carb balancing

Discussion of TABC-related matters
Post Reply
User avatar
jddevel
Posts: 543
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:48 pm
Location: cornwall uk

carb balancing

Post by jddevel » Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:24 am

TF1500. twin 1 1/2 sus just changed cork gaskets. Gunson set on rear carb. with obviously engine warm and running. Move it to front carb engine stops. Link between the two obviously disconnected. Am I now to rich or to lean on front carb please?

User avatar
Rob Reilly
Posts: 352
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:05 pm
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: carb balancing

Post by Rob Reilly » Sat Apr 20, 2024 12:31 pm

A google search of Gunson turns up a Colortune spark plug tool.
I have only used a Uni-Syn for balancing carbs.
If my tool were to stop an engine I would think the throttle plate is closed.
1937 TA 1271

User avatar
Duncan M
Posts: 843
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: carb balancing

Post by Duncan M » Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:00 pm

Gunson carb balancer looks difficult to use. https://www.gunsonshop.com/contents/en- ... ancer.html
I agree with Rob on the utility of the Uni-syn (floating ball). Once you get the gate set to your flow range, it is simple to go between the two carbs to get perfect balance.
https://www.amazon.com/Uni-Syn-Carburet ... B073RPZKBX

User avatar
Mark Strang
Posts: 91
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:55 pm
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Re: carb balancing

Post by Mark Strang » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:15 pm

Been doing SU's for 55 years. Use the Uni-syn. It will always work if there are no leaks around the shafts. In a pinch put in your hearings aids and use a hose to synch them!

User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 2736
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:48 am
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: carb balancing

Post by Steve Simmons » Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:53 pm

I've found the Uni-Syn to be a little flaky / finicky sometimes. I prefer the "snail" type. It's very accurate and no adjustments are ever necessary. Mine is similar to the one below.
Attachments
carb-balance-tool.jpg
carb-balance-tool.jpg (32.24 KiB) Viewed 2846 times
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
http://www.mgnuts.com

User avatar
Duncan M
Posts: 843
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: carb balancing

Post by Duncan M » Sat Apr 20, 2024 8:03 pm

The erratic readings on the floating ball uni-syn usually indicate a vacuum leak somewhere.

User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 2736
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:48 am
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: carb balancing

Post by Steve Simmons » Sat Apr 20, 2024 8:13 pm

I haven't seen erratic readings because of the type of tool, but I've had some of them where the disc couldn't be adjusted properly, and I had a couple where the plastic tube cracked when it got old. The other type is easier to use and more accurate in my experience.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
http://www.mgnuts.com

User avatar
jddevel
Posts: 543
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:48 pm
Location: cornwall uk

Re: carb balancing

Post by jddevel » Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:28 am

Thanks all. Now another problem. See new topic

User avatar
Duncan M
Posts: 843
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: carb balancing

Post by Duncan M » Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:33 pm

Steve, I am saying the old standard floating ball Uni-syn is useful for spotting vacuum leaks you might not be aware are there. As in a vacuum leak at throttle spindles or gasket. Otherwise the floating ball works great. Not sure if the snail type can make the same claim of acting up in a characteristic way-- when there is an otherwise unknown vacuum leak?

User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 2736
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:48 am
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: carb balancing

Post by Steve Simmons » Mon Apr 22, 2024 6:23 am

Hmmm, not sure really but they do essentially the same thing just with a different reading. The snail type, or at least the one I have, has a bit of damping to it so the reading changes just a little slower than the Unisyn. That might be a disadvantage for the test you describe.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
http://www.mgnuts.com

User avatar
Duncan M
Posts: 843
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:08 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: carb balancing

Post by Duncan M » Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:52 am

I must be explaining myself very poorly. Next time you have a car that you know (already figured out) the throttle shaft is causing a vacuum leak, or that you know the carbs intake gasket is leaking, try the floating ball Uni-syn and you will see what I am talking about. Of course there are other ways of spotting intake leaks, such as spraying carb spray on the throttle shaft ends and on the gasket area to look for RPM increase to indicate vacuum leaks.

It used to be a known thing that if a car was running poorly, that one of the first things you could try was sticking a unisyn on each carb and looking for the erratic floaty ball. If the ball was behaving normally, and smoothly rising up as throttle screw turned to increase RPM, etc., then you likely did not have a carb (vacuum leak) problem

User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 2736
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:48 am
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: carb balancing

Post by Steve Simmons » Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:04 am

Yeah that's what I mean, the other tool I have reacts slowly, so if the airflow was erratic then it might not show up as well as on the Unisyn, which reacts very quickly.
1949 TC8975 / XPAG 9609
1948 TC6011 / XPEG1182 (XPAG6472)
http://www.mgnuts.com

Post Reply