What does anyone think about staking the float needle seats?

[JoBrCo]

I was reading an article HERE about adjusting your carbs for ethanol fuel.

The need to Stake is talked about in the third paragraph from the bottom of the section titled "For carburetors manufactured after about 1935 and a vehicle that is mainly driven at altitudes of sea level to 4000 feet, we suggest the following calibration changes to use ethanol fuel:,"

And HERE they mention the way to stake the seats, starting with the section titled, "Conventional pointed valve with brass seat,"

So what do you guys think about their "adjusting for ethanol fuel" whitepaper.


FJ Forever!   


JoBrCo

[racerrad8]

I go with, not required for the FJ...

The rubber tipped needle is also spring loaded to prevent the float from crushing the rubber tip into the seat. I have never built a set of carbs differently for any type of fuel, no matter what part of the world they are from.

There are thousands, if not millions of FJs and many other motorcycle using these same parts and there have never been a need to "stake" the seat.

Since we in California have the worst fuel in the country, I would think if it was required to adjust jetting, we would have to do it here, but to date it is not required.

Randy - RPM

[movenon]

I agree with Randy...    Don't make a problem where there isn't one.  I am slowly changing my mine about ethanol laced gas at least at the 10% level.  I do run Star Tron additive. http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-fuel-additive?category_id=585.  Available at most Wal Marts.
George

[Baycruzer]

Jo,

After reading the paper, you need to keep in mind they are talking about car carburetors.

1. Nobody on this site is having trouble with premature failure of the float needle, so the staking of the seat would not seem to be necessary.
2. Car carburetors take fuel from the bottom of the carb for the idle circuit, ours take it from the top. So lowering the level in the bowl could starve the idle, don't do it!
3. Idle jets on our carbs adjust the amount of air in the idle mixture, so enlarging the jet would lean it out.

My bottom line is that if it works don't mess with it. If you need to tune your carbs, tune it for the fuel you are using. If tuned correctly then ethanol content will be irrelevant.

This is of course my opinion, hope you find it helpful

[FJ_Hooligan]

3. Idle jets on our carbs adjust the amount of air in the idle mixture, so enlarging the jet would lean it out.

That's technically not a fully accurate description. The idle jet determines the amount of fuel allowed into the idle circuit. The air pilot jet meters the amount of air flowing in the idle circuit. The mixture screws vary the amount of the resulting air/fuel mixture that is allowed into the intake

[JoBrCo]

3. Idle jets on our carbs adjust the amount of air in the idle mixture, so enlarging the jet would lean it out.

That's technically not a fully accurate description. The idle jet determines the amount of fuel allowed into the idle circuit. The air pilot jet meters the amount of air flowing in the idle circuit. The mixture screws vary the amount of the resulting air/fuel mixture that is allowed into the intake

This is in fact true as evidenced by the colortune device.  No matter where the idle circuit screw is positioned the burn is the same. I only checked one cylinder, and decided it was enough to come to that conclusion.  Of course the device can still assist in ensuring one installs/adjusts the correct jets/needle height, as per any particular mod, ie., air cleaner pods, singles or exhaust system.  Remember that it's not that I've ever necessarily doubted anyone's advice so as to be cruel, rather such is the problem with one that has anxiety issues.  I'm always appreciative of anyone's time spent attempting to help.  I'm sure that once I have a really good tuning setup, and some experience tuning, I shall be just as comfortable in that experience as anyone else here. Like many, the problem with knowing this comfort in experience, or rather it's lack thereof, is remembering when/how one was when they didn't know it.  Such is the reason some teachers loose their patience with their students.  I know this because I have had children, and admit that I would have problems with patience if I were an actual teacher, teaching day in and day out. Monotony's never been my friend.

Thanks again to all those that have tried to honestly help, your help is not only appreciated, but has yielded that which I have used, if only in my way, the way in which this particular individual, filled with anxiousness, goes about dealing with life.  Thanks to those that have allowed me to be me.  Thanks George, "Moral is try not to judge anyone to harshly by there on line posts until you meet them.," a wise man indeed, and the rest of you as well!

FJ Forever!  


JoBrCo    

 

[JPaganel]

This is in fact true as evidenced by the colortune device.  No matter where the idle circuit screw is positioned the burn is the same. I only checked one cylinder, and decided it was enough to come to that conclusion.

If the screws are not having any effect it could simply mean that your pilot circuit is not flowing fuel as it should because of dirt or damage. The screws are there for a reason, and they are called mixture screws for a reason.

[JoBrCo]

This is in fact true as evidenced by the colortune device.  No matter where the idle circuit screw is positioned the burn is the same. I only checked one cylinder, and decided it was enough to come to that conclusion.

If the screws are not having any effect it could simply mean that your pilot circuit is not flowing fuel as it should because of dirt or damage. The screws are there for a reason, and they are called mixture screws for a reason.

I hear you, as that's what one would normally think, but not according to Randy of RPM.  He says that they allow either more or less of the air/fuel "mix," not that they change the "ratio" of the air/fuel mix.

See the following: link to another thread that spells it out.

See what you think about Randy's explanation, not just the upper most message by jr1349 .  Check out the 4th one down by Racerrad8 (Randy).

Thanks though, as I always appreciate one that takes their time to try and help, you guys are "the men;" the professionals, that make this a better place; no politics, just motorcycle stuff, yeah! 

FJ Forever!   


JoBrCo