trouble setting floats

I tired setting my floats today (cear tue method) and did pretty well with the exception of one carb. The trouble im having is that either im getting not enough gas in or WAY too much. With one tiny little bend of the float tang it can jump from barley any gas getting in the tube to the tube filling up completly with gas. I dont get it. Its almost like its not closing but then i bend it the other direction and hardly any gas comes in. Im making microscopic bends and this still happens.

any ideas?

 

Are you sure the needle valve seat is clean and not clogged? Sounds very inconsistent which makes me think there is foul play in your fuel passages.

Also, there is a little springy post on the back of the needle valve. Sometimes that thing will go kaput and it will totally screw with all your float setting work.

 

give them a few taps to slosh the gas around, like when their on the bike vibrating like mad.
also look on the tang where it hits the needle, is there a scratch or something that could hang up the needle

 

Sometimes you can get a air bubble stuck in the clear line that will give false readings.
With a fuel supply and clear tube on the carbs ready to check:
1-open fuel valve and watch where level goes to.
2-close fuel valve to carbs and drain some, not all. this will get bubbles out
3- put clear hose back into position and open fuel valve
4- watch again
5- adjust as needed
I'll do this several times peer carb to make sure the level is correct and the needle shuts off and does not overflow.

 

Valve seat and needles are brand new and I have had the bowl and tube on and off lots so I don't think its an air bubble. I will havt to check the tang to make sure all is well

Thanks

 

Ok so there is a tiny little mark on the float tang, but its not anything I can feel with my finger nail. I found this http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31559.html
And am gonna give it a try. I found a container that fits great. Today was the third day I've tried to get this and still got NO WHERE. To day Ive had a bowl go from just about spot on to, too much to, to little all from just emptying and refilling the bowl. Im getting really frustrated. Sending them out to get them done is not an option because I need to know how to do this and it would take too long.

So anyways, Im wondering if I mark the 3 mm mark on the container with water so I know where I need to be, water making the mark wont be a problem will it?

 

Your floats may be binding on the hinge pins. Did you polish the pins and inside bore of the hinges?

 

The floats and the pins looked fine to me. Im pretty sure I got it although they kept over flowing as I was checking the other ones but when the floats actually they were good. I blasted a bunch of carb cleaner through them followed by some air. Im thinking some little bit of lint or dirt got caught up in the seal so I will check them again tonight to be sure.

The rubber maid container was a great idea. It let me see exactly what was going on inside the float bowls.

 

Check to see how low the floats are hanging. Raise and lower them by hand, watching the needle as you do it. If they sit too low, they can pull the needle off vertical and cause a bind.