butterfly shaft seals

[ruffrider]

Boy do I wish I could go back in time and read the posts about not soaking butterfly shaft seals in carb cleaner. My carbs are back off the bike now as I'm waiting for some plastic floats from MikesXS. 3 out of 4 had pin holes... you should have seen me trying to solder! What a comedy garage scene that was I tell you! I did have the bike running but had the dreaded gas overflow into the airbox. Discovered a crushed float seat washer and replaced float seats with metal washers from a different rebuild kit. Before that though it would idle good but just didn't have the giddy up it should've. Does any one know of a supplier for the butterfly shaft seals?? Or do you think I should install carbs back on the bike first and check for vacuum leaks first? Thanks to all who post.

[bikerphil]

seals

They are a real pain to replace, so I'm told. I would try running the carbs first, then replace only if necessary.

[bikerphil]

new seals

New seals are $5.09 ea. at Bikebandit.com

[randy]

The real bitch about the seals is the butterfly screws, they're peened over so they are very hard to remove. I ripped mine up so bad I wound up replacing them with allen head screws and locktite on the threads.

[cbosworth]

Tip - Removing butterfly screws & pilot jets

I found the key to removing the butterfly screws is to use a Japanese Industrial Standard screwdriver. It fits the head tightly, unlike the american phillips screwdrivers. Use a number 1 JIS screwdriver. A number 2 comes with the yamaha tool kit but it is too large.

soak the screws first for a few hours or overnight. Bear down and twist. your first try will be your best shot. if it strips. drill out and replace it. MikesXS has the screws. use a magnet to remove any metal filings.

The seals are expensive but do it once and you should be good for another 20 years. My carbs are rock solid and even.

A second tip is for remove stripped pilot jets. If you can remove them because the slot is damaged, patially drill and use an easy-out. Then if it turns, but won't come out due to a buggerd metal, use two spiral key extractors. It will pop right out. this link shows the tool & the technique. http://www.lvsales.com/wedgeco2.htm
inset the both extractors into the jet hole, then twist the two extractors together. It binds then pull. the jet pops out. several distributors sell these extractors. I have found the best are the cheapest.

[newc4]

I think MikeXS has both the butterfly seals and screws. I also found that when your seals swell up from carb cleaner using some brake fluid sparingly will shrink them. I did that with the set on my 78E and it seems to work fine.

Darrell

[ruffrider]

Thanks for the great tips guys. I think I'll reinstall carbs and check for leaks via propane method first. If there is a leak I'll get seals from MikesXS.