Need help asap with float needle height

M42 · September 24th, 2014, 10:19 AM

I'm confused. My float level seems to be at 12 mm when measuring from the rim to the metal tang of the float. The carb is being held sideways when measuring cause the floats compress the needle spring when turned fully upside down. The measurement for my year should be 17 mm +/- 2mm. When i bent the tang out (away from the carb body), even a few mms of difference lead to the floats not compressing the needle spring at any point - they hit the carb surface first (while the carb is upside down). My bike runs, idk if the tang being 3mm off would allow that. Am I missing something obvious? Bike has stock everything intake related.

I'm sitting like a dang fool in my parking lot with rain clouds approaching. Help me figure this out before the downpour!

jkv45 · September 24th, 2014, 01:03 PM

Read though this section - http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Cleaning_the_carbs_1 It discusses float level about 3/4 down on the page.

"When it comes time to reassemble, the jets just screw back in, but you need to set the float height. Each set of carbs has a different recommended height (listed in the service manual for the given bike). If the floats hang too low, your bike can (and most likely will) run lean, and if they sit too high, you'll likely be fighting a rich running bike. The picture shows a special tool for measuring float height, but a 6" ruler, or even a basic set of calipers, can be used to measure the height. To measure, you want the floats to just be touching the fuel needle, which has a spring on it - you don't want to compress that. Most carbs can just be set upside down and the spring will hold the floats where they need to be; some carbs you'll need to tilt at an angle while doing the measuring. To adjust up or down, you just bend the small metal tang that rests on the fuel needle:"

M42 · September 24th, 2014, 01:14 PM

Yeah, turns out you measure it from rim to the bottom (the side away from the carb body) of the floats, instead of the tang. I figured it out riiiight after I posted the thread, too.

September 24th, 2014, 10:19 AM	#1
M42 Wrench wench Name: The Stigette Location: DC/MD/VA Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT CUBIC CENTIMETERS (R.I.P.), SIX HUNDRED FORTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS Posts: 415	Need help asap with float needle height I'm confused. My float level seems to be at 12 mm when measuring from the rim to the metal tang of the float. The carb is being held sideways when measuring cause the floats compress the needle spring when turned fully upside down. The measurement for my year should be 17 mm +/- 2mm. When i bent the tang out (away from the carb body), even a few mms of difference lead to the floats not compressing the needle spring at any point - they hit the carb surface first (while the carb is upside down). My bike runs, idk if the tang being 3mm off would allow that. Am I missing something obvious? Bike has stock everything intake related. I'm sitting like a dang fool in my parking lot with rain clouds approaching. Help me figure this out before the downpour!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Should float height stay stock after rejetting?	agentbad	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	3	July 6th, 2014 10:44 AM
Carb float levels...	corksil	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	9	January 29th, 2014 05:30 PM
Float	Zaydoc	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	2	March 15th, 2012 05:44 AM
Lost float springs	Ninge R	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	10	December 11th, 2011 07:48 AM
Carb tuning take 2 - AEM wideband info & has ANYONE adjusted float height?	rwheelz	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	6	March 30th, 2011 06:43 AM

September 24th, 2014, 01:03 PM	#2
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	Read though this section - http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Cleaning_the_carbs_1 It discusses float level about 3/4 down on the page. "When it comes time to reassemble, the jets just screw back in, but you need to set the float height. Each set of carbs has a different recommended height (listed in the service manual for the given bike). If the floats hang too low, your bike can (and most likely will) run lean, and if they sit too high, you'll likely be fighting a rich running bike. The picture shows a special tool for measuring float height, but a 6" ruler, or even a basic set of calipers, can be used to measure the height. To measure, you want the floats to just be touching the fuel needle, which has a spring on it - you don't want to compress that. Most carbs can just be set upside down and the spring will hold the floats where they need to be; some carbs you'll need to tilt at an angle while doing the measuring. To adjust up or down, you just bend the small metal tang that rests on the fuel needle:"

September 24th, 2014, 01:14 PM	#3
M42 Wrench wench Name: The Stigette Location: DC/MD/VA Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT CUBIC CENTIMETERS (R.I.P.), SIX HUNDRED FORTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS Posts: 415	Yeah, turns out you measure it from rim to the bottom (the side away from the carb body) of the floats, instead of the tang. I figured it out riiiight after I posted the thread, too.