Troubleshooting carbs with water

Can I troubleshoot carb problems (leaks, float heights, etc) with water? It would be SO much nicer if I didn't have to deal with the inevitable fuel spills and smells. I know that water has different density, and different sized molecules, so I'm not confident that it would work unless someone knows other wise.

Nope, I would use gas....water doesn't work.

If you see a drop of water fall on a car hood, its will pool.

If you do the same with gas it will not.

I think the name for water is hydrophobic....I will let the experts correct me.

Water is not a good substitute for gasoline for setting fuel levels (adjusting floats). This is because gasoline has only about 70-75% of the density of water. So if you set the fuel level using water the floats will rise higher in the water than they would in gasoline because water is more dense, and this would cause the float valves to close prematurely which would cause the level of water in the carb bowls to be too low. This would then lead you to bend the float tangs to adjust the fuel level higher. Then when you switch to gasoline to run the bike the floats would not rise as high in the gasoline as they did in water because the gasoline is less dense. This then would cause the fuel level to rise too high before the float valves closed and might cause an overflow condition. If you want to use something other than gasoline you will need to find something that has the same specific gravity as gasoline that will not damage or clog carb parts. I don't know of such a liquid, but maybe someone else does. Ed

Thanks for the replies.

How about checking for leaks, and checking for working needle valves? Those two, in my experience, are the cause for most of the "gas all over my #$%@#&% workbench" problems.

You may want to make a temporary stand and work on the carbs outside. Some guys have done this just using a couple boards and a set of old carb holders. Ed

650ed wrote: You may want to make a temporary stand and work on the carbs outside. Some guys have done this just using a couple boards and a set of old carb holders. Ed

+1

I have used oderless mineral spirits. The specific gravity is very close.Do not let it sit in the carbs though as it will shrink seals. When done setting levels fill them with gas.
Wayne

I use a 2x4 placed in a baking pan. Pan catches any leaks, board allows me to put it in the proper position.

Could set one carb's fuel level with gasoline.
Or select a carb that already has a correct fuel level.

Then re-measure the tube level in that same carb using common household rubbing alcohol, which will show the corresponding correct level with alcohol.

Then use alcohol to determine and adjust the fuel levels in the remaining carbs.

Good Fortune!