Carburettor floats

[xssidecar1200]

Hello all.I have a 1980 G Model and am having trouble with the bike being really hard to start when cold.Once running it is fine.I have cleaned the carbs several times.The only thing I changed was to fit plastic floats in place of the original brass ones and am not sure what is the correct float height for these.DoI keep the brass float heights or set to the later plastic float heights?.Thanks for our input.

[DiverRay]

Cold start problems are usually enrichment jet problems. Make sure you can squirt carb cleaner through the jet in the bottom of the float bowl. As far as float settings, go with the correct setting for the year of the carb, as some later bikes have earlier carbs on them.

[red bandit]

If it had brass floats that would indicate 78-79 carbs. Unless someone swapped them. Verify what year carbs you have.

[cajun31]

Hello all.I have a 1980 G Model and am having trouble with the bike being really hard to start when cold.Once running it is fine.I have cleaned the carbs several times.The only thing I changed was to fit plastic floats in place of the original brass ones and am not sure what is the correct float height for these.DoI keep the brass float heights or set to the later plastic float heights?.Thanks for our input.

The best starting place for us is for you to take a few pictures of your carbs, front, sides, top bottom views. That way the suggestions and advice given will be more specific to your problems. Ray has given you a good start. Seeing the carbs will eliminate as lot of things that could be guessed at and save you time and frustration. Tell us more about your setup. Meaning is everything else about the bike stock or has anything been modified. That helps identify other issues.

[DEEBS11]

I don't think you can swap brass and plastic floats. They have different float pins and seat. This is why you are having issues. Has this set up ever worked in the past?

[xssidecar1200]

Thanks everyone for your input.I fitted the plastic floats some years ago as my brass ones were bad and information at the time said that plastic floats would fit but float height was ambiguise.I have experimented with the heights but no difference.Have them set at 23mm and the bike runs very strongly when it's going.I bought the bike as a standard with no known changes although it had been reringed at some stage.I ended up having it bored and fitted a big bore kit back in 2013.The big bore didn't affect the starting and mixture is fine.This has been a developing problem over the last several months.

[Schming]

Using the later plastic floats in the earlier carbs, it may be beneficial to set the running fuel levels accurately instead of trying to get it right via measuring height.

[bikerphil]

I've done plastic floats in early carbs with '82 Virago 920 viton tip needles and seats. A little bending needs to be done to the floats, but if done right, it's a good mod. I set the floats as you would on an '80 at 23mm.

[gtem]

I agree with what others have said, first thing I'd check is that the choke/enrichment circuit is clear, particularly those small passages in the float bowls (visually confirming carb cleaner flows through). Brass floats on an '80 G from the factory doesn't sound right to me either.

[DEEBS11]

And watch out for Chinese garbage parts. The market is flooded with them.

[bikerphil]

The finding of brass floats in the late carbs has been reported, coming from the factory that way. Probably the very early production models had them.

[cajun31]

Thanks everyone for your input.I fitted the plastic floats some years ago as my brass ones were bad and information at the time said that plastic floats would fit but float height was ambiguise.I have experimented with the heights but no difference.Have them set at 23mm and the bike runs very strongly when it's going.I bought the bike as a standard with no known changes although it had been reringed at some stage.I ended up having it bored and fitted a big bore kit back in 2013.The big bore didn't affect the starting and mixture is fine.This has been a developing problem over the last several months.

A lot of good points and suggestions. Reference this from the maintenance section. Setting the Carburator Float Height - XS11.club Forums. Because you have the replacement floats it might help if you can to set the gas levels with the clear tube method.

What kind of gas are you running in the bike? Do you ride the bike frequently or does it sit for periods of time. Ethanol in our fuels today are very detrimental to the carbs. Doesn't take Ethanol long to do it's damage either. You stated you have cleaned the carbs. To what extent? I let my bikes sit too long a couple of years ago and ended up having to completely disassemble the carbs on one of them to get the bike running right again. It started okay but had absolutely no mid range or top end. Would just ride down the road stuttering. Ended up being crud had formed inside the carbs and jets. Until I gave everything a bath in my Berryman's and my ultrasound did the bike start running right again.
I also resynched the carbs which also helped. Which brings me to the question of when was the last time you did that?

[oldyam80sg]

I use Berrymans chem tool cleaner in the 1 gallon pail available at most auto parts places. You can buy the professional version but its in 5 gallon buckets. The 1 gallon metal pail is good. I'm really anal about the carbs and taking them apart. I look at every passage with a magnifying loop and very bright flashlight. That way you can see vwhere the gas flows. I also check my float height with a ruler that is marked just for the float height. I also use an air compressor to blow off my parts after I wipe them. Also I use a magnifying loop to examine all my parts expecially the Viton tips on the float needles.