Carburetor Float Height Adjust/Check 

Wow. All the vids I've watched on carbs, and NONE showed how to set the float. I always drain my carbs before storing my bike..... except this last time. Now my air box and crank case filled up with gas. You have confirmed that it's likely a stuck float. This will be my first dance with motorcycle carbs. Thanks for your vid!

Gotten to the point now where I just click like before watching the video - have never been let down. I have so much to learn, thanks for sharing MotorcycleMD!

Loving the channel so far! Just discovered you yesterday and already been thru about 6 videos. The way you break things down so anyone can understand & showing detailed step by step is fantastic. I've had a very hard time finding a channel that is knowledgeable, has good video quality & good audio quality. Well done Sir, you are all of the above. Much appreciated!

Wow! Best explanation by a USA mile! The anomalies between other explanations I've encountered now make sense. I believe others are unaware of the need to gently roll the housing stopping to measure only where the valve first shuts off the fuel flow is not well known leading to much discussion and confusion. This is the first time I've heard this and everything now makes sense. thanks from Tasmania

I've been trying to get information on setting the float to manual specs, and NOTHING I found even came close to this great tutorial. Nicely done. Thanks. By the way, the audio was totally fine.

thanks bud,i know my way around holleys from years of experience.but this is my first time rebuilding a rack of kehins.i got to buy me a float gauge.it all makes sence now.i appreciate you takin the time to teach an old dog new tricks.

I have minimal experience with carbs but thanks to this I now feel VERY confident that I can adjust it correctly. I know I have a flooding carb and it is almost guaranteed to be a stuck float, and since I have it off I am going to put in a jet kit, but I want to do it right the first time and checking the float level is a crucial part of that. Thanks man!

Hey Cody, I learned so much watching your videos. I just bought a 1997 shadow ace 1100 and I can’t wait to perform all these maintenance tasks by myself. 🤓

Great explanation. Thanks and will be tackling my Sabre V45 this weekend..Now I understand completely.

Thank you. I can now correctly adjust my new floats after I rebuilt my carbs on my boat motor. It is very rich.

Thanks for the videos mate, really helping me set up my 99r6 track bike.

Excellent just what I was looking for you helped me out 100percent thanks

Thanks for an amazing explanation and I'd discovered that float-rod was the possible culprit, not free pivoting enough.

Thanks for this step...doing it now on my 84 VT750C....

WOT A DIAMOND NO NONSENSE EASY TO UNDERSTAND EXPERT NATURAL TUTOR. THANK YOU

Cool video, nice and easy explanation. I adjusted my KLX 650 and it runs like a new bike.

Thanks for your excellent video and explanations.

Thank you for detailed explanations! Youre a great mechanic!

Thanx man, Good info and really sweet way of explaining, i found this to be really helpful! From northern arctic Sweden, riding Enduro Gasgas 300 Nordic Racing with a little carb flowt malfunction...

Nice! Great stuff. Thanks for the info.

you are very good at explaining stuff my friend!

your a natural teacher Subbed

Excellent video. Thank you!!

Huge help...I'm pretty sure I adjusted my floats the first way resulting in lean condition to the point where even one cylinder wasn't firing correctly. Thank you.

good explanation dude keep up the good work xx

Fantastic video clear and precise

Very useful thanks dealing with leaky petcock that’s bout to open carb make sure everything okay in there with the seat , currently have gas Oder in oil

I just ordered a float gauge heeding your advice.

Thank you very much 4 this video! Been having trouble with my 1988 honda shadow 600 carburator. Thanks again

Thank for all the information.

I like the new intro . great video.keep it up .

fantastic video buddy !

Really good content here, when it comes to working on the carb its always best to take your time and be very meticulus in the way you clean it, be very thorough,,,you wold be amazed how you could keep it simple and bring a bikes power back to life,,,clean the carb, make sure jetting is apprpriate, inspect valves, inspect float height,,,,,In many cases, doing those 4 things will solve all your power issues if done correctly

GREAT vid!!! MUCH appreciated!

great explanation. i was told to flick carb upside down then measure and float would sit level .ill give your method a bash .thanks

very informative and comprehensible

Thank you for the proper tool tip, im goring to buy one.

Great! Very helpful!

Amazing guide

Great explanation.

Thanks Cody! You just made my day with this video! I just ordered the gauge from the link. I’m working on my 1981 Kawasaki kz440b and can’t find the float level set number. Can you please help me?!

Thank you. Very useful

Thanks for your help on getting my float s sorted cheers ace video gray from the United kingdom

I cannot quite believe what an incredible video this is! I have watched tons of videos on tons of subjects, and never found a single video that answered EVERYTHING, and explained in such simple, but detailed format. Much less when it comes to mechanics! Many many thanks!

Thanks for doing these videos, they help me a lot. I am restoring a 1985 lt250r. The floats are actually captured in the bottom of the float bowl. It seems difficult for me to get the metal float arm to just barely rest on the float valve. Any tricks of the trade for this type of carb? Also would a rich float height make my quad urinate through the overflow tube?

Ya man - quality video🧔🏾👍🏾 ThAnkYoU 🥁

Great video, thanks

Thank you, this is one of the best informative videos i have seen. This man should be a teacher!!! Can you please tell me the float setting on my 1983 XV750 ? regards Dave,

Well explained, thank you (UK)

Good video

11:08 My bike uses that same set of carbs! Love them cb750/900s Same carb body, different jets. :P

Hay, good vid, im working on magna carbs and all float levels are a mess, BUT, what about the cleaner vid dealing with the best effect on needles and rubber like you mentioned here??? im interested, thanks

Great stuff! Cheers

One of my float needles on my 84 vf700c magna was all corroded looking and stuck in the valve seat. Would that cause the float to overfill possibly and get oil in the Air box? When taking it off it looked oily? These videos are awesome. I'll be showing another Honda mechanic your videos.

I wouldn't mind buying that set you were working on there.. They were pretty clean from what I've seen

Awesome video, have a question i have a 03 honda shadow 600vlx. And have a brownish color dripping out of the bottom of my carb. Is that from the float or something else?

This is a great video. It would have been nice if you show how to actually adjust the "diving board" though! One of my float lobes is exactly 7mm but the other lobe is 6mm so guess i need to bend the tang at a slight angle to get them parallel (same height)?

Thanks bro, exactly what i was looking for cause i bumped mine while jetting. AND... I have a vt1100 so this was great

Thanks Pal

Ok cody I’ve got a virago 535. Can I check the height while the carbs are still on the bike as they are a pain to get on and off 🙄 great video

Great stream .Many thanks . Just sortingf out carbs on a Kawasaki Zephyer 550 and haveing issues . Now i have a problem to the air mixture screws . How many turns out should they be . The book said 3/4 of a turn out and i dont think that thats right . I am sure that is 3 1/2 turns to start with . What do you think ??? Thanks for the stream 👍👍👍👍

I got a dirty 4 carb from ebay and my floats are set way too high. gas either drains out or gets in the air filter, and the bike doesn't want to idle. i didn't know about the angle thing and had mine sitting straight up. it was at ~ 4mm higher than it should be even if i did adjust it there it would still be off according to this. thanks for the clear instructions and how to/not to do it. my manual says nothing about float adjustment. does it matter how far it dangles down held upside down? (like or heart this comment if you answer so i can get notified.) honestly im surprised i got the bike to run for an hour last year seeing how the floats weren't even level or correctly positioned. although when reved up it did stick.

I have a '06 Suzuki Vinson Quad Runner 500 4x4. I don't have a manual. Is there anyway that you have the specs on the float level? I really enjoy watching your videos! I know you work on a lot of Hondas, but maybe you can help me with this? Thanks!

Hey Cody, new subscriber here. Just bought a '87 Honda Rebel 250cc and it seems to be bogging down at times. At other times, it feels like it got kicked in the arse with nitro! I'm thinking it's possibly the carb. Question is, did you make the carb cleaner comparison video? I'm trying Seafoam's gas additive with high grade premium fuel. I haven't felt a difference yet.

Awesome

Hi Cody! I watched your video time ago and each time I take out the carburator, really helpful and easy to understand. I have a ShadowVT 700 1986 (taking the carb out is a pain in the back ) I have a problem that hope you can give me a hint. I rebuild and clean the carb, #112 with a little shim / #45 slowjet, new floats, diaphragms and boots, the carb is good as "new" old 30 year bike! Bike is original but exhaust system (long pipes, little custom silencer), I came from #42 slowjets (as I had to give it almost 5/6 turns out for it to idle and work good with little back fire, but as you might know the pilot screw is useless this way). Now having #45 slowjets and have almost 4,5/5 turns out for it to idle and work good. At high speed bike runs just fine, at least it wont show any rattling on acceleration. So here my question (sorry for the extent), can this problem be because the float level is too low or too high? so the bike needs more turns out of the pilot screw for it to be richer? in any case, might I need more mm of float level? (I measure it with a caliber each time 8mm to 9mm, cant get the precise tool from Amazon) Thanks!

Thank you...let my 01R6 set for about 5 years.Tried a carb cleaning/rebuild got it to start,but gas was pouring down into the engine and gas is in the oil.

Hi cody if u ajust yor float must u turn yor needle up or down to get it perfect

Hi guys need a Little info have a 97 eliminator 600 need float level setting for said bike thanks guys keep riding !😎

Hey cody ! Just another question: saw the keihin vb54 (?) carb u pulled out. U know The right float level for it? Cheers! Keep up the good work

Hey Cody, I have a CV on my Sportster. If I adjust the idle up on it it pulls fuel up through the emulsion tube at idle. Is that normal?

Can you help identifying the following carburetor model number and perhaps carb ASSY illustration: Carb. markings: Mikuni and just below the name appears Japan followed by T/A and digits 16 in the air inlet barrel. am also interested in the float height. thanks

I have that problem with the float staying up, the question is why the gasoline doesn't go down the overflow hose.

How does float level affect fuel delivery at constant throttle? I'm having an issue on my DR350SE where I'm noticing stuttering/lurching at constant throttle (not rolling on or off).

What is your opinion on a bike that will only run at full rpms intermittently? When it rarely runs right (it is a 4 wheeler) hold on. But it just keeps getting worse and has backfiring issues through exhaust.

What's the float level for a 1993 honda shadow vt1100 is it the same you did 9.2

Hello Cody I bought a Suzuki Bandit 1200 S, 5 gallon tank, gravity feed to carbs. The previous owner lived in Drexel, North Carolina. I rode the bike back to South Florida. I have experience a rich mixture smell. I took the motorcycle to my mechanic who informed me that the carbs were rejected for higher altitudes. My question is, what can I do to cut back on the rich mixture??? I am David

I feel like I’m losing power at high rpms. 95 shadow 1100 I cleaned the jets and it runs good but it feels lacking once get upto speed could this be a float problem? I did not check them while I had it apart

hello kodi i have question i need to answer it as soon as possible what if i put bike carb in 30 or 45 dgree to engine what will happen i do that and i found gas flow out side and inside engine however engine is working but idel is lean and back fire and bleck smake i need to know what is solution for that issue

Have a 2003 VT750DC Shadow spirit, rebuilt carbs, after sitting several years when friend owned it. Found two quarts of fuel in crank case. After rebuild, floods out and dies, seems like floats are off. Know the measurement for the floats?? Thanks for your time!

Hello Bro, how do i know that my carburetor needs to be replace?, my mechanic is telling me that i need a new carburetor, i was thinking that with a replacement kit and new floats i will be enough but he is telling me that it won't change anything. I have a Cb750 1981.

Question??????? I have a 2002 Polaris 500 sportsman 500 and it leaks fuel from the overflow. This is a brand new carb and was also doing with the original. Can that be fixed with the needle adjustment????

Would my floats being out of adjustment be why my bike leaks gas when it's running? It's a 2000 nighthawk cb750

I have a '95 Yamaha FZR 600. Do you happen to know the height I need to adjust the floats to?

This guy may not be a genius but he's a genius at explaining things. Don't know why he keeps winking at us though

Hey do know what the float level should be on 1985 honda interceptor 700?

Ive had problems with my float. I replaced the float valve and seat put it all back together. Came back the next day. Still hard to start from cold. Leaking out the overflow..i took the carb off again and checked the float height. Put it back together. Same issue. Very hard to start from cold but from warm or hot it goes first kick..ive also just realised i measured the float looking down on to the float. I.e the float was sat down with gravity on to the float valve. So i will have got the wrong reading... Im guessing thats whats causing my hard starting and carb overflow issue?

will this technique work for any cv carb. my service manual describes a totally different way of checking level. including using calipers with carb slanting at 45 deg angle. 2003 Suzuki VL800

I have independant floats and can't find a single video or posting. Any help? aftermarket carb for a 1983 yz490. I either get too much fuel or not enough.

Float leavel for a 1989 gl 1500 goldwing in mm

Where do I need to set my float at on a 2003 Honda VTX 1300 S it's getting way too much gas flooding the plugs in the cylinders if you could let me know really would appreciate it

At what point do you check the square floats?

Hey man I have a VTR 250 I can't find what the height is for the floats would you know what it is

Measuring float height is a very rough adjustment. What you really need to do is to measure the actual fuel height in the bowl.

Hey Cody. Enjoy ur forums. What would be the float height on a 05 honda aero vt750c. Thankyou.

First bike 99 cbr 600f4 When I give it gas it’s sputtering it has no power then it finally accelerates what can be the problem

how do I know the hieght of my flota? Its an Arctic Cat 2003 250 2x4. thank you for the video Bro.

Can you fly over to New Zealand and do both my bikes?? No clowns in shops over here know what they are doing.

I have cleaned up the carbs on my Virago, Suzuki 550 and now im rebuilding carbs on a 82 gs750. I have never adjusted the floats but on this bike I want it to be right before I put it together. Problem.. I have the tool but cant find the specs on the floats..HELP!

Question... I have a 78 cb400a with mikuni vm30 carbs. I've noticed a leak from the overflow tube, so float seems too high. Should I adjust to the float per the mikuni carb settings, or should the floats be adjusted to the float height of the original carbs???