Float level check w/ WATER?

Can I use some non-flammable liquid to check the float levels on my carbs? The weather sucks here and I'd like to do it indoors... Any other tips you guys may have would be appreciated.
(for a 650b - probably doesn't matter)
Thanks

ah, no

The density of water is much higher than that of gasoline, the floats will close off much sooner with water than with gas.

I knew density would come into play, but I suppose just using gas carefully would be best....

Don't do gas indoors! No matter how careful you are not to spill it, the fumes from evaporation will still create a serious fire hazard.

Do it with gas in a well ventilated space with no ignition sources. We want to see you have a lot of nice rides on your 650.

I agree, the different density of the liquids would cause the floats to be set wrong if water were used.

The density of water is much higher than that of gasoline, the floats will close off much sooner with water than with gas.

WTH, LAST I HEARD liquids do not compress ..you will end up with the same amount weather it is water or gas

I don't think compression comes into the picture. The problem is, as T_Dub mentioned, the density of fuel and water is different. The floats will ride higher in a liquid that has a higher density and close the float valve sooner than they would if they were floating in a less dense liquid. As a result, the float valve will close before the appropriate level of liquid is achieved. If you then adjust the tangs on the floats so the correct level of liquid is achieved, when you fill the carbs will fuel instead of water the floats will ride lower and allow too much fuel in the bowls which may cause an overflow condition. I don't know how much difference there is between fuel and water, but it would be an interesting experiment to try just to see how much difference it would make. If one could find a liquid that is less volatile than gasoline but with the same specific gravity, perhaps it could be used safely as a substitute indoors. Ed

Here is a chart of different densities of many liquids. as you will notice that Gas has a density of about 710g/l. This actually can vary dependent on different additives to as high as 770g/l. This means that any liquid you use must fall very near those #s. Here is a quite extensive chart. The first # is the temperature the second # is mass per Litter.

Acetic Acid 25 1049
Acetone 25 784.6
Acetonitrile 20 782
Alcohol, ethyl (ethanol) 25 785.1
Alcohol, methyl (methanol) 25 786.5
Alcohol, propyl 25 800.0
Ammonia (aqua) 25 823.5
Aniline 25 1019
Automobile oils 15 880 - 940
Beer (varies) 10 1010
Benzene 25 873.8
Benzil 15 1230
Brine 15 1230
Bromine 25 3120
Butyric Acid 20 959
Butane 25 599
n-Butyl Acetate 20 880
n-Butyl Alcohol 20 810
n-Butylhloride 20 886
Caproic acid 25 921
Carbolic acid 15 956
Carbon disulfide 25 1261
Carbon tetrachloride 25 1584
Carene 25 857
Castor oil 25 956.1
Chloride 25 1560
Chlorobenzene 20 1106
Chloroform 20 1489
Chloroform 25 1465
Citric acid 25 1660
Coconut oil 15 924
Cotton seed oil 15 926
Cresol 25 1024
Creosote 15 1067
Crude oil, 48o API 60oF 790
Crude oil, 40o API 60oF 825
Crude oil, 35.6o API 60oF 847
Crude oil, 32.6o API 60oF 862
Crude oil,alifornia 60oF 915
Crude oil, Mexican 60oF 973
Crude oil, Texas 60oF 873
Cumene 25 860
Cyclohexane 20 779
Cyclopentane 20 745
Decane 25 726.3
Diesel fuel oil 20 to 60 15 820 - 950
Diethyl ether 20 714
o-Dichlorobenzene 20 1306
Dichloromethane 20 1326
Diethylene glycol 15 1120
Dichloromethane 20 1326
Dimethyl Acetamide 20 942
N,N-Dimethylformamide 20 949
Dimethyl Sulfoxide 20 1100
Dodecane 25 754.6
Ethane -89 570
Ether 25 713.5
Ethylamine 16 681
Ethyl Acetate 20 901
Ethyl Alcohol 20 789
Ethyl Ether 20 713
Ethylene Dichloride 20 1253
Ethylene glycol 25 1097
Freon (Fluorine) refrigerant R-11 25 1476
Fluorine refrigerant R-12 25 1311
Fluorine refrigerant R-22 25 1194
Formaldehyde 45 812
Formic acid 10%oncentration 20 1025
Formic acid 80%oncentration 20 1221
Freon - 11 21 1490
Freon - 21 21 1370
Fuel oil 60oF 890
Furan 25 1416
Furforol 25 1155
Gasoline, natural 60oF 711
Gasoline, Vehicle 60oF 737
Gas oils 60oF 890
Glucose 60oF 1350 - 1440
Glycerine 25 1259
Glycerol 25 1126
Heptane 25 679.5
Hexane 25 654.8
Hexanol 25 811
Hexene 25 671
Hydrazine 25 795
Iodine 25 4927
Ionene 25 932
Isobutyl Alcohol 20 802
Iso-Octane 20 692
Isopropyl Alcohol 20 785
Isopropyl Myristate 20 853
Kerosene 60oF 820.1
Linolenic Acid 25 897
Linseed oil 25 929.1
Methane -164 465
Methanol 20 791
Methyl Isoamyl Ketone 20 888
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 20 801
Methyl n-Propyl Ketone 20 808
Methyl t-Butyl Ether 20 741
N-Methylpyrrolidone 20 1030
Methyl Ethyl Ketone 20 805
Milk 15 1020 - 1050
Naphtha 15 665
Naphtha, wood 25 960
Napthalene 25 820
Ocimene 25 798
Octane 15 698.6
Olive oil 20 800 - 920
Oxygen (liquid) -183 1140
Palmitic Acid 25 851
Pentane 20 626
Pentane 25 625
Petroleum Ether 20 640
Petrol, natural 60oF 711
Petrol, Vehicle 60oF 737
Phenol 25 1072
Phosgene 0 1378
Phytadiene 25 823
Pinene 25 857
Propane -40 493.5
Propane, R-290 25 494
Propanol 25 804
Propylenearbonate 20 1201
Propylene 25 514.4
Propylene glycol 25 965.3
Pyridine 25 979
Pyrrole 25 966
Rape seed oil 20 920
Resorcinol 25 1269
Rosin oil 15 980
Sea water 25 1025
Silane 25 718
Silicone oil 760
Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda) 15 1250
Sorbaldehyde 25 895
Soya bean oil 15 924 - 928
Stearic Acid 25 891
Sulphuric Acid 95%onc. 20 1839
Sugar solution 68 brix 15 1338
Sunflower oil 20 920
Styrene 25 903
Terpinene 25 847
Tetrahydrofuran 20 888
Toluene 20 867
Toluene 25 862
Triethylamine 20 728
Trifluoroacetic Acid 20 1489
Turpentine 25 868.2
Water - pure 4 1000
Water - sea 77oF 1022
Whale oil 15 925
o-Xylene 20 880