gauges vs not gauges

Ok so im thinking of investing in some vacuum gauges for balancing the throttle bodies. However ive seen these fancy carb tune things now that look like a manometer type device. Are these much better than the gauges?

About ten years ago I bought a set of Morgan Carbtune 3s and been using them ever since, they're brilliant. At work we've got a set of gauges and our technician prefers to use my Carbtunes because they're more accurate and give a steadier reading.

[yorkie_chris]

About the only thing better than the carbtunes are mercury manometers, if you can get them.
Personally I wouldn't bother due to risk of spillage. The carbtunes go back in the pouch they're supplied in with all the bits you need and get chucked in the drawer.

Bourdon gauge type ones are more critical to calibration and bounce. I've tried all manner of bikes with the carbtunes, swapping the pipes around and such to try and find a difference in measurement and never found any noticeable discrepancy in readings.

[embee]

I have a pair of pretty old but top quality bourdon type dial gauges which will give very accurate results, but are a pain to use TBH as YC says. You need to restrict the hoses down using clamps and back them off just enough to get the same "bounce" on each gauge, experience tells you how much to have, then judge the max/min range and decide whether you've got them set equally before you adjust the carbs........etc.

If I was getting something today I'd go for the Morgan Carbtunes.

Personally I use an electronic gubbins I made using a differential pressure transducer, but that's another story.

[johnnyrod]

I've got Davida Bourdon type (dial) gauges and can't fault them. You do get a bit of flutter if it's running lean (not sure why, it's a thing) but htey have some damping built in which works well. The cheaper ones I've also used have clamps on the pipes as Embee says, and they're crap. Never used either of the Carbtunes but never heard so much as one complaint.

When you say manometer, do you mean mercury or water? I believe there are some £10 water ones kicking around on ebay but no idea if they're any good.

A DIY water manometer is worth the effort.