Carbs - Setting float levels

[steptoe]

hope you don't mind bryan,,, but I've "steptoed it"



can check all 4 at once, with the bike running

[petejw1966]

hi eveready,
i was probably jumping the gun with those seals,
they prevent air from being sucked in, if the bike is riding and idling fine
i wouldnt worry to much about them, its a huge job replacing them
as each have to be seperated and the butterflys need to be removed.

[pgnz]

clear 10mm outboard fuel hose slips on to those early carbs,  can also use a hunk of  10mm rubber hose with a thinner clear hose slipped inside

[Eveready1100]

Hi Pete, I'm a little embarrassed by how shitty those carbs look in the pics. It's been a long time since I got down to it and washed the old girl properly. Due to time constraints, it mainly gets a quick suds job then blast off with the Gerni then a wipe down with a Chamois to keep it looking presentable.
I'm extremely careful not to hit the carb area with the gun as I know high pressure washers will force water in where you don't want it, so that area has been left largely untouched for ages.
It doesn't surprise me that there may be some wear in the shaft areas as they've done a lot of miles with minimal maintenance. They haven't been off the bike since I bought it in 2001 ( only had the carbs tops off for a paint touch up and a check on the diaphrams in 2003) though I've had the carb kits hanging on the wall for about 3 years waiting for the opportunity, or need to give the old girl a bit of a tune up. It's still running really well though and as I'm a bit reluctant (scared) to go messing about with it in case I bugger it up.
Steptoe offered his services a while back to have a look at it, which is great as he knows his way around XS carbs like I know the back of my hand so someday soon, we'll have a good look at it.
Might be a good starter for a Bundy workshop day, now there's a few more guys up here getting onboard

[bluedayt]

One thought is to use a grease nipple and grub screw. Drill the bolt straight through the centre of it, then tap & screw the grease nipple in. This would make the fuel come out and have somewhere to attache the test line to, but you'd need to be able to seal the flow off. Maybe a grub screw into the side of the bolt?? The grub screw would have to be larger in diameter than the grease nipple so it could seal it all up properly. Maybe a few spare brass bolts too because if I were doing it I'd definitely cock it up a couple times..

Just a thought

[melbxs]

I've been looking for a small bleeder that you could tap into those bolts, but I can't find anything. Anyone got any ideas?

Would  a brake bleeder go?

[petejw1966]

shit hey,
i thought those bolts might have been a little smaller,

in ur pic it looks like u might have some leakage from the butterfly seals,
noticed the discolouration of the butterfly shaft near the clutch cable,
to check u could always spray some carb cleaner on it to see if the revs
rise which would indicate the seals are leaking.

jat     u could always pour sum metho in the tank if ur concerned about water
in the fuel, i do this occassionally.

[Eveready1100]

Hi Pete, these are what I have to deal with



I had been looking for suitable fittings to put in there but haven't come across any as yet. The idea came to me after Steps and myself had our first meet and comparo day and I spotted his bowls.
I normally drain them every 3 months or so to get any water and muck out that's been building up in there. It's surprising how much still gets past the inline filters, but hasn't been anywhere near as bad since I moved away from Brisbane.

[steptoe]

thanx for the offer brian,, but I can get it up here

[petejw1966]

wasnt there a mod on the .com site for
the earlier float bowls, i had  a look but couldnt find anything,
i thought they attached a bleeder or something in place of the bolts.

i also usually drain the bowls when ive got the carbs off the bike
as long as u dont tilt them to much u wont have a problem with fuel leaking out.

[melbxs]

I'm not sure you'd find a set of these bowls even if you wanted a set. 

I hadn't realised that the earlier carbs didn't have the drain outlet.

[Eveready1100]

Does anyone know if the carb bowls can be swapped between models?
My Special's got the flat bottomed bowls with no drain outlets. Only a blind plug. Makes draining the bowls a messy affair no matter how careful you are.
It would be nice to be able to do the float level check as you have done.

[melbxs]

Lawnmower places often have good clear fuel line too. Or give me your address and I'll post you a piece to do your carbs.

[petejw1966]

hey geoff,
any plastic clear tubing can be used for checking the level,
i got some from the local aquarium for a cpl of bucks.

[steptoe]

have some how missed this thread 

THAT is an incredibly easy and simple solution, to a problem I've been trying to think of for ages

all credit to you, as John says,, don,t sell yourself short

all I need to do now is source some clear fuel line