Pilot jet trick and rubber plugs

[markb80]

My 80 special has a red-kote tank liner. I wish it didn't. If it sits a couple months the pilot jets get oily scum in them from the tank liner. Fuel filters don't help. So I tried the following: I pull off each carb boot rubber cap (synch tube plugs) and blew compressed air in (not too high pressure), and left the throttle closed. Cleaned out the pilot jets the first time. But then I got to worrying about those rubber plugs on pilot jet holes blowing into the bowl. They are supported by the bowl, but could be blown out maybe. So I removed all of them to see if it affected how the bike ran. Can't feel any difference anywhere. Plugs look the same. The mixture may be slightly richer in theory at wide open throttle, but I don't notice any difference, and there's no black smoke, so seems fine. I kept the air pressure under 40 psi and am not recommending this method, but seemed to work, and beats pulling the carbs.

[cywelchjr]

Sounds like you have the hybrid carbs, with the plugs but on an 80, which most of didn't have those. Does it have plastic or brass floats? If brass, blowing it out with air pressure takes a chance of collapsing them (maybe partially) which has bad effects for fuel mixture. I would recommend that you drain the carbs when it's going to sit, which would prevent any buildup assuming that your petcocks are not leaking. Any time I know a bike is going to sit I drain the carbs, or course you take a chance on the floats sticking partway down when you do that, but they shouldn't do that if nothing is wrong with them, and tapping them with the wooden handle of a hammer or with a rubber mallet always fixes that problem. (at least in my experience)

[markb80]

Mine have the little passages between the main jet and pilot jet towers. So the pilot tower had a rubber plug from factory. I have plastic floats. I think the pilot jet will cause a serious restriction of air flow and pressure drop so the air pressure in the bowls probably won't get high. But that is what I was hoping for to dislodge the crap in the pilot. Hopefully if this works every time I won't be pulling the carbs out so often. I used an air spray nozzle and some 3/16 tubing to attach to the boots.

[CatatonicBug]

If it sits a couple months the pilot jets get oily scum in them from the tank liner.

Why would this happen?? Just ride it every day, and you won't have to worry about it!

[DGXSER]

Yep, sounds like the "bastard" carbs of the early 80 model year. I've only seen one set. On that set, it made alot of difference havng those plugs in or out though.