Carb sync tools - what's better, the cheap gauge model or Motion Pro fluid type?

[JTGS850GL]

If you're considering buying the colortune and you have CV carbs then forget it. They don't work as well on the CV's for fine tuning. If you're using them on VM carbs then go for it. As for the sync tool, I went with the carbtune and never looked back. Work great and you can't spill any fluid.

 

[madmikeracing]

I made my own years ago seems to work OK, Mike

 

[Steve]

I have the old Motion Pro that uses mercury and the new one because the mercury one fell down and dumped the mercury out. ... Its not too bad once you get used to it but I liked the old one a lot better

I had the 'pleasure' of using a Motion Pro mercury unit once. That silly flap over the reservoir seemed to open if you looked at it with anything more than a stern glare. I hesitate to mention that the device even exists, and would certainly NOT recommend buying or using one.

I don't remember the brand on the mercury gauges that I have, it's not one of the major names that everyone would recognize, but it has served me well since I bought it in 1979.

.

 

[jstewart]

I have used three different types, gauges, fluid, and the Morgan carbtune. The carbtune is the best of the three. It's a little more expensive but the best value.

 

[Grimly]

The gauges on the generic looking Alphamoto look pretty cheap but possibly replaceable and it apparently needs to be zeroed before use and have to have the in line restrictors in a certain spot to help eliminate the needle flutter the reviews are pretty darn good but wonder what people here who have it think.

I was using dial gauge types for years and once familiar with them, found them to be no problem at all. I was pleased to find they still worked great when I dragged them out to match up the carbs on the XS recently. I always regarded the fluid type as a load of troublesome antiquated nonsense.

 

[JTGS850GL]

I had the mercury filled Motion Pro units. After spilling the mercury twice I went out and purchased the Morgan Carb Tune. Much more compact then the fluid filled units and I don't have to do a calibration every time I use it.

 

[Grimly]

I had the mercury filled Motion Pro units. After spilling the mercury twice I went out and purchased the Morgan Carb Tune. Much more compact then the fluid filled units and I don't have to do a calibration every time I use it.

Be interesting to find out how the Carbtune factory calibration holds up over the years. A simple single-point common vacuum feed would do, exactly the same as calibrating gauges. Assuming wear and tear, I don't believe for an instant that Carbtunes will remain in faithful calibration for years on end.
<edit>
Worthwhile pointing out that every time I checked my dial gauges, they hadn't drifted off. After setting them once, shortly after purchase, they've not needed re-adjustment. Otoh, one cannot take anything for granted, and the cheap dial gauges I see now don't fill me with any great confidence. If I were buying gauges again, I'd take a serious look at the Carbtune, simply because it's just so damned simple, with nothing much to go awry.

 

[bentbiker]

I found the liquid gauges fairly useless, but I may have just bought the wrong brand. I could never rev up the motor without the fluid getting sucked into the carbs; I finaly read the instructions and it stated not to operate over 1500RPM, which is not adequate.

I ended up making one out of a analog dial vacuum gauge, but found the needle skipped too much for an accurate reading. To fix this I put an large truck fuel filter inline before the gauge, and now the needle barely wobbles. That, some vacuum tubing, and a few rubber tipped clamps is all it takes. Total cost about $40. It's a little bulky, but it works like a charm.

 

[chuck hahn]

I have both the Emgo 4 dial gauge set up and the Morgan Carbtune When I got the carbtune, I out it on a bike I had done previously with the Emgo set up and they were pretty darn close already. the Carbtune is a lot more sensitive...such as the actual weight of pushing the screw driver on the adjuster will make it float around.

The thing with the dial setup is to calibrate them before use. To do this youll need a few 3 way vacuum tees. Set two lines each to two tees and then the last tee is used to hook up the two "sets" of line that go to the gauges to a vac port on one of the outer intakes. Start the bike and use the screw adjusters on the face of the gauges to set them all reading the same. This ensures that when your doing the actual sync youre getting reliable vacuum reading across the board.

 

[chuck hahn]

Yeah stay away from the liquid filled deals. Sucking the liquid out is a common bad problem folks have. The Morgan Carbtune has solid rods.

 

[hannibal]

Wish I had read this last week! Just got my MotionPro from Z1 on Friday. Now I'm considering returning it and ordering the Carbtune.

While I don't plan on tuning carbs often, I don't like the idea of sucking the liquid into the motor. Of course, it just burns off, but I'll eventually have to replace the liquid after several uses. I like the maintenance free aspect of the Carbtune.

 

[chuck hahn]

Yup....I would see if they will do an exchange before you even take it out of the box. Ive read a ton of posts where folks have revved the bike and sucked it dry in seconds..and then its too late.


I should add that mine is the Carbtune Pro...may be a little difference in price.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Know that you'll also sync the carbs after every valve adjustment; plus I tend to check mine at the beginning of the year.

 

[hannibal]

Know that you'll also sync the carbs after every valve adjustment; plus I tend to check mine at the beginning of the year.

Sold on the Carbtune!

 

[hannibal]

The Emgo carb sync is currently available from Z1 for $65. In my 4 months of watching them, they had been backordered.

I've seen a youtube vid of them in use and they seem well behaved. I'm tempted to get a set, though I have a carbtune I haven't even tried yet.

 

[Steve]

... I finaly read the instructions and it stated not to operate over 1500RPM, which is not adequate.
...

Can you please explain to all us noobs why 1500 RPM is not adequate? :-k

.

 

[Guest]

The Emgo carb sync is currently available from Z1 for $65. In my 4 months of watching them, they had been backordered.

I've seen a youtube vid of them in use and they seem well behaved. I'm tempted to get a set, though I have a carbtune I haven't even tried yet.

I've come to the conclusion that just about anything EMGO sells is pretty much low end and junk. Go with the Morgan carbtune.

 

[Guest]

Can you please explain to all us noobs why 1500 RPM is not adequate? :-k

.

Yeah, curious about that too. You are setting your carbs at idle that's where they are synic at. Anything above that overrides the idle circuit.

 

[hannibal]

I've come to the conclusion that just about anything EMGO sells is pretty much low end and junk. Go with the Morgan carbtune.

Thanks for the reply. I had a moment of "they're hard to find so I better buy them now".

 

[Crankthat]

Bought a unit from E-bay a few months ago.
It is one vacuum gauge hooked up to a manifold.
The manifold has been drilled and tapped to accept needle valves.
You open each valve with the corresponding dial on top.
Therefore you never need to sync the gauges as you are using the same gauge for each carb.

I was going to buy the carbtune pro when one of these came up for auction.
Mine is the same except for the mounting position and my numbers are read while side-ways from the one pictured.
It is meant to be permanently mounted on your bike.

I paid around $25. for mine in the same if not better condition then this one.
The one pictured below was up for auction for a unremembered by me ridiculous price.

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To me it looks like something that could be duplicated at home if somebody was to put their mind to it.
Not necessarily with the same materials.
Simple inline valves for each hose.
Possibly a section of PVC pipe capped as your manifold.