# Carburation problems. - Cali iii
**URL:** https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765
**Category:** Big Block Tonti and Loop Frame models
**Created:** [3 August 2013 14:23 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765 "2013-08-03T14:23:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [15 August 2013 11:19 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/21 "2013-08-15T11:19:40Z")
> [@gtmdriver](#):
>
> Sorry!
>
> I stripped, cleaned and rebuilt both carbs and re-fitted them with new rubbers. It made no difference whatever so I did a complete re-tune and re-balance. I managed to get it to idle OK eventually but the idle mixture screws needed a major re-set to get it right…
>
> So I’m no wiser really. One day it was idling fine, the next it needs a serious retune to keep it going.
```
This is now sounding like symptoms of an air leak, which can nullify all attempts to readjust. Have we eliminated choke slides not sealing? Is it 'racing' at any time? Have we eliminated flooding? Inlet stubs to cyl heads gaskets are good and tight?
```
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [15 August 2013 20:24 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/22 "2013-08-15T20:24:56Z")
Inlet stubs to cyl heads gaskets are good and tight?
They are now but I’m beginning to suspect that there may have been an air leak when I initially set them up and I’ve compensated for it in the adjustment then when I’ve done a periodic tighten up I’ve sealed the leak and thrown the whole lot out of kilter.
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### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [16 August 2013 16:15 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/23 "2013-08-16T16:15:32Z")
Quite possible!
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [20 August 2013 12:44 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/24 "2013-08-20T12:44:19Z")
Just a thought as I had a similar problem on my 750 Targa and was eventually traced to a sloppy two into one throttle cable junction box thingy. Only discovered it when I took the tank off to retune the carbs with a vacuum gauge and could see the cable outers weren’t always seating correctly when twisting the throttle. After much re-routing and plenty of cable ties, I managed to get a reasonable and consistent reading. Not totally cured but a vast improvement.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [26 August 2013 17:42 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/25 "2013-08-26T17:42:11Z")
I spoke too soon.
We went out for a ride today and it was still playing up at low revs.
I stopped for petrol and as I dismounted I noticed petrol pouring from the mouth of the N/S carb.
I dropped the float chamber and checked the needle valve. It seals fine if you hold the floats up manually but won’t seal with the float chamber in place.
It looks like I’ve got a porous or leaking float after all so well done to those of you who suggested that possibility.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [26 August 2013 21:29 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/26 "2013-08-26T21:29:59Z")
Always nice when you find the culprit.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [26 August 2013 22:49 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/27 "2013-08-26T22:49:37Z")
I had to shave a few thou off my floats, plastic ones, as they were tight on the pivot points, and causing the type of flooding you experienced. I put it down to ethanol causing them to swell slightly as the carbs had been ok since 1991, certainly for the 10 years or so that I’ve had the bike. When I read about plastic tanks swelling on V7s or whatever they are it thought it even more likely. Of course I could be wrong.
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### Author:  [@1150GS](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/1150GS)
#### Post date: [28 August 2013 22:17 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/28 "2013-08-28T22:17:37Z")
I had to do what guzzi4cats done, my L/H carb. float was sticking between it’s pivot points.
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### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [31 August 2013 12:44 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/29 "2013-08-31T12:44:29Z")
> [@Brian UK](#):
>
> Always nice when you find the culprit.
Ditto. But just to mention floats could leak or stick BEFORE we had ethanol too.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [31 August 2013 15:15 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/30 "2013-08-31T15:15:46Z")
Mine certainly did, and within a year of purchase too. Nothing whatever to do with ethanol.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [31 August 2013 17:19 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/31 "2013-08-31T17:19:13Z")
I will report back when I’ve received and fitted the new floats.
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### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [1 September 2013 07:46 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/32 "2013-09-01T07:46:04Z")
> [@Brian UK](#):
>
> Mine certainly did, and within a year of purchase too. Nothing whatever to do with ethanol.
While we’re on the subject, I have needed to replace various fuel hoses on a fairly regular basis too ever since me first bike the Bantam, also since well before ethanol.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [1 September 2013 09:21 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/33 "2013-09-01T09:21:33Z")
But it’s always nice to have something new to put the blame on.
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### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [1 September 2013 22:35 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/34 "2013-09-01T22:35:52Z")
This is very true…
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [3 September 2013 17:37 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/35 "2013-09-03T17:37:56Z")
OK.
New floats in and float height set (18mm).
No more fuel leaks but the misfire at low revs is worse than ever.
It runs on one cylinder (the right) till it gets to about 2500 revs when accelerating out of junctions, corners or roundabouts.
I’m beginning to suspect an ignition fault here.
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### Author:  [@Exmembers](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Exmembers)
#### Post date: [4 September 2013 14:46 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/36 "2013-09-04T14:46:55Z")
I have just fitted two new coils and the bike is absolutely perfect. I don’t ever remember it being this fast.
My coils are mounted under the tank so for 4 years I have been using the compact Japanese type coils. One had obviously started to break down.
The new coils are HT12 type from Electrex World. I hope they fare a little better.
I hope that this is an end to this rather lengthy saga. It has been very frustrating to troubleshoot as it can be difficult to accept that two completely independent problems can occur at the same time. There is always a tendency to look for a single cure.
Thanks to all those who offered ideas and help.
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### Author:  [@Mike\_H](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/u/Mike_H)
#### Post date: [4 September 2013 17:27 UTC](https://forum.motoguzziclub.co.uk/t/carburation-problems-cali-iii/765/37 "2013-09-04T17:27:10Z")
A-ha! Congratulations.
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