Checking the fuel level in carb bowls

[hikermikem]

Does the engine need to be warm when I check the carb bowl fuel level using the "tube alongside the bowl" method?? Or can i simply thread in my modified "drain plug with tube nipple" and check the level??

Thanks

[rustybronco]

1. no
2. yes

[Dave8338]

Does the engine need to be warm when I check the carb bowl fuel level using the "tube alongside the bowl" method?? Or can i simply thread in my modified "drain plug with tube nipple" and check the level??

Thanks

:shock::-D:? Dale...how did you answer that one without a smile? :-D

[hikermikem]

OK, another stupid question - does the engine have to be running to check the fuel level, or does it only need gravity??

Thanks AGAIN

[Dave8338]

NO...engine off. What you're looking for is the actual phsyical level of the fuel in the bowls. Take a look at this thread, it says it all.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=101897&highlight=fuel+level+tube+method

[hikermikem]

Thanks Dave, I appreciate the link. Actually, it says run the engine at idle when performing the check.

Just an observation on my part - I just checked the fuel level using the tube method & noticed the level was quite low when the engine wasn't running. Then after starting the bike, the level was right on spec; both carbs.

I took great pains to adjust the floats dry, measuring the float height (20.5mm) when the float tab just made contact with the needle plunger. One plunger was stiffer than the other, and I had to hold the float up on the weaker side so as not to depress it. The result was both fuel levels (as verifed with the tube) were both in spec.