Carbs - Setting Float Bowl Height (some questions)

[donimo]

How can anyone own a 27 year old motorcycle and not have a manual?

You need to make a tool that has a threaded rod that screws in place of the floatbowl drain screw and a piece of clear tubing. Shouldn't be too hard to fabricate by drilling a screw.

Find me a factory manual for a 1983 GS400E, go on I dare you.

I have a haynes manual for a 1983 UK spec GSX400E, but it speaks not of said tool.

can you send me more info? like once I make this tool, what do I do with it? where do I measure from? how do I measure?

I have never done any of this before and my haynes book doesnt have this stuff...

I think I get it, but its always nice to have guidance from experienced people.

thanks!

 

[Mr. Brown]

Find me a factory manual for a 1983 GS400E, go on I dare you.

Will these work?
Found on Amazon.com

I would be utterly lost without my manual. And this site, of course.
-=T=-

 

[waterman]

can you send me more info? like once I make this tool, what do I do with it? where do I measure from? how do I measure?


thanks!

I used a piece of plastic tubing that I had attached to a plastic vacuum hose connector that I had in my toolbox. I screwed the plastic piece into drain hole on the bottom of carb bowl. I placed the tubing up alongside of the carb body and carefully measured the fuel level in relation to where the carb bowl attached to the carb body. This is the 4.5 to 5.5 mm number that Mr Ness has provided. The fuel level should be this much lower than the junction between the bowl and carb body. If it isn't, you will need to adjust float tang to bring it into spec.

When I measured mine, I used an extra bowl that I had around and attached the hose to it. Then I mounted my carbs in a vice at the same approximate angle as they are mounted on bike. From here, I use a small auxillary tank for gas and let it flow into carbs by way of fuel line. Worst part is draining carbs individually to change bowl from carb to carb. I hate the smell of gas, not that the taste is any better.

 

[Larry D]

The principle is that fluid will seek it's own level. So the level of what you see in the tube is the same level of the gas inside the carb bowl.

This method of leveling has been used for centuries and is a handy trick if you're trying to level something over a long distance.

 

[JTsGS650]

That fuel level gauge is also available from Suzuki for about 15 bucks.

part no. 09913-14511

 

[Steve]

anyone know what this means to help out a guy without a manual?

What ... you don't have a manual???

That's it. No more help until you get your manual.

:-\\\

 

[donimo]

Will these work?
Found on Amazon.com

I would be utterly lost without my manual. And this site, of course.
-=T=-

Nope, that is for early (70's) 4 valve gs400s and follows the 4v as it morphed into a 425/450.

I have an 8v GS400E only made for Canada, yay for me. I BELEIVE it is the same as the GSX400E sold in UK.Japan.Wurope, but have no way to confirm. Hell the local suzuki place doesnt even know about it, they reference 450 parts when I ask, which are wrong (they use an american parts lookup program).

I bought that book and returned it, some of it is applicable (some body electrical), but most is not (engine etc).

So if you can find me a book for a bike sold only in Canada from 1982-1986, you win the big prize!

Hell if you can find a FACTORY manual for a 1983 UK spec GSX400E I'll be impressed and eternally greatful

I have the UK spec haynes book, but it is missing a lot of pertinant info that the shop manual would have (part numbers etc)

 

[donimo]

What ... you don't have a manual???

That's it. No more help until you get your manual.

:-\\\

see above.

 

[donimo]

I used a piece of plastic tubing that I had attached to a plastic vacuum hose connector that I had in my toolbox. I screwed the plastic piece into drain hole on the bottom of carb bowl. I placed the tubing up alongside of the carb body and carefully measured the fuel level in relation to where the carb bowl attached to the carb body. This is the 4.5 to 5.5 mm number that Mr Ness has provided. The fuel level should be this much lower than the junction between the bowl and carb body. If it isn't, you will need to adjust float tang to bring it into spec.

When I measured mine, I used an extra bowl that I had around and attached the hose to it. Then I mounted my carbs in a vice at the same approximate angle as they are mounted on bike. From here, I use a small auxillary tank for gas and let it flow into carbs by way of fuel line. Worst part is draining carbs individually to change bowl from carb to carb. I hate the smell of gas, not that the taste is any better.

So if I wanted to do this with the carbs mounted, would sucking on the vacuum line be enough to refill the bowls?

 

[tkent02]

So if I wanted to do this with the carbs mounted, would sucking on the vacuum line be enough to refill the bowls?

Carbs need to be mounted to run the engine, no?

 

[waterman]

So if I wanted to do this with the carbs mounted, would sucking on the vacuum line be enough to refill the bowls?

Yes, but if your petcock has a prime position it would be easier to utilize that to fill the carb bowls. Personally, I would just check the float height and then statically measure fuel height. This ought to get you close enough to get bike running smoothly. I would venture to guess that very few check the fuel level in their bowls since it is a rather tedious affair, especially with the motor running. Your twin would actually be a little easier since you can reach carb drain screws. The number 2 and 3 on the four cylinders would be difficult to reach and to read I would imagine. Good luck.

 

[donimo]

so you check this with the motor running eh?


it's really easy to get to the fuel drains on my bike, waaaaaay easier than pulling the carbs to check float height, is this a resonable alternative?

 

[TheCafeKid]

so you check this with the motor running eh?


it's really easy to get to the fuel drains on my bike, waaaaaay easier than pulling the carbs to check float height, is this a resonable alternative?

Sure, but if they arent right, youre gonna have to pull em anyway. Might as well do it right the first time. The bubble float device is great for setting them JUST RIGHT, but i dont know of many on here who actually USE one of those things, except maybe Ed, or RenoBruce, cos they are perfectionists. Or maybe OCD....either way, they have fantastic machines. However, most of the people I know, including myself, simply set the floats within the specified range, ALL of them at the same measurement, and call it a day.

 

[Nessism]

However, most of the people I know, including myself, simply set the floats within the specified range, ALL of them at the same measurement, and call it a day.

That's how I do it. No gauge for me, although making one is on the list of things to do.

 

[tkent02]

However, most of the people I know, including myself, simply set the floats within the specified range, ALL of them at the same measurement, and call it a day.

I do that, and the next day check the fuel levels.
Usually they are off a little, if it runs fine that's good enough. If it doesn't run fine, and if that corresponds with what my fuel levels are telling me, I tweak the float a tad.
I don't pull the carbs, just the float bowl in question.