carb cleaning help

[prometheus578]

Mixing Parts:

I have heard this several times and just wondered why?

On some models, the emulsion tubes(and jets) differ between carbs 1+4 and carbs 2+3.

[DGXSER]

Ahhhhh

Now I get it. I do recall reading of that being the case on some models (some say it is so on the 81 special I have, but it was not the case for me.)

[theduke]

carb kits

so i'm gonna need new gaskets, two emulsion tubes and possible one main jet, so i was looking at these kits. they come with everything i need, but wanted some opinions/ advice/ other options from the sages.
tia

[bikerphil]

Did the pilot jets come out ok? Which kit(s) are you looking at? Don't buy any K+L kits. K+L = problems.

[theduke]

http://www.siriusconinc.com/ebayimages/KY0216.jpg
sorry, forgot to post the link to the kits on ebay. they are
Keyster kits, but i'm afraid of getting the wrong thing.

two of the emul tubes came out clean, two didn't.but i'm pretty sure
one of the bad ones was already fouled up.

[DGXSER]

I am not nearly a sage, but, based upon what I just went through, I would say spend the little bit of money if you have it and get the new jets and components. From what I saw in those pictures, there is no way those jets would clean up like they should be in my opinion. To give you a comparison, here is my carbs when I opened them up. Yes I know the pictures are a bit fuzzy.

This is when I pulled the float bowl


After the floats and the main and pilot jets were removed, my pilots do not have a screw covering them


What kit are you looking into? I got the K&L kits from Georgefix on ebay. All the parts fit up and work great.

[bikerphil]

Duke: Those Keyster carb kits do look like the right ones.
DGxser: I'm glad you didn't have any problems with the K+L's. They've been known to cause problems.

[DGXSER]

I read quite a bit about it on channel 11 searches Phil (After I already ordered mine and had them)

At first I was pretty apprehensive of the K&L kits, then I read Proms research. I think Prom hit it on the head from what I have read. There are different styles of jets and emulsion tubes. You have to know what you have and make sure you get those same ones. I made sure to check with George for my application before I ordered and he steered me to the right kits. I am still not sure what the difference is between an 81 special cab and an 80 special carb though. Clymers seems to think they are the same.

[theduke]

pilot removal

so i don't have a screw driver small enough to reach the pilots, maybe i should say narrow enough. i'm probably gonna fabricate one unless anybody knows a shoe-in size that will work

also- dg, the tech tips on removing and cleaning carbs refer to the screw covering the main jet hole, so i was planning on replacing it until i saw your pic. makes me curious. i feel like i should replace it, but am interested in other opinions.

for reference, the tech tip i'm referring to is under maint, carbs, titled 'removing and cleaning your XS11 Carbs' and its about midway through paragraph

[bikerphil]

Before trying to remove those pilot jets, give 'em a good soaking with PB Blaster. Fabricate a screwdriver to fit that pilot jet perfectly 'cause the slot can get stripped out SUPER easy. You don't want that screwdriver to slip or you'll be in for worlds of fun gettin' that sucker out. Take your time! I would replace any jet that appears to be corroded because it will not produce an even spray of fuel. Jets are cheap.

[oseaghdha]

so i don't have a screw driver small enough to reach the pilots, maybe i should say narrow enough. i'm probably gonna fabricate one unless anybody knows a shoe-in size that will work

...................

I found that those orange handle screwdrivers with the interchangeable bits from Home Despot work. The small straight blade bit fits just so.

[DGXSER]

Phil,

I think we posted at the same time before, I had not seen your warning about K&L. I think that I would have gone another way if I had heard the fuss (and knew they were K&L) just for the peace of mind. George custom packs those kits anyway. Mine had a 110 main jet in three of them and then a 110 and two 120's in the fourth.

Adam, like Phil said, take your time, let them soak in whatever you got for as long as you can stand to. As I previously stated, I stripped two of mine because I was using WD40 which does not work as well as blaster for a penetrating oil. I used blaster for 24 hour soak and one came right out, the other I had to use the extractor only because I had already stripped the slot out of it so badly. The mixture screw, well that was another story. as to the screw driver, I have an assortment of Craftsmans so I took a longer one of the smallest standards and filed the end down a bit so it fit the slots perfectly.

As to the screw you mentioned, as I stated, my carbs dont have that screw over the pilot jet opening due to changes in the carbs from 79 to 81. The ones on top of my mains are just that, the mains. That is what they should look like as you see in your kits. That is why TC thought someone put a screw in your mains. Do your main jets look like the ones pictured after you clean them up? They look awful rounded off in the picture.

[theduke]

the mains are cleanin up real nice after about an hour and a half soak. they're not rounded, it was just the gunk built up on them. i'll post some update pics when i get the last set done today.

thanks for the heads up on the screwdriver, oseaghdha- home depot is less than a mile from my house- def worth the trip.

[theduke]

main jets

i know these are in the wrong tower, i just wanted to put them in a visible location. they cleaned up nicely.

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...76852_3074.jpg



now just to clean the bowls and replace the emulsion tubes.

[CatatonicBug]

Not sure what problems you are all talking about with the K&L kits. Of course I've only rebuilt one set of 4 carbs (once), but I had no problems at all with what I got. I ordered mine from Z1, and they seems to be the only source I have found that includes both jets, the idle screw and all the tiny little parts that can be replaced. All the other kits I have found are missing things (some don't even come with jets!). I know the kits are specific to certain years/models, but for $21, I have not found anything better.