Float Setting GS850

[gs850oregon]

I have an 1980 GS850 and am going through the carbs. I don'y have a book on "how to" but I have found a spec for the float height that says 22.4mm +/- 1.0 mm.
That being said, I also have found that I should not let the spring compress on the needle but rather just touch.

Where do I measure 22.4mm from?
The outside body lip or where the gasket is or on the gasket?

How do you do a "wet set"?

Thanks

[Bill C.]

float spec

Measure from the float gasket flange to the flat spot on top of the float. Let the float tab just rest on the needle. I don't what the wet level is. Setting the floats is not to hard, just takes some patience.

[chef1366]

I've always measured from the stepdown from the flat spot where the curvature starts.

[arveejay]

I've always measured from the stepdown from the flat spot where the curvature starts.

This is correct, the weight of the float shouldn't compress the spring in the needle unless the needle is bad, so letting it rest there is no problem. When done, eyeball them from side view looking level, you can see if any are a little off.

[Bill C.]

float level

I've always measured from the stepdown from the flat spot where the curvature starts.

Your right I did not make that real clear. It is from the flat spot on the step down. Did not mean to send anybody down the wrong road.

[bwringer]

This is correct, the weight of the float shouldn't compress the spring in the needle unless the needle is bad, so letting it rest there is no problem. When done, eyeball them from side view looking level, you can see if any are a little off.

Low quality aftermarket needles sometimes have weak springs, so watch for that. Original needles and the better quality aftermarket needles have springs strong enough to hold the floats up without compressing when the carbs are upside-down.

This little detail drove me to the brink of sheer gibbering madness a while back until I figured out what was going on...

[gs850oregon]

O.K.

I am still confused as to where to measure from. I am going to draw a little diagram below of how my carb looks upside down.

pivot pin
o. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a
. . . ll . . . . . . . . . . . l. . . . . . . . . . \_b . . . . . . . . . .c
. . l . l needle . . . . . l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. l . . . l . . . . . . . . . .l . . . . . . float . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l
. l . . . l . . . . . . . . . .l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l ____ Top of Gasket
--------------------------------------------------------------- Bottom of Gasket
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carb Body

So.....in the above diagram....
Is it from "a" to bottom of gasket?
or is it "b" to bottom of gasket?
or is it "c" to bottom of gasket?

Thanks

[chef1366]

B to gasket surface without gasket. Subtract 1mm with gasket.