Carb balancing by ear?

[ikb]

Is it OK to balance curvey carbs by ear? Just like the old twin SU's on Minis etc?

Coz I have just done mine with a bit of tube in my ear and it runs far better now!!! I do have many years tuning Trials bikes and cars, but i'm not a professional!
And while i'm here my 2000 curvey has fork springs that are about 430mm long! So are they :-
An after market goodie:D
or just out of something else:confused:

As Im new to road bikes they seem fine to me!!

[flymo]

cant see any harm in that, but obviously it would be more accurate with a set of gauges. Unless you have the ears of a bat ;)

[yorkie_chris]

One pot will run a bit hotter if they're out, but if it feels better then it's probably an improvement.

You can make a vaccuum gauge with some clear tubing and oil/coloured water if you haven't the money for proper gauges.

[northwind]

I got mine pretty close... But you'll never know for sure without gauges.

[toonyank]

And while i'm here my 2000 curvey has fork springs that are about 430mm long! So are they :-
An after market goodie:D
or just out of something else:confused:

As Im new to road bikes they seem fine to me!!

Welcome to the show :D

You'll get all the advice you need on balancing here.

As for the fork springs, my trust manual says fork spring free length is:

Standard 314.6mm

Service limit 308mm

So like you said they are either after market or from another bike.

Greg

[ikb]

The main reason for doing the balancing by ear is speed, airbox off and adjusted in 10 mins!
But I did make the mistake of reading the manual first as it said remove every thing to get to the vac ports!

[yorkie_chris]

I reckon I can do it with gauges in about the same.

Just have a bit of hose from the front pot blocked off somewhere convenient.

[northwind]

Yeah, that's a ridiculous way to go about it- just add a tail onto the front port, and you can balance the carbs in minutes in future. I did it by popping the carbs off, took no time at all to set up.

[johnnyrod]

I must have fingers like the guy in Total Recall, I can just about get the tube onto the front stub, though it is tricky and you can get burned. If I gave a monkey's i might fit the extension. Gauges all the way though.

[ejohnh]

Hey, you guys with the gauges, how much vacuum or head(in metres?) does the carb/engine produce when it is idling?.

[yorkie_chris]

Doesn't matter so long as they're the same.

[ejohnh]

Doesn't matter so long as they're the same.

It matters to me honest.;) Not to use when balancing. I just want to know what the average suck is idling at say 1200 rpm. :smt056...

[yorkie_chris]

In that case I have no idea, but I am curious as to why it's important.

[ejohnh]

In that case I have no idea, but I am curious as to why it's important.

I was reading again the description of the home made carb balancing apparatus and I thought to myself 'I wonder what the vacuum at idle actually is?', bearing in mind the caution to pinch the tube when starting the motor - so I asked the question.

[ikb]

I was reading again the description of the home made carb balancing apparatus and I thought to myself 'I wonder what the vacuum at idle actually is?', bearing in mind the caution to pinch the tube when starting the motor - so I asked the question.

I bet you want to know so you can "borrow" some vac gauges from work! just like me!!

[ejohnh]

I bet you want to know so you can "borrow" some vac gauges from work! just like me!!

lol - I wish I was 'still at work' ;-)

[johnnyrod]

About 0.3 bar of vacuum (0.7 bar absolute). Thats's about 3m depression if it's water head you mean, or 230mm mercury. It'l go right up to almost double that on overrun though.