How To Adjust Carburetor Float Height

Here’s how to properly adjust your carburetor floats. This can be a tedious process. It’s also one that you need to get right. Otherwise, you’re pulling the carbs off to adjust. Take your time. Get it right. Request a free sticker at www.keeponwrenching.com
00:00 Intro
00:20 Float Height Explained
01:15 Float Needle for Carb
02:18 Installing Floats on a carburetor
02:45 Measuring Float Height on a carburetor
03:56 Adjusting height on a carb float
04:58 Hot to measure float height with a caliper
06:05 Carb float adjustment for each side
06:45 Outro for carb float adjustment

[@robinator503]

Super easy to understand. Thanks

[@KeepOnWrenching]

My pleasure.

[@donbrashsux]

A great clear vid on setting the floats 👍

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Thanks so much!

[@Augcliffe]

Newbie here. This was really informative!

[@KeepOnWrenching]

That’s great to hear!!

[@daveco1270]

Always nice to see a KOW video pop up on my UA-cam main page. That camera didn't want to focus for you. : ) Maybe it's just me, but it seems easier to use the opposite end of the caliper (the part that sticks out as you open it) when doing float height measurement. The bottom of the caliper becomes a small ledge to bring down onto the top of the float. I guess a measurement is a measurement. There's a bunch of ways to do it. The float height tools they make for certain bikes work great too. I have one specially made for the CB750.

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Yeah…I like being able to rest it in that lower ledge. Many ways to do it. This was tough to film. Definitely struggled with focus but hopefully the points came across.

[@jerryhatley5004]

I’m working on restoring a ‘66 Honda s90. One manual says 19.5mm, a second says 22mm for the s90 float…when at 19.5mm the carb continually leaks gas down through the overflow. I haven’t tried 22mm but I think I’m gonna experiment and slowly raise the float from 19.5mm up, about a half mm at a time. Since installing and installing doesn’t take long on an s90 I aught to be able to find a happy point where the overflow shuts off (finally!). BTW…this is the original keihin carb….ain’t solvin mysteries fun?

[@KeepOnWrenching]

It's a finicky business for sure. I think I did mine 15 times the first time I was doing this. Mysteries around every corner. Always something.

[@williampayne5002]

Thanks

[@KeepOnWrenching]

You’re welcome!

[@tonyfree2691]

You don't need to remove the float to adjust the tab. Really you can bend it in situ

[@KeepOnWrenching]

I suppose you don’t. Either way works tho!

[@bigal7561]

I've got a great idea. Jump on a plane, fly to Oklahoma (I'll pick you up at the airport) drive you to my house and you can adjust my carbs, timing and such then my bike will run like the wind. I down to just engine, carb, airflow adjustment and I'm finished and I've discovered this is too far over my head and it's too important for me to screw up.
Both carbs are leaking around the gaskets on the bowls. With the new aftermarket mufflers and the electrical upgrades, I can beat it out and take a month and get it running or just have it done. It pops when I turn it over and has fire on both plugs but I think I'm flooding the heck out of it.
What time will your flight be coming in? My wife is a great cook. Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. Ha

[@jerryhatley5004]

Well, I’m in Oklahoma but too busy with my S90! Just dig into it…after all, you just might learn something AND fix it….good luck

[@KeepOnWrenching]

You can do it, man. It’s not complete rocket science. We believe in you. Just start with the baseline adjustments

[@bc-mr1si]

hi thanks for the good explanation. i have cv carbs.my manual says set at 32mm?? on the web they say 32 is to high and the setting should be 26.what setting should i go with🤔

[@KeepOnWrenching]

I wanna say it’s 26.

[@bc-mr1si]

@KeepOnWrenching thanks for the reply .I have them set at 32mm just now.bike not running to good very rich. also found the float bowl was like sitting on the floats slightly before tightening the 4 bolts 🤔

[@KeepOnWrenching]

@@bc-mr1si try 26. I’m almost positive the 350s are to be set to 26. Make sure the floats don’t have leaks too. Sometimes you can shake them and hear fluid inside. That can cause all sorts of issues!

[@bc-mr1si]

@KeepOnWrenching issues I'm due to take a shotgun to this thing 😃I've lost count to how many times the carbs have been off.infact I could do with my eyes shut.floats have no leaks.im probably not setting them right.ill give the 26mm a go .thanks

[@KeepOnWrenching]

Good luck! It’s always the carbs.