Setting 1600 float levels

[GlynW]

Some additional thoughts and options for checking float/ fuel level:

A method that works very well uses light refracting and piping down a clear acrylic rod.

Nice!

[lancialulu]

I am going to upgrade my cable tie!!!

[MLA]

So many clever people.  I just ordered from eBay some 3mm (4mm not available) acrylic rod.  I had to look up "Cavis pipe.  Think I figured it out.  We'll see if Simon's method works.

In the meantime, I got a black zip tie to kinda work.  I'm bouncing between lulu's instructions and the Williams/Thomas notes on the subject in their terrific new book!  Looking at figure 52, it seems that that illustration is in scale. 

What I would like to know are:
1. distance from the bottom of the inserted zip tie up to the ideal float level in mm.
2. distance from the bottom of the inserted zip tie to the point the fuel level is too high in mm.
3. distance from the bottom of the inserted zip tie to the point where the fuel level is too low in mm.

I currently have a zip tie with too many markings!  I think the fuel level in the rear carb is too high, but I'm not sure. 

Sending my floats across the Pond to the folks at Omicron is not an option I would consider due to my experience with things going missing from overseas mail.

If I had the dimensions of the float jig, do you think it would be possible to have one fabricated?

As an aside, I took the little dear out the other day after fiddling with the carbs and hadn't put the air cleaner back on.  The wonderful induction sound accelerating was glorious!  Any experiences out there with trumpets on the carbs?

Thank you all for the conversation.

[Simon B]

The technical data I think for all PHH carbs used on the Fulvia quotes a fuel level of 19mm plus or minus 1mm. The datum is the top surface of the lower carb casting. When measuring using the hole for the emission tube, later carbs have a brass insert which the emission tube screws into, if your carb is this type you need to allow an extra 2mm because the insert protrudes above the casting by 2mm, so 21mm plus or minus 1mm. From practical experience it sounds like Tim has found his car will tolerate a higher fuel level without problems. I would think the 17mm quoted though is from the surface of the casting rather than the top of the bush.

A float gauge will only get you so far as I suspect needle valves may vary in height or at least the point at which they operate and if not the packing (brass washers) certainly could. A manual on a later version of the PHH carbs suggested that the standard packer was 1mm and that a 0.5mm or 1.5mm packer lowers or raises the fuel level by about 2mm respectively. That sounds about right but I've never spent the time to experiment properly.