Bench setting float / fuel level

Do it once, and do it right. What if what you are using other than gasoline, leaves a film, or deposit in the carb, then you have to rebuild them. Are these mechanical carbs, or vacuum slide carbs?

Go to your local bike shop and ask them nicely if you can do it there,youself. Maybe bung them a few quid/dollars,euros.

Patton wrote: Odorless mineral spirits works well.

Can also use common household rubbing alcohol, after first determining the level it produces in a carb known to have a correct float height.

Good Fortune!

Pamper yourself by doing this while seated comfortably at the kitchen table (air conditioned, of course), on a fresh clean towel.

It saves time by using only one of the four float bowl screws to attach the bowl during successive attempts to achieve a perfectly tweeked tang position.

Yes -- one bowl screw is sufficient for the clear tube testing process.
In the unlikely event of a slight seepage potential, it doesn't affect the procedure or the results.

Good Fortune!

CoreyClough wrote: Do it once, and do it right. What if what you are using other than gasoline, leaves a film, or deposit in the carb, then you have to rebuild them. Are these mechanical carbs, or vacuum slide carbs?

Mine are the stock 26VM Mikuni mech slide carbs.
I can't say about the "what if's" with other stuff.
I used straight up oderless mineral spirits from the local hardware store.
I did put the carbs back together that night and installed the carbs two days later without doing anything other then connect the fuel tank/selector back to the carbs and filling them back with gas.
Disclosure:
I did check a couple weeks later to see how it was with real gas and it was a waste of my time based on the clear tube method.
Before rechecking, I had only put about 230 miles on the bike (since the firing the engine back up after the mineral spirits fuel level setting session)... but there has not been a single burp from the engine since then and have almost 600 miles on it now.
I'm not a chemical engineer but I don't think there will be any residue issue with the mineral spirits.

missionkz wrote: I'm not a chemical engineer but I don't think there will be any residue issue with the mineral spirits.

Correct. I used to use it for soaking parts in to clean them. It doesn't evaporate and leave a sticky residue like gasoline does.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions / advice !! Greatly appreciated !!

I ended up using my Denatured Alcohol to set the float height on my carbs. I got them mounted on the bike today, but have to get the carb to air cleaner box boots softened up, so I can get the air box connected, then will see if the bike will start.

This bike only has 8,500 miles on it, and has sat in a barn for over 15 years. I hope to get it to fire up tomorrow. It will put a big grin on my face if it does !!

I'll post back to let you know if Denatures Alcohol is a reliable liquid to use when setting the floats on our carbs. I hope it is ........

Please keep us updated, it would be great if your substitution works! Don't dissapear without letting us know if the levels appear the same, once its running!

Alcohol works fine. Plenty close enough. Dang y'all, this isn't a nuclear reactor...... wait, Homer works at a nuclear plant. D'oh!

That's frightening! :ohmy:
Steve