TOPIC:

Been out of bikes for some years and now looking to gather the proper tools to tune and maintain my `02 KZ1000. Back in the day I used to have one of the mercury manometer style sync setups but let it get away from me so now thinking to invest in a new rig; also what are you fellow finding is the best type / easiest to use timing light? It has been so long since I worked on anything with adjustable timing that I am not even sure where my Snap-On inductive light has gotten off to. Dach.

For the Carb synchronizer I have read that the old school mercury are the best. Motion Pro makes one that is similar but without Mercury. I find they are a bit pricey at around $100. I found myself one for $50 canadian that was a good deal. Then there are the dial type ones with the needles. From what I have read the vertical / liquid are the best.

For the timing I use a big automotive timing light with the gizmo that goes around the spark plug and it works fine.

You might want to check local classifieds to try and get a good deal.

Trouble free Morgan CarbTune

I use gauges for syncing my carbs. The good set (top image below) work very well. The cheap set (like those in the bottom image below) failed to work well - in fact one gauge was quite inaccurate. Whichever type carb sync tool you use I highly recommend that after you set all carbs so they are pulling equal vacuum you should then swap the vacuum tool hoses to different carbs and make sure you get the same readings. If the gauge or mercury type tool is accurate the vacuum levels should not change when you swap the hoses to different carbs. That is how I found out the cheapo gauges were not accurate. Ed

GOOD GAUGES


BAD GAUGES

Morgan Carb Tune hands down. They work like mercury but much safer and easier to use.

Nessism wrote: Morgan Carb Tune hands down. They work like mercury but much safer and easier to use.

I would tend to agree here. I have used one in the past (borrowed from a friend) and they don't get more accurate than this. They run ~130.00 new on fleabay. That has been on my long list for a while, joining in with the likes of a valve / clutch spring scale and all those other fairly pricey tools that sit on the shelf more than they get used.

Like Ed said, the dial types, although hey don't have any liquids in them, can be so far out of whack, I feel that bench synching is more accurate than trusting a cheap gauge. I usually bench synch my carbs whenever I do anything to them. My bike is always an animal.

MORGAN CARB TUNE A real nice unit. Do a search on Morgan Carb Tune. You can get them from ebay, amazon and directly from the factory. The factory is in England and right now they cost $95.00 USD from the factory. Worth every penny too.