Desinger_Mike wrote:

...I will try with some windshield washing fluid just to see how the difference in SG affects levels...

Experiment's been done already, it throws them off. Mineral Spirits is closer to gasoline than anything water-based.

what about farm diesel? it's nice and red, much kinder to plastic, and is similar to gas but isnt as "dry"

I have suggested that a new "standard" be set so we aren't playing with a table full of gasoline. Distilled water or "lamp fuel" known as Paraffin outside the US. This would be consistent worldwide.

Due to the density, the setting would be lower, like 6MM.
Using water would require a quick shot of WD-40 afterwards.
You could adjust your floats on the kitchen table with no smell.

iwingameover wrote:

Perhaps a small glass candle holder, though not the wifes which she intends to light candles in, would do the trick. The gas won't eat it, you can find them in all sizes and shapes and they're still see through. Some may even be just as cheap.

I thought the same way and got a small glass container at Target some time ago (Martha Stewart Living IIRC) but it is still too big. Proper dimensions are something like 2.5"x2.5"x2". Saw some glass container sets at Sam's club but the smallest one is too shallow. OTOH - we have several small, round baking/measuring/prep bowls from Pampered Chef that are 3 1/2" in diameter and 2 1/2" deep that may work (not tried it yet though). Linky
Williams Sonoma has some too in a different size: Linky
If you have a resturant supply place you can check out what sizes they may have.

What i don't get is why can't they make the carbs with an adjustable float that can be adjusted with a screw that sticks out from one of the sides of the carb...clockwise lower, counterclockwise higher.... sort of like the float in the toilet tank??? And then they could use the same type of plastic they use for the clear plastic inline fuel filters to make a half-circle looking glass on the side of the carb and you could watch as the fuel rises.....

TtR if you can do the research and "benchmark" a new standard that would be awesome. I like the idea of using something other than gasoline and not as stinky as mineral spirits or diesel fuel. Plus if we use lamp oil our bikes will smell really good when we start 'em up.

RookieRider wrote:

What i don't get is why can't they make the carbs with an adjustable float that can be adjusted with a screw that sticks out from one of the sides of the carb...clockwise lower, counterclockwise higher.... sort of like the float in the toilet tank??? And then they could use the same type of plastic they use for the clear plastic inline fuel filters to make a half-circle looking glass on the side of the carb and you could watch as the fuel rises.....

They make exactly that. Just not for these bikes. I've seen them on some Holley carbs. Probably others as well.

How about something like this glass vase? This is 2 3/8" square by 2 1/2 deep. They also have 3" square. Here is the site.

A Vinyl Hose Union, ... like the ones we need to have as Restriction Devices for Vacuum Lines, ... can be be sanded-down and used to fit the Mikuni Test Orifice; Fluid Tight.

I understand how giddy you can get being able to see the Floats bobbing-around in the Clear Container.
That, alone ... does not make for this being a good idea.

The Good Idea is the one that is most accurate and simplest to perform.

I'm pretty sure that MOST folks will be very happy to do the job as prescribed in the WorkShop Manual.

The process is to Check and Observe the Fuel Height in the Float Bowl to see if Adjusting the Float Heights is Necessary.

You don't need the view inside the Bowl.
You only need to know at what level the Fuel is at in the Bowl.

Sorry, fellas ... I ain't comin'-over to the Dark Side; when it just don't git any easier than this!!!

If you have a set of carbs that are completely whacky (PO installed floats upside down and bent the crap out of them)...it can take many adjustments to get them dialed in and significant amount of time putting the bowls on, then off, then back on etc. Personally, I'd rather be riding than messing with carb bowls but that's just me.

This can make it a whole lot easier to make those adjustments.
If it's more interesting and easier to set the float> GREAT! Maybe everyone can set them properly and there won't be gas in anyone's oil when their petcock fails.

If the new guys can actually see what's going on in there, I think they might actually understand what they are trying to adjust and that is the name of the game.

Once you have them set, you rarely have to mess with them but when resurrecting a basket case there are a lot of unknowns and if this helps one member set their floats properly then it was a good idea IMO.

Desinger_Mike that was well said. Anything that helps someone (because we all process the same info just a little differently so that it makes sense to us personally; for me that borders on being 'wacko') is a good idea. And Malossi thinks it's a good idea:

www.myscooterparts.co....630003306/
If only they made them for XJ's but then as we all know the UK gets all the cool stuf. All that being said, if the carbs are on the bike and I suspect a float issue, I'm reaching for the clear tube (it is the gold standard) but if the carbs are on the bench this is definitely an idea I will play with. Thanks.

RickCoMatic wrote:

You don't need the view inside the Bowl. You only need to know at what level the Fuel is at in the Bowl. Sorry, fellas ... I ain't comin'-over to the Dark Side; when it just don't git any easier than this!!!

Amen.

Plus, we're (mostly) men; we're supposed to smell like gasoline occasionally. But do the carbs in the garage, not in the kitchen.

If the tube method shows you have a level problem throw the cup under it and take care of it, I would not call that the dark side Id call it the smart side, if you guys cant see the simplicity that it makes to correct the levels I really dont know what to say

Another XJBiker suggested simply using one of those $0.99 water bottles, cut in half. They come in a variety of sizes, and the sides would flex in between carbs on a rack.

TtR - like a "graduated" water bottle? That's a cool idea! If I follow what you're getting at then you don't put the float bowls on and off. You just hold the water bottle full of gas (or whatever liquid you opt to use) at the flange surface of the carbs and note your fuel level? I think I like it.

I went back and re-read Designer Mike's description of hot forming the plastic measuring cup and I have to say that I think this is waaay cool! I am in the middle of doing a rack of carbs now and I am going to give this a shot.