So I'm getting my bike back from storage in my parents garage and will be starting back up on the project and need to tackle the carbs. Last work done on the carbs discovered that the float heights were WAY OFF and fuel was leaking into the airbox. I had attempted to use my manual and this link:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.FloatHeight (http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.FloatHeight)
However, I just can not seem to grasp how the float needle should be sitting on the tang while adjusting this. I also can't grasp how you properly bend the tang to adjust the height. Are there any better pictures out there that will show this procedure from a better angle?
Thanks,
Nick
If your gas level is too high, you need to bend the tang towards the needle.
Hold the carb body inverted and use calipers or another measuring method to check distances. Use your finger and play with the loose floats. Look closely at where the tang will make contact with the needle. When the tang is just touching the needle, measure the distance from the edge carb to the highest point of the float. Use a small flat screwdriver to bend the tang towards the needle and check the distance again. After you've bent it, the float should rest "higher"; the top of the float will be higher than before. You want it about 14mm higher than the edge of the carb.
It's trial and error but doesn't take long to do.
good explanation, Romulux.
If you dont have calipers or a micrometer, a good visual is to line up the seam of the float with the gasket between the carb bowl and carb body. This will get you in the ball park, and the floats are not an exact science. Getting in the ball park is usually good enough.
Also, dont just hold the carbs upside down to check. Set them on thier side, and gently move the carbo body to the right until the floats just begin to fall into the carb body and check there. Finally, once you set themdont touch them or they will be off.
Best of luck!
Sorry, I feel really dumb but I still don't understand.....
Quote from: romulux on May 12, 2010, 08:42:20 AM
Look closely at where the tang will make contact with the needle......
1.) Should the tang be touching the bottom of the needle, or that little metal piece that wraps around the tang? This is not a GS float needle but it gives the idea of what I'm talking about:
(http://image.dirtrider.com/f/9474344/141_0707_16_z+keihin_fcr_carb_tech+float_needle.jpg)
2.) If its supposed to be touching the bottom of the needle, then the bottom of the needle has that nipple that can be pushed in, should that nipple be pressed all the way in or should the tang just be barely touching it?
For some reason I can't grasp anyone explanation on how the tang/needle should be sitting in relation to each other when the floats are at 14mm from the carb body.
3.) How should the needle be sitting in the carb? Should it be all the way up and seated so it seals the hole in the carb body?
Quote from: romulux on May 12, 2010, 08:42:20 AM
Use a small flat screwdriver to bend the tang towards the needle...
4.) I know bend seems like an easy description but should the tang stay flat and just be pushed away or towards the needle? Doing this to drastically makes me wonder if the needle will slip off because the tang is bent at such a drastic angle. Or do you want the tang to sit flat on the portion that touches the needle which would mean you would have to bend it twice?
I'm probably overthinking this, and need smacked in the head but any other help would be appreciated to ensure I'm doing this correctly.
Thanks,
Nick
Red arrow points to the contact between the float tang and the needle.
(http://www.familyjones.org/paul/float%20needle.jpg)
The bail of the needle goes around the float tang.
You're overthinking the shape of the tang. The contact point on the needle is spherical to accommodate the angle of the tang.
The needle should fit in the carb body to seal the hole, but don't press it in there.
Think of it like this..the needle were discussing is the fuel inlet. As fuel fills the carb bowl, the float levels rise, causing the tang to set the needle and stop the flow of gas so the engine can process it. Thus, the tang needs to touch the needle (not the clip) so that when the floats rise, the tang will push the needle into its seat, and seal the flow of fuel while the remaing processes occur.
I'm trying to find a good picture to show how the bend works, but it is a single bend, and it is VERY slight. Just
enough to get a 14mm clearance between the bottom of the float and the ridge of the float bowl.
2) tang barely touching it
3) not seated, just in its hole
4) bend with screwdriver towards needle, single bend
Thanks guys, I'm just wondering what shape the tang should be as mine had 2 bends in it when I first open it up. The first at the section where the tang is attached to the floats which bends away from the needle valve and the second about 1/4 of an inch away from where the tang attaches that bends it back so its parallel with the needle.
Sorta like this:
Tang___/-----
Needle |-|
| |
\ /
should be more like this, and whomever had the multiple bends in your tang was WAY off. that complicates setting the float at 14mm, and is uneccessary.
________
\
| |
| |
\/
though, it wont need to be bent nearly that much. Its a slight bend, but you get the idea. Bend just enough to raise the float height to 14mm.
Well then thats probably why there was fuel pouring into the airbox! Thanks!
Quote from: utgunslinger13 on May 12, 2010, 10:30:06 AM
Well then thats probably why there was fuel pouring into the airbox! Thanks!
If it caused the floats to stick open, which is possible, then that is exactly why. Also, pull your petcock and take it apart and clean it. If youre petcock is dircty at the seal or diagphram, it will leave the vacuum seal open and cause fuel to pour into the carbs, and either into your crank case or out the breather tube.