Float bowl height and pilot jet question

[beachbum3478]

bike is a 82 gs1100GL. i realized today while i was reading some stuff on bikecliff's site that you are supposed to measure the bowls from the lower "step down" part of the bowl, well i measured from the top. i set them at 22.5mm. this sounds likea dumb question, but would that make it run leaner or richer, i am thinking wayyy to hard about it. like would the bowls be higher or lower when turned right side up?


also, the bike runs a tad lean, possilby because of the float bowls. but while they are apart would it hurt to up the pilot jet from 40 to 45? my carb kit came with 40s and 45s. i put 40 as the factory spec recommeded. thanks.

[82Shafty]

You're confusing the heck out of me.

1) You measure from the step on the float, which I think you coined as bowls.

2) You measure with the carb bowl gasket off of the carb bodies and measure on the gasket surface itself avoiding the little inside lip.

If what I think you are saying is that you measured essentially what is the bottom of the float and not the step, you would be rich as long as you used the inside surface of the carb to base your measurement off of.

[Dogma]

You're confusing the heck out of me.

1) You measure from the step on the float, which I think you coined as bowls.

2) You measure with the carb bowl gasket off of the carb bodies and measure on the gasket surface itself avoiding the little inside lip.

If what I think you are saying is that you measured essentially what is the bottom of the float and not the step, you would be rich as long as you used the inside surface of the carb to base your measurement off of.

Eh, I thought the floats controlled fuel flow into the bowls, not the mix (flow out of the bowls).

I'm in the same boat as Beachbum. I found this winter that my floats were set incorrectly (but nice and consistent), and corrected them. I'm curious what effect I should expect as a result.

[82Shafty]

Some say just a subtle change of 1/2 mm makes a world of driveability difference on these classic GS scoots. I'm sure someone will chime in soon and give their testemony.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=95073&highlight=float+height+difference

Little more talk about fine tuning carbs

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=117126&highlight=float+height+difference

Contact bwringer he seems to have plenty of fine tuning experience.

[Nessism]

I think the fuel level will be higher (richer) if the floats are set to the top of the float compared to the step. Regarding float height from the factory, most of the carbs I’ve checked have had float heights at the low end of the spec range – which again will lead to a higher fuel level and richer running.

[beachbum3478]

ok, well im taking them off either way to make sure. if the bowls are set to the richer side, and it is still lean, would it hurt to change the pilots from 40 to 45 while they are off?

[Nessism]

The richer pilots might help of you have done something to lean the mixture such as running pods or add a free flow exhaust.

[beachbum3478]

no i have the stock airbox and stock exhaust. last time i checked the plugs was before i adjusted the valves, all were pretty tight, could that have something to do with it? there all adjusted in spec now tho. i havent check the plugs since tho.