Bing float kit

[JohnP]

Anyone install the Bing float kit that replaces the foam floats with two black plastic floats that ride independently on seperate posts? (I'm told these were developed for aircraft use of the carbs). I have a set but haven't attempted to install them yet. Any appreciable difference (my '84 R100 runs fine? Any tips or cautions to install? thx.

John PHillips
'84 R100CS

[jimajr37]

You might want to read up on these floats on "Snowbums" web page; he is not fond of them.
Jim
http://home.jps.net/~snowbum/bingcv.htm

[20774]

Also search this forum...people weight on both sides, but it's my feeling that the perceived benefits are not there for our application. They can be made to work, but they're a bit finicky.

[widebmw]

I put 40mm Bings on my 92 R100R at 140,000 miles and at the same time I put the Bing float kit on them.
I have 237,000 on my bike now and I have not found them to be "finicky".
They install easy and you don't get any gas on your foot from the bowls sticking.
If you have them put them on.

[20774]

I believe one drawback is you lose the overflow tube, right, because you have to use new float bowls. Seems to me that could be a potential "issue". Might not happen, maybe hasn't happened to you, but the last thing you want is hydro lock with gas getting into your combustion chamber without you knowing it...can bend a rod if unlucky.

From what I've heard, they just don't deliver on their promises...my current Bing manual says "gives you improved performance and 5 to 7 mpg improvement on mileage". They claim the problem is sloshing fuel with the acceleration and deceleration and the regular floats can't deal with that creating an overrich fuel situation. To have those kind of sustained accels/decels to me would mean some serious starts and stops. That doesn't fit my style of riding, so for me, they would be of no value, from a mileage standpoint. I think that's why most people don't see any improvement either.

Just what I've heard...I've never run them before...

[sumran]

From what I've heard, they just don't deliver on their promises...my current Bing manual says "gives you improved performance and 5 to 7 mpg improvement on mileage". They claim the problem is sloshing fuel with the acceleration and deceleration and the regular floats can't deal with that creating an overrich fuel situation.

I am frequently surprised by how much I still don't know about these machines! That is a big difference in mileage (even as a questionable claim). I am trying to understand the the carbs, since I am currently getting poor mileage. I assume the floats function as an off /on switch for fuel supply and the jetting and mixture adjustments control what is actually delivered to the engine. How is the excess fuel getting in the system if the flow is controlled well enough to keep the supply between starving and overflowing?

[lkchris]

If your bike was "running rich" on acceleration, it wouldn't.

If your bike needed these floats, they would have been factory installed.

BMW are not built on cynicism.

[20774]

I assume the floats function as an off /on switch for fuel supply and the jetting and mixture adjustments control what is actually delivered to the engine. How is the excess fuel getting in the system if the flow is controlled well enough to keep the supply between starving and overflowing?

Correct, the floats control when fuel is allowed into the bowl and when to turn off the supply. The float adjustment to control the height of the fuel in the bowl has an affect on gas mileage, though. If the fuel level is too low, the vacuum rushing through the carb venturi has a harder time pulling the fuel up through the jets and the bike runs lean. Conversely, if the fuel level is too high, the gas is easily pulled up and the bike runs rich.

I think this is what Bing was trying to deal with on their alternate float kit. With the fuel level sloshing around the bowl, they contend that you end up running richer most of the time, hence the claim to increase gas mileage with the new floats. That doesn't seem to pan out by the people I've heard who have installed the new floats.

[Rod Sheridan]

A friend had these kits installed on his bike when he bought it.

The persistent fuel leak turned out to be a crack in the plastic float bowl.......Rod.

[The_Veg]

These floats are designed for aircraft, which spend longer periods of time banked than do motorcycles. You do not need them.

[rogermansfield]

If any of you guys want a set of these- I'll make a deal. I bought them (about $100 if I remember) based on the higher milage claim. Then I read so much about them that was negative, I never used them.