Carb - Float Adjustment:

When adjusting the carb float, the body of the carb should be held at an angle (15 - 20 degrees) making a wedge of wood at 18 degrees (the center of the angle) and setting the carb throat (the side that goes into the maifold) on the wedge of wood and then measuring the float setting (the distance from the "bottom" of the float to the edge of the float bowl mounting flange/base) which should be between 0.413 - 0.453 inches (10.49 - 11.51mm) [7/16" = 0.4375] - great idea!

I made the wood block to fit the angle the carb should be tilted to (not pictured - mine turned out to be a tad over 18 degrees - within specs) and then I took an old HOG Card (think old credit card) and cut a 7/16" tab out of it to use as a gage.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep in mind that: a LOW float level will lean out all the carb circuits, and a HIGH float level will richen all the circuits. So set your float level before setting up the carb.


[IMG]local://upfiles/2318/A23F97A7ABF540218C054D99C9CAE932.jpg[/IMG]

 

I Bent mine so that it ran rich, so rich it would cut off. Seemed like it was floodeing itsself. I drove all day this way and only felt it when leaving a stop sign. Still popped thru the carb....

 

my cv carb has a round float and not a square. if i measure and set at 7/16 inch no fuel squirt from accelerato pump and the engine wont get enough fuel to run. new member, old rider,1990fltcu.

 

i have the same type of float. Does anyone know what the proper float level is supposed to be on these circular floats? The floats look like the brass ones even brass colored except they are plastic.

 

The float levels should be the same between the types, if nothing else your factory service manual should have the specifications.

 

 

I have a 1990 sportster with the round orange floats in the manual it says the carb should inverted and flat Not on incline.
1988 -1990 measurement is 18.4 to 18.5mm. 1991 models are 17.5 to 18.5mm. hope this helps someone.

 

Way late on this topic but when bending the tab on the float, which way to you bend it for a lean condition? I think mine may be to rich because I am still getting "burps" of gas coming out of the overflow tube.

 

With the carb upside down, pull the tab up to richen, push it down (toward slide) to lean it out. It does not take much at all!!! If you have an overflow, there's an easy way to check it on the bike with a clear tube. Let us know if you need info on that operation.