Mercury? where to get it?

[Andrew]

Ok so here is my dilemma, I am grounded here at home (new baby) and was feeling rather restless. I fed/changed the little one so I had about 3 hours before the next call. Being as the wife is home and up from her nap I decided to go out to the garage and play around. I got the FZ1 mirrors on the FJR then decided to check/sync the throttles. Well all went well until I removed the mercury sticks. Thats when I realized the breather hose was not connected to the back of the part that holds the mercury. The stuff spilled out. I was able to clean it up with a  vacuum I usually use evacuate A/C systems (used the vacuum to suck from a glass jar and a hose from the glass jar to suck up the mercury) Worked well but not 100% recovery of all spilled material. OK so where can I get more mercury or should I just get a newer style set up?

P.S. I took a long shower and all the clothes I was wearing will not ever come close to the rest of the family.

[Bjorn Toulouse]

 :eek:HAZ-MAT:eek:

[Rhythm]

Here ya go!  
http://www.speedsupplies.com/partswebc/pubproddetail.aspx?seqkey=35341

Hit your refresh key to see the price.

[denydog]

I have some, and would be happy to give it to you if you were local, but I found out the hard way that it's NOT ok, in fact against regulations, to mail it.

I was in your situation about a year ago, and someone on another forum generously offered to send me some.  The next thing I know,  I received a hazmat package notice in the mail, requesting me to go to the local post office and talk with the postmaster.  

When I got there and showed them the notice, a very po'ed guy came out from the back, carring a postal bin marked HAZMAT, at arms length.  In the bin was a plastic bag containing a small quantity of loose mercury and a small box.  There was also a vial of mercury in a solution, that he explained was recovered from the post office floor by a hazmat service that was called in at great expense.

I figured I was in deep trouble, but after a bit of a lecture, I was told to just take the mess away.  When I got home, I found in the box, padded by crumpled newspaper,  a plastic pill bottle with the entire top broken off just below the lid.  I ended up with about 1/8 cup of the stuff, and a lesson learned the hard way.

[bomber]

one might wonder how many NFL-style drop kicks the package sustained before the pill bottle gave way . . . . . . .

but that would be off-topic, wouldn't it?

btw -- I've seen colored water used, as well -- not quite as accurate, but it'll do in a pinch

[Chips]

I've also seen transmission fluid used in a pinch.

[bubba zanetti]

Coolant works well and is easy to see.

[Andrew]

 :eek:HAZ-MAT:eek:

No Argument here


THanks for the input,
Years ago Motion Pro use to sell the stuff (they are local) but I do not see it on there site.

Here ya go!  
http://www.speedsupplies.com/partswebc/pubproddetail.aspx?seqkey=35341

Hit your refresh key to see the price.

We have a winner Now all I have to do is find something they sell that will push the order over $20 (guess thats the min order)
As you stated Denydog it is not wise to send it through the mail not to mention illegal, so I wonder how it will be delivered if/when I place the order? Guess I will find out when I place the order

[Mydlyfkryzis]

Coolant works well and is easy to see.

I've also seen transmission fluid used in a pinch.

Mercury rises 30 inches with a pure vacuum

Water Rises 33 feet with a pure vacuum

Oil rises further than water, it is lighter than water.

You can't use oil, Coolant, water in a device sized for Mercury. The Specific gravity is too low for other substances.

Some of the vacuum tools use a heavy red indicating liquid. It is not transmission oil.

Just wanted to make sure no one uses the wrong substance in their tool.

[rgbeard]

Do you have access to old washing machines?   (Yes, think Beverly Hillbillies)  

They commonly use mercury switches.  Thermostats do as well.  Carefully break the glass bulb and collect the loot!

[TuffguyF4i]

Do you have access to old washing machines?   (Yes, think Beverly Hillbillies)  

They commonly use mercury switches.  Thermostats do as well.  Carefully break the glass bulb and collect the loot!

Yup..or old thermometers.  

House thermostats have lots of merc in them.

[1KPerDay]

What'd you do with the spilled stuff?

[airborneXX]

I was able to order a bottle last year from Dennis Kirk after sucking the mercury out of my sticks and into a CB650 I was working on


As far as using another liquid in the sticks. You're not looking for a specific measurement, just trying to get all cylinders equal. So I would think anything would work    

[Mydlyfkryzis]

I was able to order a bottle last year from Dennis Kirk after sucking the mercury out of my sticks and into a CB650 I was working on


As far as using another liquid in the sticks. You're not looking for a specific measurement, just trying to get all cylinders equal. So I would think anything would work    

Mercury moves 15 inches at a typical idle. Water moves 15 ft at that same idle.  That's a really long stick. If you use a 35 foot stick, water is fine.
Whether the idle is 15 in. of mercury, or 16 doesn't matter, but the tool is still reasonable to handle.
That's why mercury was used, it allowed a good measurement with a reasonably short tube.

So you are right, you are only looking for a comparison. But I hate using really long lengths of pipe  

[highside]

People have been making home-made manometers for carb balancing using 2-stroke oil forever. If you use a continious length of tube, bent in the middle you don't have to worry about having really long tubes as the vacuum on each end will be comparable and prevent the oil from being sucked into the carb. Only 2 cylinders at a time though. Obviously this would not work to actually measure vacuum, but simply to equalize two.

[Andrew]

What'd you do with the spilled stuff?

Sucked it up in a glass jar, but unfortunately I was not able to recover enough of it to make it worth all the effort. (I lost 75% of the stuff)

I think I am going to get one of the throttle sync tools with the sticks (no more spilling or batteries needed)

[Andrew]

People have been making home-made manometers for carb balancing using 2-stroke oil forever. If you use a continious length of tube, bent in the middle you don't have to worry about having really long tubes as the vacuum on each end will be comparable and prevent the oil from being sucked into the carb. Only 2 cylinders at a time though. Obviously this would not work to actually measure vacuum, but simply to equalize two.

Great idea, I have just the tool at work. I use a manometer at work to measure crankcase pressure on transit bus diesel engine. A long tube bent in the middle with a sliding measuring stick in the middle and metered orifices on each outlet. All I need is to get a spare one for home and I ma set   Heck with enough small diameter clear tube and a board to mount it on and some colored liquid (Pencool is a nice bright pink) maybe a trip to OSH is in order tomorrow

[Mydlyfkryzis]

People have been making home-made manometers for carb balancing using 2-stroke oil forever. If you use a continious length of tube, bent in the middle you don't have to worry about having really long tubes as the vacuum on each end will be comparable and prevent the oil from being sucked into the carb. Only 2 cylinders at a time though. Obviously this would not work to actually measure vacuum, but simply to equalize two.

1. I use both water, indicating oil,  and used to use mercury manometers as part of my job. I use homemade water manometers often. But I am measuring low pressures/vacuums. No problem with liquid ingestion.

2. You connect the manometer, in most cases, to the intake manifold, not the carburetor. There is a chance of sucking in the liquid and causing hydrostatic lock.  It is possible to break a rod or hole a piston. Yes you can be careful, but I have no idea if the OP has the skill or ability to take this into account.

3 .The commercial manometer I use has four ports and does not compare cylinder to cylinder. IMO this is more accurate on a 4 cylinder engine than doing 2 at a time.

[Brightrider]

I've been using a homemade manometer for a very long time.  8 feet of tube bent in the middle and mounted on a board.  Then each end of the tube is split with a T-connector with another 2 feet of tubing off each T....so now there are 4 ends.  Just before the point where these 4 connect to the intake, I installed an on-off plastic valve in each line.  I sync twins, straight 4's and v-4's with this easily.  Oh yeah...10w 30 is the indicator fluid.

[highside]

I've been using a homemade manometer for a very long time.  8 feet of tube bent in the middle and mounted on a board.  Then each end of the tube is split with a T-connector with another 2 feet of tubing off each T....so now there are 4 ends.  Just before the point where these 4 connect to the intake, I installed an on-off plastic valve in each line.  I sync twins, straight 4's and v-4's with this easily.  Oh yeah...10w 30 is the indicator fluid.

Thats a clever idea, saves you from having to unhook the leads to change cylinders.  

[Mydlyfkryzis]

I was working on a job with an electrician. The electrician was checking for 208 Volts 3 phase power. He put his index finger on ground and touched each phase with his thumb and verified the voltage was present.

Did it work? absolutely.  Would I recommend it? Absolutely not.

The electrician had very calloused hands,  and about 35 years experience. By grounding his thumb and touching his index finger of the same hand, any current would pass through his hand, but not his heart. It worked, but I wouldn't do it. I have a voltmeter and not only can I check for presence, but also the actual voltage level.  

So while some methods work and give the desired results, not all methods are safe to recommend to everybody.

A seasoned mechanic, carefully using a homemade manometer can get good results.  Someone who is less seasoned and experienced should probably not.  

[Kneescrubber]

Well, I'm in a similar situation as Andrew. Inherited an old Motion Pro manometer from my dad but it has no mercury in it. It doesn't appear Speedsupplies sells the stuff anymore. Any suggestions?  

[veefer800canuck]

Some of the vacuum tools use a heavy red indicating liquid. It is not transmission oil

Probably Meriam fluid:

http://www.meriam.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=8&idproduct=36

[Roadhound]

Look for a Dental supply house in your area. They will have Mercury, the minimum purchase will usually be 1 Lb.

[mugwump58]

Guys it's time to go electric....really. There are some good discusions on this here and on ADV.
Start looking here

OK that didn't work out well. Just type in synch into the search window.

[Kneescrubber]

Guys it's time to go electric....really. There are some good discusions on this here and on ADV.
Start looking here

OK that didn't work out well. Just type in synch into the search window.

If I could find a source for mercury, I wouldn't have to do jack shit. That's the point.  

[gayto]

Try a tool dealer such as Snap on or Mac.
Tom Hart

[JJFlash7]

Ok so here is my dilemma, ...... OK so where can I get more mercury or should I just get a newer style set up?

P.S. I took a long shower and all the clothes I was wearing will not ever come close to the rest of the family.

Ditch the mercury, it's nasty stuff, hard to handle, hard to dispose of properly, and toxic.  Sounds like an opportune time to by a new set of gauges.

[Andrew]

WOW digging up old bones here, this thread is 3 years old.

I ditched the Mercury went with the Harmonizer You can find it on ADV

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=701625&highlight=harmonizer


Great tool, easy to use and 100% accurate

[bomber]

Give ATF a try.

[ST-DocLizard1]

Look for a Dental supply house in your area. They will have Mercury, the minimum purchase will usually be 1 Lb.

A Dental Supplier will usually not sell to the public; only to licensed Dental Professionals. If you have a good relationship with your Dentist, he/she may be able to procure what you need. It is a nasty liquid when not in combination with other materials and very hard to dispose of or re-mediate a spill.

Doc