Date: 04-11-25  Time: 04:37 am

Author Topic: carb balancing?  (Read 16597 times)

mickvp

  • Global Moderator
  • GP Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,246
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #25 on: 26 July 2013, 04:50:03 pm »
I think I read somewhere they have all to be within 3 divisions on the carbtune. Don't ask me where though..

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #26 on: 26 July 2013, 05:06:20 pm »
I think I read somewhere they have all to be within 3 divisions on the carbtune. Don't ask me where though..


Are we talking the little lines?

mickvp

  • Global Moderator
  • GP Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,246
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #27 on: 26 July 2013, 05:42:14 pm »
Yes. The small lines :)

Ah... It says in the guide here:

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,91.0.html

Max difference is 10Hg (about 2 1/2 lines)


darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #28 on: 26 July 2013, 05:44:28 pm »

(bear in mind this is a photo, the rods were moving up and down a little)




Punkstig

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,191
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #29 on: 26 July 2013, 05:47:28 pm »
Haynes-
Max difference between carbs 10mmHg

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #30 on: 26 July 2013, 05:56:36 pm »
Haynes-
Max difference between carbs 10mmHg


Is it?
I've still scraped it for now by the looks of things, but now i know what i'm doing i can always do it again.


I just read the Carbtune instructions and it said to use the restricted end of the tubes at the engine end.
I made a balls up there then  :rolleyes


It's running fine so i'm not too worried, i'm sure it's a damn site better than a lot of bikes on the road!

elbrownos

  • Naughty Corner
  • Weekend Warrior
  • ***
  • Posts: 148
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #31 on: 26 July 2013, 10:19:15 pm »
Hahah, I balanced tonight too and made exactly the same mistake (which I didn't realise until I read your post)

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #32 on: 26 July 2013, 11:00:41 pm »
Hahah, I balanced tonight too and made exactly the same mistake (which I didn't realise until I read your post)

It's not a bad job, but firstly you need some kind of slightly offset screwdriver to make life easier, and a special layer to stop you from burning your hands!
I did mine after a run on the bike so the engine was HOT  :eek

davec

  • Weekend Warrior
  • ***
  • Posts: 111
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #33 on: 28 July 2013, 09:22:57 pm »
Just ordered my carb tuner.I'm going to connect mine up to the the carbs before removing the tank,hopefully I'll be able to get in and do this, to check how out of sync they are before stripping the tank off.I'm guessing they're going to need doing as the bike has a slightly rough idle.I don't think they have ever been done and it's recommended you do them every 6000 miles.

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #34 on: 28 July 2013, 10:38:18 pm »
Just ordered my carb tuner.I'm going to connect mine up to the the carbs before removing the tank,hopefully I'll be able to get in and do this, to check how out of sync they are before stripping the tank off.I'm guessing they're going to need doing as the bike has a slightly rough idle.I don't think they have ever been done and it's recommended you do them every 6000 miles.


I just gently lifted the tank and turned it round to face the other way, after unplugging the fuel gauge connector, then i used 2 bungees to make sure it didn't fall off.
As long as it doesn't shove it down with rain i'm gonna do mine again tomorrow, 'cos i'm a pedantic git and i know i can make them a bit more balanced, even though they're very acceptable the way they are now.
And i must remember to put the restricted end of the pipes on the engine this time  :rolleyes

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #35 on: 29 July 2013, 11:43:10 am »
Balanced the carbs again this morning (got a couple of days off work), and what a difference it makes  :)

I persevered a bit longer this time to try and get it the best i could, and unfortunately decided to settle with 2, 3 & 4 carbs absolutely level and number 1 carb one small digit different.
Well within spec, but kind of frustrating for me.

The adjuster screw for 1 & 2 is in such a pig of a place that i found it difficult to get a proper feel for it, so was constantly turning it before i found a good enough postion.

I thought they looked quite okay when i first put the Carbtune on but i just took the bike for a spin and it makes a world of difference.
The throttle response, smoothness and acceleration in any gear was simply lovely, and any vibration that might have been there is certainly not there now.

Add to that the money i've already saved in mechanic fees, and the satisfaction knowing that i did it myself and have seen with my own eyes that it's all been done correctly means that the job is definitely a good'un  :D



elbrownos

  • Naughty Corner
  • Weekend Warrior
  • ***
  • Posts: 148
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #36 on: 29 July 2013, 06:09:18 pm »
Good one mate.
How much difference did it make having the hoses the right way round?

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #37 on: 29 July 2013, 06:18:26 pm »
Good one mate.
How much difference did it make having the hoses the right way round?

Can't say to be honest, i spent more time doing it today, and didn't ride it when i adjusted them on Friday?
They seemed quite specific about it on the Carbtune website though.

mickvp

  • Global Moderator
  • GP Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,246
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #38 on: 29 July 2013, 06:48:13 pm »
Good one mate.
How much difference did it make having the hoses the right way round?

Can't say to be honest, i spent more time doing it today, and didn't ride it when i adjusted them on Friday?
They seemed quite specific about it on the Carbtune website though.

I assume he means how much difference did it make to the carbtune needles bouncing, having the restrictors at the "right" end.

It does make a fair bit of difference in my own experience though :)

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #39 on: 29 July 2013, 07:01:45 pm »
Good one mate.
How much difference did it make having the hoses the right way round?

Can't say to be honest, i spent more time doing it today, and didn't ride it when i adjusted them on Friday?
They seemed quite specific about it on the Carbtune website though.

I assume he means how much difference did it make to the carbtune needles bouncing, having the restrictors at the "right" end.

It does make a fair bit of difference in my own experience though :)


Only thing i did notice this time was that the needles took longer to settle into place, i thought they were stuck up high a couple of times and had to blip the throttle just to make sure.
It didn't do that the first time round.

unfazed

  • Naughty Corner
  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 5,342
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #40 on: 30 July 2013, 01:02:43 am »
Just ensure the carbtune unit is positioned vertically, otherwise the rods may stick and really confuse you with its weird readings. :lol
 

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #41 on: 30 July 2013, 11:09:15 am »
Just ensure the carbtune unit is positioned vertically, otherwise the rods may stick and really confuse you with its weird readings. :lol


I'd already though of that so i hung it off the handlebar as shown in the manual.  :)
Although it's 2nd hand the person i got it off said he only used it 4 times and it's all properly bagged up and looking in mint condition.


I still think that there's gotta be a better screwdriver than a #2 to use on the left side screw though, i couldn't get it to seat properly to feel when i was turning it, it was all a bit random.
I might grab a handful of long screwdrivers from work and experiment.
For the right screw i used a short flat blade, that worked a treat. 

mickvp

  • Global Moderator
  • GP Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,246
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #42 on: 30 July 2013, 12:00:16 pm »
a #2 seats fine as long as it has a thin enough shank. grind the shank down a bit to give you clearance if needed ;)

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #43 on: 30 July 2013, 12:22:10 pm »
a #2 seats fine as long as it has a thin enough shank. grind the shank down a bit to give you clearance if needed ;)


Yeah, that does sound like a plan.....  :)

Yamazer-92

  • Naughty Corner
  • Club Racer
  • ****
  • Posts: 421
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #44 on: 30 July 2013, 05:39:48 pm »
Is this an easy job to do by yourself at home? I thought carb tunes would be expensive but I can get one for about £55 on ebay and a garage will probably charge about £40 to do it for me so it pays for itself in 2 goes really. How did you mount the tank to give you a fuel line whilst still getting to the carbs? Do you need any other special tools, I see theres some screwdriver issues going on I have a few long ones but they're pretty standard. I also just checked my tps for the first time and that needs adjusting too so I've ordered the tool for that, It reads 0 but also 10,000? Definitely not 5k anyway. Step 1 says make sure you've balanced your carbs so...

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #45 on: 30 July 2013, 05:55:16 pm »
Is this an easy job to do by yourself at home? I thought carb tunes would be expensive but I can get one for about £55 on ebay and a garage will probably charge about £40 to do it for me so it pays for itself in 2 goes really. How did you mount the tank to give you a fuel line whilst still getting to the carbs? Do you need any other special tools, I see theres some screwdriver issues going on I have a few long ones but they're pretty standard. I also just checked my tps for the first time and that needs adjusting too so I've ordered the tool for that, It reads 0 but also 10,000? Definitely not 5k anyway. Step 1 says make sure you've balanced your carbs so...


I've done it twice now in the last few days, as i wasn't happy with the first attempt, and then found out i had the tubes the wrong way round.


I checked the TPS before and after i balanced the carbs, remembering if an adjustment to the TPS is needed the engine should be at operating temperature.


A few tips i can give, firstly take the blanking caps off and fit the pipes on when the bike is cold, as i found a very hot engine is a bit of a bugger otherwise. Then let the bike warm up until normal tickover is reached.
All i did was take the tank bolts out, after unplugging the fuel gauge plug, then very carefully lifted the tank with the fuel pipe still attached and aimed the tank the other way. It just rests okay without putting any pressure on the fuel tap at all, then i used 2 bungees to secure it in place to prevent any accidents. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, don't blame me if you end up with a metal bonfire!

I'm gonna experiment with the screwdriver issue, as it's definitely a bit fiddly and can be made easier.


Other than that follow the instructions in the manual, which are very simple, and take your time, don't rush it, 'cos the results are really worth it.  :)

Yamazer-92

  • Naughty Corner
  • Club Racer
  • ****
  • Posts: 421
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #46 on: 30 July 2013, 06:17:04 pm »
I've had the tank off several times so I'm confident doing it, it's easy enough if you're careful but when you say aimed it the other way do you mean having it facing to the left or right of the bike with the bike pointing forwards? Thanks for the advice though anyway I just ordered one and the torx driver you need to adjust the TPS. Hopefully they arrive soon so the bike is running nice and sweet for when I go to wales in 2 weeks.  :)

elbrownos

  • Naughty Corner
  • Weekend Warrior
  • ***
  • Posts: 148
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #47 on: 30 July 2013, 06:41:47 pm »
Turn the tank 180 degrees

darrsi

  • GP Hero
  • ******
  • Posts: 10,671
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #48 on: 30 July 2013, 06:43:51 pm »
I've had the tank off several times so I'm confident doing it, it's easy enough if you're careful but when you say aimed it the other way do you mean having it facing to the left or right of the bike with the bike pointing forwards? Thanks for the advice though anyway I just ordered one and the torx driver you need to adjust the TPS. Hopefully they arrive soon so the bike is running nice and sweet for when I go to wales in 2 weeks.  :)


Turn the tank clockwise 180 degrees, so it's facing backwards.
I did it standing on the right side of the bike.
There must've been a reason i did this, probably not to kink the fuel pipe?

Yamazer-92

  • Naughty Corner
  • Club Racer
  • ****
  • Posts: 421
Re: carb balancing?
« Reply #49 on: 30 July 2013, 07:05:52 pm »
Ah right I see what you mean now, do you need anything under the tank like a block of wood to hold it up for some clearance?