Has anyone used the TecMate Carbmate TS111.....

[Giggity]

in place of carb sticks or guages? How do you like it?

Also, will just colortuning achieve the same results as synching?

[79XS11F]

in place of carb sticks or guages? How do you like it?

Also, will just colortuning achieve the same results as synching?

I have not used the carb sticks but can tell you that color tuning is not the same but can influence the sync operation. Color tuning will tell you if all the cylinder s are getting equal fuel so they can be adjusted accordingly. When all are getting equal fuel and are burning the same, the sync will be more accurate. I do the operation twice. Sync, color tune, sync and then recheck color tune.
Rob

[dbeardslee]

Giggity - Maybe this will help -

Here's a colortune (this is a 10mm, but what you need is a 14mm). Note the little sparkplug-looking thing - that's the mainest part.



Here's the Carbmate -



And according to the information I saw on the carbmate, you also need to 4-channel adapter to do a four carb synch -



The carbmate will run around $75, but that four channel adapter is another $50, which makes it kind of pricy.

I've heard good things about the Carbtune Pro, and if I didn't already have gauges I think that's what I would use - around $80, and it's all there for four carbs.
Here's a good article on the carbtune that explains how it works.

[MrOzz]

I have in the past been using the carbtune and the colortune. I bought the colortune on ebay for $10.00. The crabtune was $100.00. So far so good with both. Used them on my XS and some of my friends bike.

[tarzan]

I love the carbtune.No mercury and it fits in its case easily and stored in tool box.

[bikerphil]

Cheap set of gauges will work good too. Calibrate them and the result is by far acceptable. Never have used the Carbmate.

[81xsproject]

You could get better results with the all vinyl tubing manometer that costs less that $5 to make and a half hour to construct.

[Giggity]

I've seen the $15 one in tech tips. Where is the $5 one?

[rpgoerlich]

Haven't had the chance to see the Carbmate work. I think you have a better visual with a manometer.

First go around I made the vinyl tube $5 yardstick. It worked good and I was able to sync the carbs on an XJ650.

A couple years ago I picked up a CarbtunePro and couple of Colortune plugs, 12mm & 14mm. They both work great and dont have to worry about sucking up the metering fluid. 18 bikes later, they definetely paid for themselves.