The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: nhmaf on November 27, 2007, 10:07:08 PM
-
It looks like I may be taking the plunge on rebuilding the carbs this winter. With 10% ethanol in our gasoline now, I suppose it is logical to change the float system over to the alcohol resistant floats while I am at it. But, the loss of the overflow tube bothers me a bit, and I seem to think ( perhaps incorrectly) that the independent floats system is more fiddly than the old dual beam. I don't expect to have 10% more horsepower or 10% better fuel mileage or even 10% lower cholesterol by switching to them, but I don't really want to have to take the carbs apart in another year or so to put the alcohol resistant system in if the ethanol's ruined the regular floats in that time. The last price sheet I have from Bing indicates the float kit with new bowls runs about $112 if bought with a rebuild kit - around another $120.
IF you have put alcohol resistant floats in your carbs, did you find that it was worthwhile ? Was it a pain in the neck to get things adjusted ? Would you do it again? Did it improve your throttle response, your fuel mileage, or your sex life ?
I'll take an extra-dry martini (gin, of course) and await the wisdom of the family !
-
I installed the alcohol resistant float kit in 1998, and I did not see any improvement in fuel consumption, or any other positive benefit to the motorcycle, or how it ran.
I don't know how destructive ethanol is to the standard foam floats, personally, I would wait to see if alcohol is a threat to the floats, before I would retrofit the upgraded kit.
-
I bought a pair of carbs (in great condition) along with other parts for a giveaway price, and as a bonus they had been installed with the alcohol resistant kit. Although not on one of my runners at the moment, I'm tossing up whether to try them out on the 65 or the 90 (they are jetted at the mo for an 80).
Looking closely it doesn't appear to be any harder to set up than the single fixed float, but reports from others seem to indicate Bing's claims may be somewhat optimistic in the least. I think they were meant for the aviation carb setups on ultralights initially.
Loss of the O/F pipe may not be an issue as apparently there is a breather hole in the side that indicates a leak before fuel fills the barrel, though I haven't tried it or know if it's true or not............well, there is a breather hole I know for sure, just not whether it exits there first!!
Bill.........................;-)