drain screw.  The Clymer manual suggests setting float level via the traditional method, then using this trick and scribing a line on the side of the bowl to indicate proper fuel level.  This makes it easier to re-check the fuel level in the future.

mystic_1

[Deltarider]

I've the impression float level is not that critical. I wouldn't worry about 2 mm + or -.

[mystic_1]

I believe that one of the "Thoughts of Hondaman" posts in the FAQ section mentions that changing the float level impacts the operation of the emulsion tubes on the main jet.

mystic_1

[Markcb750]

I believe that one of the "Thoughts of Hondaman" posts in the FAQ section mentions that changing the float level impacts the operation of the emulsion tubes on the main jet.

mystic_1

In my experience a few mm makes significant difference.

throttle lag, fuel spills, idle, all improved with correct height.

[Deltarider]

A few mm does make a difference, up to 1,5 mm it doesn't, I mean, not noticable. BTW, on the old style carbs it's very easy to see if a float has been tampered with. Standard the little lip parallels the rest of the brass thing.

[westondc]

Wouldn't the high of the gas in the float bowl effect how much gas is being sucked through the slow/idle jet at start up, thus causing improper air/gas mixture and hard starting? i was working on the carb for my ATV last month and after cleaning the carb and putting it back on the 4 wheeler the darn thing wouldn't start without using starting fluid. once started it ran like a champ. so i took the carb off again and adjusted the float arm correctly (allowing more gas into the bowl). after that it now starts up just fine. thats why i'm thinking you have to have the proper level of gas in the bowl so the right mixture of air/gas is there at start up. do i have the right idea here?

[Markcb750]

Wouldn't the high of the gas in the float bowl effect how much gas is being sucked through the slow/idle jet at start up, thus causing improper air/gas mixture and hard starting? i was working on the carb for my ATV last month and after cleaning the carb and putting it back on the 4 wheeler the darn thing wouldn't start without using starting fluid. once started it ran like a champ. so i took the carb off again and adjusted the float arm correctly (allowing more gas into the bowl). after that it now starts up just fine. thats why i'm thinking you have to have the proper level of gas in the bowl so the right mixture of air/gas is there at start up. do i have the right idea here?

Yes.

Some influence by the design but the bowls are there to provide an immediately available reservoir of fuel plus and they prevent varying flow to the jets due to changes in the level of the fuel tank.

As HondaMan and others point out, level can also effect the fuel/air emulsification the carbs need to create before the fuel enters the carburetor body. He has a very detailed modification to the jets which alters the emulsifying holes.