Float Adjustment

[Devin]

I am having some trouble adjusting the float in my stock carb. The fuel wasn't showing on the window and after many tries adjusting it, it only shows either too low or too high. I looked at the FSM and is says it should be something like 1.6 to 1.9 mm from the needle plunger to the float lip. But I can't see where exactly they mean. Can someone explain a little more clearly where to measure? \
Thanks

[Petros]

Usually you hold the lid upside down so the weight of the float pushes down on the needle valve. you measure the gap between the float and the top of the carb, it looks like they want to measure from the float to the needle seat. I thought there was an illustration in the manual to show this. You adjust it by bending the tab that pushes on the back of the needle valve.

The fuel level in the carb bowl usually does not change unless you have replace the needle valve, it will not go suddenly bad unless someone opened the carb and messed with it. The only other way it might change is if the needle valve goes bad and crumbles the rubber tip away, which means you need a new one anyway.

[Highlander]

There's one other way for the float bowl level to change- and that's if the float sinks instead of floating, and they are prone to doing just that at times. If that's the case, it'll flood the engine, BTDT.

[Petros]

that is true, and I have heard of that happening, but I have never seen it. A solid plastic float can not take on fuel, as the old hollow brass floats used to, they leak and than sink (and I have owned a few of those when I was in highschool). I do not know what would cause a solid plastic foam float to absorb fuel and sink, contamination perhaps?

[takza]

I'd stay with the lower level...mine always was low...but within spec. Keeping the bowl level low is a way to possibly increase mpg...since it forces the carb vacuum to pull gas up further. Only issue might be fuel starvation on corners and hills.

[4wdchico]

There's one other way for the float bowl level to change- and that's if the float sinks instead of floating, and they are prone to doing just that at times. If that's the case, it'll flood the engine, BTDT.

True, the spec on the float weight is 7 grams. If is heavier, replace it.

[Highlander]

that is true, and I have heard of that happening, but I have never seen it. A solid plastic float can not take on fuel, as the old hollow brass floats used to, they leak and than sink (and I have owned a few of those when I was in highschool). I do not know what would cause a solid plastic foam float to absorb fuel and sink, contamination perhaps?

it's usually due to a crack in the float- they are hollow , not solid, so when they start to fill with fuel, they sink. I've had it happen twice, once right after I rebuilt the engine on the '83 so I can attest to the fact that it does happen.