Do these actually work?
 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...940365282&rd=1

It'd be nice to be able to check carb balance without all the logistics and pipework and suchlike, but I'm skeptical...

carb balancers
 

My dad had a set of these (probably still does) when we had an old triumph dolomite, and they seemed to do the job on that without too much hassle, but then the carbs on that were fairly accessable. Car (sadly) probably dead now (sold many years ago), but will investigate these things (and "borrow") when I next get back to my parents (xmas).

IF it's what I think it is then it should work fine - if you can get access to the carbs easy enough. It looks like it just places over the carb mouth and checks the air flow.

I use these to balance my Spitfire. You basically put it on one carb and check the air flow. Then put it on the other to check air flow. Adjust and check until they are in balance.

Once in balance you then adjust for tuning / idle - making sure what you do to one carb you do to the other (so turn by one screw on one carb the other has to be turned the same).

Once finished double check that they are still in balance.

On a twin SU carb Spitf (same engine as a Dolly - but much easier access) it takes about 10 mins from lifting the bonnet to closing it.

Stu

Yup, I use summat like that for my MG. Works a treat & is a simple job - which is good as her carbs need balancing about every 500 miles of town traffic!
(I really ought to get them reconditioned!) :oops:

Re: Do these actually work?
 

Not as well as a proper set of vacuum gauges, this sort of thing is more use on larger, slower engines ie cars, I've got one and it's perfect for balancing the carbs on my VW, but for bikes I use a set of Morgan mercury gauges, far more accurate.

Are these not vacum guages? (Sorry not enough time to read the whole ebay page :) )

Ifnot then it's not what I use on my Spit...

Stu

They are vac gauges, but not mercury ones.

The packaging looks almost identical to my (even though I bought then about 6 years ago!) in which case the gauge is 'readable'.

I'd be jsut as concerned about the size of the intakes. Having never seen them on my SV (yet) I don't know. This gauge will only go down to about 1" in dia. Is that going to be too big I wonder?

Carbs are dead easy to get at on an SV, just take out the air filter (or the airbox if you need more room to maneuvre, obviously that'll make it run a bit different so this may queer the results... (this is how I diagnosed my front cylinder fault after I fitted the DJ kit, looked in the top and saw the needle flapping about :oops: )

I've not measured the intakes, but I'm sure they're bigger than an inch. They flare out a lot at the top as well.

Setting up most proper vacuum guages sets seems to be a real hassle,
http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/...svs_carb_sync/

I'd get a dealer to do it if it has to be this difficult, but the Carbbalencer looks like it might get a decent result without the futzing about. I think I'll give it a crack, it's not expensive anyway :)

I'm after a set of these things as well. Keep me posted Northy on how well they work. Would be a god-send if I don't have to mess about with the carbs.