carb re-assembling

[goggleboy]

Call me an idiot, but I just cannot figure out how to measure the float height. I'm not buying a 50$ freakin' tool to do it for this one time, and I can't find any local friends who have a float height measuring tool. I called a local bike shop and they were rude and said "they dont mess with carbs" (dont blame them) There is a pic listed below. Someone tell me where to measure. I tried to make my own tool out of card board by cutting a strip 24mm long and sticking it between the body and the float, but I can't figure out where exactly to measure from. Is it imperative to use the tool? I just want to ride
my motorsickle! Help

[goggleboy]

the home-made tool

[tkent02]

You don't need any tool. A caliper (use the little rod sticking out from the end), tiny ruler, toothpick cut off at the right distance, anything the right length will do. The little tool you made will be fine if the distance is correct.
Measure from the gasket surface, with the gasket removed, and not on the little sealing ridge on the gasket surface, to the highest point on the float itself. Actually the bottom of the float, but it's upside down, so the top as you are looking at it in this picture.

[MisterCinders]

Yeah, I used a little steel woodworking ruler marked in mm. Indeed, I may use a pocket combination square next time.

Make sure to measure both sides to make sure they are even.

[sschering]

I use one of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-digital-caliper-47257.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4410a

The current coupon has it on sale for $15

[goggleboy]

You don't need any tool. A caliper (use the little rod sticking out from the end), tiny ruler, toothpick cut off at the right distance, anything the right length will do. The little tool you made will be fine if the distance is correct.
Measure from the gasket surface, with the gasket removed, and not on the little sealing ridge on the gasket surface, to the highest point on the float itself. Actually the bottom of the float, but it's upside down, so the top as you are looking at it in this picture.

Am I missing something here? I'm measuring from the mating surface without the gasket to the bottom of the float (which is the top) and its not even close to 24mm, its over an inch. That is with the float "tang" just touching the needle, not pushing it down. But I when I bottom out the float and push the float down pushing against the needle its almost right at 24mm. Whats going on here?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I found this page on some guy's website. It might help.

Carb Specs:
Float Height/Jetting/Tuning




Thank you for your indulgence,


BassCliff

[goggleboy]

a lot of this info applies to CV carbs. I have VM, however I looked at the illustrations and I looks like I'm using the same measuring method, but I still get really bad readings. The specs say 23mm +/- 1 for my carbs.
Im 99% sure the floats aren't upside down (someone look at the picture and verify) Its just not even in the same ballpark. I know I'm doing something wrong, I just don't know what.

[tkent02]

An inch is 25.4mm, you are in the right ballpark. Did the float valve gasket get doubled up or something? Did someone bent the float tang too far? The correct adjustment usually has the tang about flat, not bent much.

[goggleboy]

here is a picture of the float as it normally sits. The tang is just touching the float needle here, and it measures just over an inch from the gasket mating surface (without the gasket) and the bottom of the float.

[Matchless]

Am I missing something here? I'm measuring from the mating surface without the gasket to the bottom of the float (which is the top) and its not even close to 24mm, its over an inch. That is with the float "tang" just touching the needle, not pushing it down. But I when I bottom out the float and push the float down pushing against the needle its almost right at 24mm. Whats going on here?

1 inch = 25.45mm which is very close to 24mm, so not sure what you are asking. To me it seems as if the float tang just needs a very slight adjustment.
Larger and clearer photos may help.

[goggleboy]

AAlllright. well this whole time the measuring ruler I was using was not MM WOW
well, that was a waste of a thread , sorry everyone for wasting your time.


i wasn't so far off....

[tkent02]

Those silly Brits.

[Matchless]

AAlllright. well this whole time the measuring ruler I was using was not MM WOW
well, that was a waste of a thread , sorry everyone for wasting your time.


i wasn't so far off....

No problem, as long as you are sorted, that is what this forum is all about.