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Mercury Stix Problem, Opinions on Repacement

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1.4K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  77Pinto  
#1 ·
I have had the set for about 20 years, so I can't compane too much, but the last few times I used them they get air pockets. This makes them jump around and useless. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so what did you do to correct it.

My stix have no cracks, and is still full of mercury.

Any ideas? Maybe oil in it? Internal cracks in the base?



I know that there is no 'direct replacement' for them, but there are a few different types of sync.s out there. Not crazy about the 4 gauges type, as I have used one in the past. I have not used the digital, nor the spring tube, nor the one that LOOKS like the mercury but has water.

Any thoughts?


Bill
 
#2 ·
Morgan Carb tune.
In the mean time, with the engine running, simply remove the vacuum hose from the intake runner. Gravity will settle the mercury. Reattach the hose. Should last for a few minutes. Mine are thirty years old. I can't see through the tubes anymore, so air pockets don't bother me. :ROFL::waving:
 
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#4 ·
Mine does the same thing. If you gently tap on the plastic tubes the mercury will settle down. Mine also get condensation that settles in the mercury and forms bubbles. I have to open the container and soak it out with a paper towel.
 
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#5 ·
I did the tapping thing, and it only gets most of the air out, but then seconds later it comes back. Mine is a sealed plastic container, so opening it is not an option, but I know how I can get water out of it if there is any.

Did you find that when you removed the water that it works without bubbles again?

Thanks, Bill
 
#6 · (Edited)
Air bubbles

Is the mercury bright and shiney, or dull lead color. After twenty years the mercury probably has contaminates in it that reenforce surface tension in the droplets and they will not flow back together easily.

Even though the tubes are not cracked they are probably dirty inside.

I would replace the whole thing. Then your good for another twenty years.

Later,

Rayjoe
 
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#7 ·
...I would replace the whole thing. Then your good for another twenty years...
Here in CA, we can't even buy the Mercury (or the Stick with it) anymore, due to environmental restrictions.
 
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#8 ·
I still have a "Carb Stix" brand synchronizer that I bought for my CB550 (which I traded in in 1981). It still works but as others have mentioned, the tubes and mercury are very dirty and trying to balance anything is near impossible.
So, I also have 2 "Motion Pro"sets as well. One of them had a hazardous material spill in my garage, making the area unsafe for school children and the elderly, as well as making the tool unusable.
As long as I've been using them, the bubbles have always been managable by tapping or unplugging the tube.
I would like to clean up the mercury in the old set, but have never gotten a definitive answer how to do that.
And I'm now friends with the guy who built and sold those original Carb Stix.
 
#9 ·
About your question about the Carbtune the answer is yes. That looks like a good price also I thank mine were around $140.00 but I did get the case also. It has worked good for me and no mercury to worry about.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the replies.

Yea, there is no getting new mercury, but that is not by problem. The air bubbles have only been an issue lately, and suddenly. I attempted to pull water out of it using a paper towel, but there did not seem to be any. Also, I took my vac. pump for bleeding brakes and used it to pull the mercury up the tubes, one at a time. After a few times the bubbles got less and less. I can only assume that the mercury and the stix are dirty. Cleaning both is not hard, its just getting the mercury out and back in, and without spilling it.

As soon as I buy the new unit I will figure a way....


Bill
 
#11 ·
I CAREFULLY removed the resivoir and it was really dirty in there. With even more care, I removed the mercury, cleaned the stix and container, as well as the mercury. Put it all back together and with my vac pump its working perfectly again.


Bill
 
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