float height sanity check

[krazy]

Guys, please tell me what's up with my float height. It seems like it is way too high (low fuel height) compared to the description everyone gives for setting it at 16mm. I thought you generally wanted the seem on the float to be parallel with the carb body. But in the first pic the float is all the way down, compressing the plunger all the way in, and it isn't quite parallel there, and it's around 16mm. The second two pics are with it barely touching the spring, I think, because its hard to tell. At this point it looks ridiculous. This is off a 2001, AS1 I presume. Does the tang look really pushed down compared to other AS1 floats? Bike has always run rich, I assumed because of float. I just got engine back from tuner (porting, squish, etc.) so maybe he adjusted it, but I doubt it. What's your take?

Many thanks as always.

[andoman]

Hook up a tube to the fuel supply fitting and blow into it as you manually raise and lower the float. You'll able to tell exactly when the needle is seating.

Do you have evidence that the overflow is often dribbling fuel? I.e.: dribbles when on the side stand, a very fuel stained and brittle overflow tube, or very poor fuel mileage.
I had all of the above and it all went away with the tiniest perceptible bend on the tang.

[Fred1956]

Proper way is to tilt the carb at around 45 degrees until the tang just makes contact with the springy thing on the needle but not compressing it

[GMP]

Fred is correct, but I will also add that the weight of the float should not compress the plunger spring to the level shown in your pic when the carb is vertical. It appears to me your needle may be defective.

[pscook]

It looks like the tang is bent down to compensate for the lack of spring in the needle, as Glenn pointed out. The float should not compress the spring to that extent. Replace the needle and see where that gets you. I would assume that you can get a float needle for that carb from any Big Four shop.

[gasmonkey]

Yeah it looks like someone has bent the crap out on that adjusting tang.
Fit a new needle valve and maybe a float assembly and go from there.
Any jap dealer could/should supply.

[krazy]

Thanks chaps, there are 2 dealers of on road bikes in my area so will try them.

[Gasgasogeros]

try this http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10173