Float level?

[Brownstoo]

I think the float levels are wrong on my phazer (2KR) are wrong (set too low so fuel just runs through?) because fuel is getting into the oil after it sits for a while, so I took them off this morning to check them but I can't figure out where the level marks are...
I looked round and found this, but mine aren't mikunis so that's kinda gay.
Does anyone know what the levels should be? and how to change them on the stock 2KR carbs

[tri boy]

Float levels generally don't change, (unless a float is holed, and fills with fuel), so if the fault is new, and hasn't happened before, I would be suspecting crap in the fuel delivery system. ie; tank, lines, bowls, or worn fuel needles/jets.

[Brownstoo]

The guy I bought it from cleaned and tuned thecarbs before he sold it and I'm assuming it's been doing this since I got it (a month ago).
Also wouldn't a hole in the float do the oposite of whats going no now?
Since I've gone to the trouble of taking the carbs off anyway I'm going to check for dir n wear n stuff.

[vifferman]

Yeah, what he said.
The float should shut off when the arm's about horizontalish. If there's crap under the needle, or the seat's worn, then fuel can leak through no matter what the floats are set at. Check the needle tips and seats, and do the float levels after that. If the floats were "set too low", then they'd shut off the fuel flow (if the needle valves are healthy), too early, potentially starving the engine under prolonged high revs. If, however, the floats aren't floating, because they're squashed or holed, OR the float arm is bent so when the float is at the right height the needle valves aren't closed, the fuel will never shut off.

The usual culprit isn't float height (it won't change unless someone's dicked with it) but crud in the carb's fiddly little bits.

[Brownstoo]

well there are a few k's on the clock. Maybe need new needles n seats.
Also I don't know what fiddling's been going on coz the guy did tune the carbs (I assume he balanced and cleaned them and such) but I dunno what else he fiddled with.

[xwhatsit]

You can check it's closing off visually, by hand... it's a quick way to rule out things. Bit trickier when you've got four gang-carbs, but should still be possible.

Take the float bowl off, you may need to take the carb off the bike to do this, otherwise leave it on. Then feed fuel into the carb, by turning the fuel tap on (to prime if it's a vacuum tap) or by rigging up a temporary line if you have the carb off the bike. Then just move the float up with your finger to see when it closes off. It should close off when the float is square with the gasket face, but that might be slightly different. If it doesn't stop the fuel completely... well... you know what your problem is.

[Brownstoo]

Yeah I just tried that, and I didn't notice any leaking at all. And the float valves look like they're fine.
Oh, and I just pushed the floats till the valve just touched the valve seat, and then just pressed very lightly to keep them shut for a bit, the fuel flow stopped.

[_STAIN_]

rust in the tank, cause or bikes "making oil" (petrol flooding into engine) small grains of rust prevent vacuum fuel tap correctly shutting off. Small grains of rust prevent carb float valve correctly shutting off. Result often overnight 3L oil 6L petrol, mix. Quality Paper Filter may be temporary cure but long term buy a tank seal kit.

[jonbuoy]

I had similar problems with overflowing carbs, turned out to be the float hinges catching slightly on the posts where the pin for the hinge goes through, worse when the bike was on the side stand and the floats were at an angle. You can check all four floats erm float? by popping them into a cup or bowl of petrol. Can be crud on needle seats too.

[Brownstoo]

Yeah, the floats aren't sticking, you can hear them moving when you flip the carbs over, and see them move with the bowls off.
I'll whack them off sometime and check they float, but I'm pretty sure they all do.
Yeah there's not really any rust in the tank, and the main fuel intake is well above the bottom, and I haven't used reserve for a while. There is currently no filter on the bike though, and I know there used to be because there's a bit of stainless steel pipe where it used to be so maybe there's shit getting through... I'll give them a good clean and get a filter and see what happens.
A vacuum tap only switches on when the bikes running, for gravity fed carbs right? mine has a pump and the fuel just runs when the tap is on so I'm just assuming that I don't have one.

[Brownstoo]

I've left the carbs atached to the line, and at the angle that they would be if they were on the bike. After bout an hour the sliders are wet Is that supposed to happen?