Setting the Float Level on a Holley Carburetor

[@marcuskay739]

All the Brawler instructions I have seen ask for the fuel level to be midway on the site glass.

[@SmackeysGarage]

It's probably a good note to check your instructions for your specific carburetor at where the level should be. Some should be at the middle of the window, others should be at the bottom. Thanks for calling this out. I'll pin this comment!

[@bobdimartino6738]

@@SmackeysGarage my brawler says halfway as well

[@timwindsor03]

Very informative video brother. Thanks for sharing. Keep the content coming. Hope you have an incredible weekend. Much love and RESPECT

[@SmackeysGarage]

Thanks Tim, Hope you have a great weekend as well! It's just beginning!

[@musclecarmitch908]

Great video and information!👍

[@SmackeysGarage]

Thanks Mitch!

[@stevenbruce2659]

Ahhh, I’ve adjusted my Holley street avenger so I see fuel below half the site glass. No wonder I fouled the plugs. Thank you!

[@SmackeysGarage]

Each carburetor has different recommendations. I don’t know if it being at that level would cause it to foul the plugs.

[@BPattB]

I like how when I search stuff about my new carb Andy and your videos always 1 and 2 lol. Anyway my fuel level is at the top of the window on both sides. My fast idle is at 1700 rpm. So one thing at a time. Fuel blow level first then fast idle speed. Good times lol

[@SmackeysGarage]

Ha, that is funny. I guess we either have the best content answers or it knows your history and what you like to watch!

[@willtheone2]

Hiya, rebuilding my first carb, and this was a helpful first stopping place for putting everything back together. Out of curiosity, are the fuel lines you have there a custom job or a kit? My street avenger just came with nipples and rubber lines, but I’d love the braided lines with the gauge. Thanks for the video!

[@SmackeysGarage]

They are a kit I purchased from Summit racing. If you search carburetor fuel lines you will find it. Good luck with your first carb clean! Definitely take your time and make sure all passages are clean.

[@stevenbruce2659]

Is it the same procedure and level for the rear?

[@SmackeysGarage]

Yes.

[@turbotom416]

👍keep moving forward.

[@SmackeysGarage]

Thanks!!!

[@davidswift541]

I had to do this to a brand new out of the box 4160 carb. Couldn't get any fuel in the bowels. Doesn't sound flow tested to me Holley, but I am a noob so... Good video. thanks.

[@SmackeysGarage]

I also have had weird settings be delivered to me too. Definitely need to double check them out of the box to make sure it works for you. My brawler came with the idle screws 4+ turns out

[@kimmorrison9169]

In my case, I have an older 4150 850 cfm double pumper WITHOUT sight bowls. I assume you then need to remove the FB end the do it while its off the carb?

[@SmackeysGarage]

Do you have a removable plug in that location?

[@kimmorrison9169]

@@SmackeysGarage nothing there other than the 4 idle adjustment screws. 2 on each side

[@latrellbaker2213]

@@SmackeysGarage my 4150 is also older but it does have removable plugs,, Should I have the engine running to set the level as well ?

[@tjrene56]

The rear float, I’ve adjusted the same way as the front but it seems to have raised the level???

[@tjrene56]

I’ve heard of floats getting stuck, is that a possibility?

[@SmackeysGarage]

Always a possibility. I typically set it and then let it run for a few minutes before I check the fluid level again. Sometimes it takes some fiddling with to get close.

[@tjrene56]

@@SmackeysGarage if then after it hasn’t dropped level what is the next step to unstuck the float?

[@KB19910]

I have a gremlin with a 383 stroker. It starts runs then dies going down the road. Have to let it sit a couple mins and it starts runs then dies again. Could it be a float problem?

[@jamesarthurbowers]

Sounds like vapor lock to me.

[@staffordsanpei7804]

I have a Holley #4160. The other day, driving down the hwy. about 1800 rpm. for about 10 minutes. When I came to a stop, the engine stalled. When I tried starting it. It seemed like it was flooded. Could this be a float adjustment? I also have been having problems wit dieseling.I have been messing around with the float adjustment. Great video. Thank you

[@SmackeysGarage]

Yea it could be. If the gas is so high, it could be dumping more fuel than needed into the carb. Do you have side windows on the carb where you can see the fuel level? It could also be running way too rich that when you come back down to idle, there isn't enough air to burn off the rich fuel left in the carb.

[@staffordsanpei7804]

@@SmackeysGarage Thanks fo da reply. It has a sight plug. Fuel level been all over da place. I'm gonna change da needle and seat and power valve. It'll idle for minute than sputter and die. right now da fuel bowl has no gas when I hit da accelerator pump. I have fuel going to the carb. But there is fuel at da inlet.

[@SmackeysGarage]

@staffordsanpei7804 sounds like you need to go completely through that carb. If there is no fuel in the bowls, the float is a good starting place.

[@tjrene56]

I’ve heard of floats sticking, could that have occurred?

[@SmackeysGarage]

It definitely does happen. Stuck down or stuck up.

[@tristenfletcher577]

I have an holley on my boat would you set the float level as the car

[@SmackeysGarage]

Does the engine sit level in the boat? That would factor into how you set the floats.

[@tristenfletcher577]

@@SmackeysGarage it's looks level but I'm sure it probably isn't

[@SmackeysGarage]

@tristenfletcher577 I would set them with the boat in the water level. I’d also keep a fire extinguisher in hand….

[@tristenfletcher577]

@@SmackeysGarage ok thanks

[@lilebkillinit]

Think about the amount of trial and error for the person who invented the carburetor 😢😂

[@SmackeysGarage]

I'm sure there was some math involved 🤣 I get ya though. So many small passageways to figure out how to make this thing work

[@big6316]

You described turning the locking nut clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the float level. I'm brand new to this but that makes no sense at all. I would expect to turn the screw clockwise to adjust the float down and vise versa. Why would you say to turn the wrench to adjust the float level?

[@SmackeysGarage]

Google and read the Holley manual on setting float levels. It’s an adjustment nut and locking screw.

[@big6316]

@@SmackeysGarage In case you weren't aware, people come to your content to see if you can explain the process better than what's available already. My point is that you did not. Yes, I know how to read and use Google.

[@borismcfinnigan3430]

​@@big6316Not his fault your comprehension is bad. You got it wrong from the start thinking its an adjustment screw and a locking nut..Its actually an adjuster NUT and a locking SCREW...See how you got that completely the wrong way around? Therein is the answer, and why you turn the spanner, not the screwdriver, to adjust float level.