The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Float level adjustment question

Sorry for a potentially stupid question, but when you are measuring the float level (say, on a Rochester B), are you supposed to measure from the top of the bowl with the gasket on or off? If you follow the instructions it seems like the gasket should be on, but that seemed suspicious to me. Carb experts please advise!!!

Hy gjberche, in my Motors manual it says measure from gasket surface, and the accompanying drawing appears to show the gasket in place for both the float level and float drop settings, hope that helps.

I did this today for the first time. It shows in my chevy maintenance manual: the gasket remains on and you measure 1.75" drop. Most stovebolt web posts indicate they like it a little longer to keep the carb from leaking gas around the gasket.

Thanks guys! I measured with the gasket on, so I'm glad that is the correct way to do it.

If you have a kit it should give spects in the kit,,if in dought set with gskt on as that will lower fuel level in carb the thickness of the gskt and that will cause the engine to run a touch leaner and in most cases that is good,,but in some cases if the engine is on the lean edge it gould cause you to use too much throttle at crusing speed thus opening the power sys to early and fuel milage giong down..OH God I,m rambling agin sorry...doc

Got to interject a point here: NEVER make the assumption that the gasket should be in place, or not in place. Different carburetor manufacturers used different methods. ALWAYS read the shop manual for the vehicle, and follow the instructions in the shop manual, NOT IN AN AFTERMARKET KIT!

As a point of interest (maybe to some of you), the following methods have been used to set the float, by various carb manufacturers specifications:

A) with the gasket in place
B) with the gasket removed
C) when the fuel dribbles out the fuel inspection hole, the setting is correct
D) set the FUEL LEVEL at <dimension> with <amount> of pressure on the fuel valve
E) don't bother it, if you buy a new float and a new float valve, and install the float valve with the proper torque, the float is perfectly set.

I personally like "E", it helps sales! :big grin:

A further point: older fragile (read expensive to replace) floats may be adjusted WITHOUT bending by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the gasket used under the fuel valve seat.

Jon.