Carb balancing tool

[hornetmike]

I am looking to buy a carb balancing tool, I do most things on the bike myself but have to take it to the garage to get the carbs balanced. I have been looking at this one

https://www.carbtune.com/

but wondered if there a cheaper or better one someone could recommend .

The bike is a 96 CBR600 F if it matters.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Blue_SV650S]

I've got a carbtune and I can't say I am overly impressed by by it ....

In the kit they have little 'dampener' tubes you have to splice in the main tube ... and they are a really poor fit meaning they let air in ... not a good thing for some vacuum gages!!! ... I ended up putting some electrical tape round mine to try and seal a bit. But its just shoddy design ....

The other thing I don't like is that the rods stick in the slider bits, you deffo need to 'tap' them before being assured you are getting a reading ...

Not tried any other make to compare and contrast, but not impressed with my carbtune ...

In summery, does the job, but shoddy ...
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[Pete.]

You won't find very much cheaper but plenty better. I use Davida dial gauges and I like them, prefer dials to the Carbtune-type slides.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Ichy]

[Blue_SV650S]

[Ichy]

Absolutely.
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[yen_powell]

I've got the old style carbtune gauges, the ones with the deadly mercury in them.

That's the lethal mercury they posted through the royal mail to me which I then had to pour into the gauges. They work really well.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Polarbear]

[Ichy]

So far I've tried the cheap gauge type, Carbtube pro, Davidia gauges, the electronic ones (forgot the name) and at least three different home made ones. They all work.

The cheap gauges generally require calibrating each time.
Davida are very good but should be checked every 6 months. Too expensive for most.
Cartune and Electronic, not much in it, you have to trust them but neither let me down. Very quick and simple to use.

https://www.powerchutes.com/manometer.asp

https://www.airheads.org/content/view/183/98/

https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18634

https://faq.ninja250.org/index.php/Is_there_a_carb_sync_tool%3F

All of these work, but I personally prefer the bottle type. None of them are plain and simple but they are cheap.
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[Pete.]

You can make a set of gauges from 4 cheap vac gauges bolted to a plate. You need a restrictor in each of the vac lines to damp the signals. Calibrating them is easy - just tee the four gauges together and put the line on an intake - if they all read the same you're done.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[hornetmike]

thanks everyone , don't fancy making one. if cartube is simple thats the one for me
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Ichy]

I liked this one, think it costs more than the carbtune though?

https://www.twinmax.co.uk/acatalog/twinmax.html#atwinmax
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[hornetmike]

The twinmax looks and sounds good , not bad money either considering I get charged 60 to get it done at garage.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[D O G]

Forgive me for the min thread hijack, but how does this work then - as in balancing the carbs that is?

What do you check/measure, and how do you adjust whatever it is that you're checking?

I have a sketchy idea, but would like to know from those who actually know!

Ta.

[Blue_SV650S]

[Ichy]

On some bikes the carbs being out of balance can have an affect higher in the range, particularly twins. Can't think of a good description but its a sort of resonance. The cylinders are just enough out that you can lose power and massively increase vibes. I know of several twins where they suggest doing the balance at 1000rpm and at 3500rpm.
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