It seems like it would take an awful good eye to set the float like that. I have a bike with four carbs and have tried setting all four floats by measuring with a caliper. The float on each side was set well within +/- .010". When assembled I found that there more than a 1/16 inch difference between two carbs using the hose method. That's just barely withing specs but not good enough for me. Differences between float density, float valve spring pressure, side to side measurements and maybe a couple other variables caused individual carbs to have different levels.

Bottom line, it's great to have only one carb but the only real way to know the actual fuel level in the bowl is to measure it with the hose method. The eyeball method probably works in the majority of cases. If you got it right with the eyeball method then there should be no need to worry about it. For everyone else, if you still have problems double check the fuel level with a hose.

Not only are there too many variables, you're trying to appropriately bend a small tab to end up within a 1-2mm mark. I failed 3 times using the clear tube method. Luckly found the ODO method and it worked perfect the first time. When you flip the carb. upside down it even sits level on the vac. cover. That article should be posted all over this sight not stuffed deep in some thread!

That's right, if you only use the the clear tube method for setting the float you don't stand much of a chance of getting it right. You really need to use both. The tube verifies that you got the bench setting correct. I'm probably too picky but think the +/- 1mm tolerance is too much.

After the clear tube method; I was actually amazed at how simple,easy, and accomodating the ODO method was.

ZORRO wrote:
This article is also quite good. I put a link:
http://www.maxairengineering.com/images/floatlevel/CheckYourFloatLevel.htm

I've compared various float level techniques (do a search to find the post).

I can verify that if you use the Maxair technique (or a variation) the correct float level for the 1600 is 14 mm. This is equivalent to -3.5 mm when using the tube method on the bench.

Doc

I don't doubt the maxaireng./caliper method of float level measuring is the exact/science way of doing it; that's probably what's done in professional race garages and mechanics across this nation. But measuring 3.5mm (that's HALF a mm) in a clear tube is damn near impossible.

eblack wrote:
But measuring 3.5mm (that's HALF a mm) in a clear tube is damn near impossible.

Not when you've worked in a lab.

But there is significant error associated with the measurement.

Doc

It seems that you check the fuel level with the carburetor engine separately, my question is if it is possible to check with the carburetor mounted on the engine and if so, whether the level that it is the same both in the part that connects with the air filter, as in connecting with the admission.
I say this because my carburetor with the engine mounted on gave me an identical result in both parties.
A greeting.

Yes, the 'recommended' method is to do the adjustment with the carb on the bike.

If the bike is on the lift then it's fairly level.

Doc

Hello everyone after making several tests .... I thought that erroneously by cleaning the carburetor, the level of disorder had my float because when I go to check it gave a very far from that recites the manual.

* Yesterday check the level of the Wild a good friend and I had coincided with my carbuardor before tap into the float.

* Check with the help of a level that the difference between the two sides of carbuardor of 7.5 mm is the lowest of union with the filter.

* Note there are two manuals in this motorcycle xv 1600:

http://www.paulmilner.com/yamaha/handbuch/service_manual_1602.pdf search page 363
http://www.paulmilner.com/yamaha/handbuch/XV1600V-ger.zip search page 372

* In the Wildstar the level is 7.5 + 4 or 5 mm or between 11.5 and 12.5mm on the part of the carburetor is installed where the air filter, if verificais the back with a flashlight will give you the 4 to 5 mm above union.

* I just adjust mine on the level of the photo and purr like a kitten, I have already seen that I have not reached the 11mm but it had no more time, while watching the performance of the bike I think it is already well I will like a Swiss watch.

* La bike must be completely right.

* An advice is to try not to touch it as is standard, if the bike goes well do not touch them.

A greeting.

In Spanish:

Hola a todos despues de hacer varias pruebas.... pense erroneamente que al limpiar el carburador, habia transtornado el nivel de mi flotador ya que al ir a verificarlo me daba una medida muy lejos de la que recita el manual.

* Ayer comprobe el nivel de la Wild de un buen amigo y coincidia con el que tenia mi carbuardor antes de trastear con el flotador.

* Verifique con ayuda de un nivel que la diferencia entre los dos lados del carbuardor es de 7.5 mm mas baja el de la unión con el filtro.

* Ojo hay dos manuales de esta motocicleta xv 1600:

http://www.paulmilner.com/yamaha/handbuch/service_manual_1602.pdf buscar en la pagina 363
http://www.paulmilner.com/yamaha/handbuch/XV1600V-ger.zip buscar en la pagina 372

* En la Wildstar el nivel es 7.5 + 4 ó 5mm o sea entre 11.5 y 12.5mm en la parte del carburado donde se instala el filtro de aire, si verificais la parte trasera con una linterna os dará los entre 4 y 5mm por encima de la unión.

* Yo acabo de ajustar la mia en el nivel de la foto y ronronea como un gatito, ya he visto que no he llegado a los 11mm pero ya no tenía mas tiempo, aunque viendo el funcionamiento de la moto me parece que se queda asi, ya digo va como un reloj suizo.

* La moto debe estar completamente derecha.

* Un consejo es que intenteis no tocarlo de como viene de serie, si va bien la moto no lo toqueis.

Un saludo.