Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods homemade carb balancer

I was talking to a friend at work today telling him that soon I was going to get some new exhaust and was going to rejet and rebalance my carbs. Asking what I was going to use to balance the carbs I told him about the homemade ones that alott use here. He told me that he be back in about 5 minutes and brought me a pair of vacuum gauges. So here is what I have hope someone can tell me if I can use it. Its is made by the Wika instrument corp. On the box its says type 232.54 4" range 30 inhg vac and cnnn: 1/4" npt im. On the top of the vacuum gauge there is a rubber with a small plastic like switch that can be set in open or close position. I know that I will have to get a fitting and some hose and possible some type of dampen system for it. Before I get these parts I would like some input on whether this gauge will work or not? I know the gauge is of industrial quality but not sure if I may need something different or can I modify for use to balance my carbs. Thanks

it's not that they won't work just harder to do with a gauge vs something with liquid or mercury in them. As far as the range goes I don't know what the vacume measurments are. the important thing is that the 2 sides match.

The only problem I could see is that the gauges are 30 in. You will probably have to restrict them quite a bit to keep the needles from bouncing too much on the vacuum pulses and I don't know that will get an accurate reading with the resulting vacuum on such a large scale gauge. But, hoses and restrictors can't be more than a couple of dollars, so why not try it?

Here is the one I made for home if anyone is gonna make one. works well if I could only turn the ****** screw quicker back and forth.
When using a home made carb balancer should the liquid be higher than the carbs ?. Dont know if it is important or not.
http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/photopo...=500&page=1

I saw rhe pictures.

But with the tool puch in front of the forks do you not risk to scratch the fender's paint.
I've mounted down in front of the frame under the radiator.

No its well above the front mudgaurd and I have put some tape on the forks where it may rub. I check the tape every so often for wear and its been fine. If it starts to wear ill put some new tape on. I have thought of moving the tool pouch to those bars underneath but I have a buckle opening pouch that may be awkward bending over so low to open.

It will not make a difference it the liquid is above or below the carb. The unit is "seeing" the difference between air pressure outside and the vacuum the carb. is producing.

I posted a home made carb balancer in a thread "carb balancer for the poor man". Uses a yard stick to secure the tube to. I recommend using 2 stroke oil so if it gets sucked into the engine it won't hurt anything. Also be sure BOTH lines are hooked up before starting the bike or it WILL suck the liquid in.