Diaphragm c-clip removal/install?

[brendang2000]

Hi all,
First post here and new to motorcycle maintenance. So I have a 79 special that I welded O2 bungs into the header so I can adjust air/fuel ratio per carb using Innovative's LM2 meter, to try and get it through emissions. I'm good at idle but part throttle I'm at 10 to 1, far to rich to pass emissions testing. I was going to move the c-clip up on the needle jet to lean out part throttle but how do you remove/install the c-clip that's down in the diaphragm? I did some searching and found a post that said to use hemostats and I was able to remove one with two awls/picks, but what do you guys use to install? All the c-clip pliers I have are far to big to fit into the diaphragm. Any thoughts suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[petejw]

hey brendang,
what size pilot jets are you running?
if its off idle, a smaller pilot jet might help you.
float height can also affect it what height have you got those set?

ive got an 81, and i cant remember what the earlier
ones are like sorry.

btw welcome to the forum.

[Rickrod3]

It's a pain

I filed a set of needle nose pliers to fit took a while.
Try Mikes he has some tools he may have a set for this purpose.

[jmnjrpa]

Where are you located

emissions testing

Our laws in Texas have Grandfather clauses. A vehical cannot be held to a higher standard than it was under when it was produced. That would be a retroactive law. ???

[Ivan]

Go to the local auto parts house and tell them you need a set of snapring pliers to remove the shaft seal on and R4 A/C compressor. They make them long and narrow for that purpose, and the snapring on those is deep inside a tube like the ones in our slides. I am fairly sure they will work. Take one of the slides with you to be sure.

[jmnjrpa]

Hey Ivan

Are those strong enough for the M/C "C" clips??

[Ivan]

Should be, the snap ring in an ac compressor is bigger than the one holding the needle in the old style slides.

[crazy steve]

If you have a set of larger snap-ring pliers with interchangeable tips, you can pick up a couple of same-size allen wrenches, cut off the 'L', then grind a point on them for 'extensions'. That's what I did, and it cost me all of about .30...

'78E original owner

[psycoreefer]

If you have a set of larger snap-ring pliers with interchangeable tips, you can pick up a couple of same-size allen wrenches, cut off the 'L', then grind a point on them for 'extensions'. That's what I did, and it cost me all of about .30...

'78E original owner

thanks for that tip, I've got a really nice set of "reversible" snap ring pliers with that type of tip and they have been worthless because they can't reach into anything. On my to-do list for sure!

[crazy steve]

This doesn't work quite as well as the 'real' long-reach pliers, so expect to do some screwing around with them. 'Pre-loosening' stubborn ones with a screwdriver or awl by turning them in their groove will help. But this has still gotten them out every time for me. Spend $3-4 for a handful of allens, and you can have 'custom' lengths/sizes for every job.

'Real' long-reach pliers can be hard to find, and usually not cheaply...

'78E original owner

[dbeardslee]

I use the deep reach snap ring pliers that Mikes XS sells. They work great for slides, and also for front master cylinder rebuilds. $10 plus shipping.

[cywelchjr]

Wow, that is shocking as even Kalifornia doesn't have emissions testing for motorcycles (yet) and when it starts it will only be on the newer models. And how can they test something without standards? IIRC neither the feds or CA had emissions standards for MC's in 79, and federal law doesn't allow them to retroactively change the standards. Remind me to stay as far away from whatever state you're in.

[Ivan]

I use the deep reach snap ring pliers that Mikes XS sells. They work great for slides, and also for front master cylinder rebuilds. $10 plus shipping.

Those are precisely what I was talking about. I didn't know Mike's sells them, but you should be able to get a set locally, at a decent parts store.

[jmnjrpa]

10 bucks+

That's not bad for a good pair. I have a set of 8 (cheapo Sh##) and a couple of the interchangable ones also, but it was a real pain getting the "C" clips out of the front M/C.

[crazy steve]

Those are precisely what I was talking about. I didn't know Mike's sells them, but you should be able to get a set locally, at a decent parts store.

Ivan, I looked at all the local parts stores, several hydraulic suppliers, and finally found a 'long reach' pair at a industrial supplier.... and they didn't work as well as my 'homemade' ones. They're apparently not all that common. Several places offered to order them (generally in brands I'd never heard of), but stocking dealers is another story.

Actually, what I think I'm going to do is buy another set like I have, but mod them so they'll accept a larger allen size, say 1/8 or even 5/32. The 3/32 size is a bit springy when the tips get long.

The Mikes units look ok, but the non-replaceable tips are a deal-breaker for me...

'78E original owner