Balancing SU carburettors info
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Balancing SU carburettors info
Hi All,
I'm thinking of buying a carb balancer that uses rubber pipes and adaptors that is used to balance side draught Webber and Dellorto carbs
- adaptors and pipes fit into inspection hole by butterfly's
Would it work the same if I used the breather connections on SU carbs by the butterfly's ?
Instead of buying a balancer that goes over the air intake of the carbs
Regards
I'm thinking of buying a carb balancer that uses rubber pipes and adaptors that is used to balance side draught Webber and Dellorto carbs
- adaptors and pipes fit into inspection hole by butterfly's
Would it work the same if I used the breather connections on SU carbs by the butterfly's ?
Instead of buying a balancer that goes over the air intake of the carbs
Regards
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- SprintMWU773V
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Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
Given the carb draws air through the front part I can't see why attaching a pipe to a totally different an unrelated part will be of any use. Stick to the normal type. Personally I don't like the Gunson Carbalancers, they're a bit rubbish. There are better made and more accurate devices out there.simonhorton wrote:Would it work the same if I used the breather connections on SU carbs by the butterfly's ?
Mark
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30
Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
The last guy who tuned my sprint used one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARB-BALANCER ... Swxp9W2xyb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARB-BALANCER ... Swxp9W2xyb
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Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
Unless you are tone deaf you can set them absolutely fine with a length of narrow bore tube and your own ear.
The trick is to hold the tube end in the very bottom centre of the air inlet for each carb, with the tub end at a slight angle to the airflow.
You can hear the hiss distinctly and a few twiddles to put the carbs in and out of synch will soon teach you how to do it.
Synch them at about 1000 rpm and then drop the screws the same amount to your requirements.
Jonners
The trick is to hold the tube end in the very bottom centre of the air inlet for each carb, with the tub end at a slight angle to the airflow.
You can hear the hiss distinctly and a few twiddles to put the carbs in and out of synch will soon teach you how to do it.
Synch them at about 1000 rpm and then drop the screws the same amount to your requirements.
Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
I've got something similar (Morgan Carbtune) that I use on my bike, but each carb has it's own vacuum take off unlike the twin SU setups that only have one. I guess you could drill and put one in, bit desperate though!
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)
Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3
Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3
Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
No, you balance the carbs at the idle revs you want. Not balance at a higher revs and then turn down screws equally. In the idle region the slightest turn does make a whole lot of difference. Also when balanced at 1000 revs the angles can be different of both throttle valves. For example when a throttle valve is fully open half turn down has less effect when the throttle valve is almost closed and then half a turn less. You balance at idle revs you want.Jon Tilson wrote:Unless you are tone deaf you can set them absolutely fine with a length of narrow bore tube and your own ear.
The trick is to hold the tube end in the very bottom centre of the air inlet for each carb, with the tub end at a slight angle to the airflow.
You can hear the hiss distinctly and a few twiddles to put the carbs in and out of synch will soon teach you how to do it.
Synch them at about 1000 rpm and then drop the screws the same amount to your requirements.
Jonners
The accuracy of the flow meter is very not important. Who cares the amount of air is 3,9 kilo or 4.3 kilo. As long all carbs are the same. Therefore you use one flowmeter for all carbs. There are sets available but these can differ slightly per flowmeter so it's still not balanced. Use one flowmeter for all carbs and then you are sure they are all the same.
Jeroen
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com
Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
I use one of these on my SU's and it seems to work pretty well if you don't trust the listening method.


Russ Cooper
Dursley
UK
Dursley
UK
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Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
I learned to balance twin carbs by ear in 1970 and have been doing it the same way ever since. Once, for a bet, I got a pair checked with a "proper tool" after I had balanced them. Easiest tenner I ever earned! The human mkI earhole is surprisingly efficient!
Steve
Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
My view is that on Dolomites with twin SU carbs and standard intake manifolds, you have to use a carb balancer, or listening tube, that measures the flow infront of the carb. You can't measure the flow after the carb because there is the manifold integral balancer pipe. If you measure after the carb (or after the butterfly) you are not measuring air passing through the carb, the reading is related to the manifold flow and is affected by the other carb.
Hopes that helps.
Karl.
Hopes that helps.
Karl.
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Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
I bought THIS metal carb balancer from my local Moss.
Toledo Man
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West Yorkshire Area Organiser
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Railway, 1 Birstall Lane, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1JJ
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - a project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint), NYE 751L (1972 Dolomite 1850 auto) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle
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Re: Balancing SU carburettors info
You can use a dellorto webber carb balancer, I just stuck a piece of plumbing pipe on the front to fit it to the SU's. They were going cheap an ebay.