Float height vs fuel level

[Guest]

quick question. Is float height or fuel level more important. I set my floats to the factory 22.4mm but my fuel level was low by a 1mm on 2 carbs so I had to set the float lower to raise fuel level. So my question is, should fuel level take precedent over float height?

[Nessism]

Yes, fuel level is more important.

[chuck hahn]

I say fuel level. Every bowl and carb is its own animal and carbs work best at an optimal fuel level. In other words..fuel levels a tad high and its easier for the engines vacuum to suck up fuel..which in turn can create an overly rich condition that cant be fine tuned away. And conversely, too low and it creates a excess strain for the engine to adequately sip up fuel..which makes for lean conditions, stumbling, etc etc. Follow the theoretic function of a verified and proper fuel level???

Best way to do a practical experiment is to do this...

Get a soda bottle and fill it to the very rim with water. Your mouth will act as a cylinder and your suction while sipping will mimic the suction going thru a carbs venturi. Now gently sip off the water and it will take very little suction to get a sip...right??

Ok..now lower the water down maybe 1/4 inch from the very rim and sip with the same effort you did with the water at the rim....you get nothing. suck harder and harder and maybe youll get a little.....right??

Well this is a practical experiment that physically explains what fuel level has an effect on in relation to the engines ability to adequately sip fuel up from the bowls. Give it a try and let me know what ya think .

[Steve]

Think of it this way: setting the float height will get it close enough for you to verify the fuel level.

It's much like doing a bench sync on the carbs so you can get it running well enough to do a vacuum sync.

.

[JTGS850GL]

Depending on the buoyancy of the floats they may be off a little from the optimum fuel level when doing the static float height. When I set up my carbs up I verify fuel level. One thing that most forget is that the factory service manual specifies fuel height with the engine running. In reality it's not one of things that has to be absolutely spot on. There is an allowable variance specification of +- 1mm so technically you're in spec.

[Nessism]

Another thing that affects fuel level is the strength of the springs in the float needles. With age the springs sag, so that means the fuel level will raise a little.

Steve's analogy of bench sync being like float height is quite appropriate. Gotta remember that one...

[Zero260]

Thanks for the responses. I'm having a idle/pilot issue that is causing my plugs to fuel foul and I'm going to try to lower my fuel level to the minimum spec and see if that helps.

[tkent02]

Thanks for the responses. I'm having a idle/pilot issue that is causing my plugs to fuel foul and I'm going to try to lower my girl level to the minimum spec and Sr if that helps.

No, the girl level is different.

[Zero260]

Lol. Damn auto correct