Carb issues

[Rasputin]

I am working on a set of 81LH carbs which exhibit signs of low/idle circuit problems.
The three tiny holes in the carb throat.
I should be able to see spray from carb cleaner come out all three right? I can only get it to come out of one of the three holes on all four carbs. Is there a way to get them all open without soaking them? They are all part of the same circuit so I should get spray from all three tiny holes, at least in my mind (small as it is). I have tried blowing compressed air through it to no avail (bowls off), I just get it to come from one hole. Is there something simple I am missing here or is it possible that all the carbs have plugged two of the three holes in all four carbs at the same time?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[DGXSER]

Hey Ras, I would need to look up the diagram TC posted some time ago. I might suggest finding a piece of guitar string, for the high E on a six string, and try putting that through the holes if it is small enough.

[bikerphil]

IIRC, one of the holes is fuel enricher, so the choke lever will have to be pulled out for flow. Diagram...

[Rasputin]

The guitar string is a good idea. I wonder where I might find one on Remembrance day, that could be a little tough. I did try pulling the choke lever as well but it made no difference, so I think I will have to poke it with something to get it cleared. Thanks guys

[petejw]

hi ras,
did u have the butterflys open when u sprayed
carb cleaner?
id close off the mixture screw, open the
butterflys, put ur finger over the pilot jet tower and spray carb cleaner
into the air jet, therell be no where for the cleaner to go except for
those holes or if there blocked, back at u thru the air jet.

those holes are tiny, ive untwisted guage wire and
poked it into the holes with good results.

not sure where that diagram came from but its not correct,
fuel only comes out of those tiny holes as the butterflys open,
when the butterflys are closed, as in starting with the choke,
only fuel comes out of the mixture screw hole and partially out of
the hole closest to the butterfly, as its slightly open at idle.

when the enricher is on, the xtra fuel comes out of the larger
hole on the inside right of the carby.

[mack]

Lake trout

steel line works good too. If you your not a guitar player. Being from alberta you must have fishin equipment.

[CatatonicBug]

I use one strand from a wire wheel/brush. break it off, then hold it with needlenose pliers or forceps to poke it in the holes and wiggle it around. You should definitely be getting juice from all 3 holes though.

[fredintoon]

The guitar string is a good idea. I wonder where I might find one on Remembrance day, that could be a little tough. - - -

Hi Ras,
go mug a hippie? Or pull a strand from a wire brush.
Those holes are better accessed for solvent by removing the brass enrichening circuit plunger and the adjuster needle.
Spray into those passages until the solvent comes out of all 3 holes.

[Rasputin]

Good suggestions one and all. I will find something around here today after the services are over with. I did have the butterflies propped open so I could be sure of where the carb spray was coming from. I did open and close the choke to see if that helped. I also covered the pilot jet hole while I sprayed to see if that would help anything. I did not close the idle screw down and that may help with my next attempt. No I am not a fisherman, and the hippies around here are all down in the crack houses, where I am sure not going. But one way or another I will be getting fuel from all three holes before I am done!

[TomRodgers]

not to hijak the thread...but i have a question regarding the bowls..... i didnt think of it much when i was cleaning it, cuz i wanted to get it running enuf to see what may or may not need to be worked on, but on ONE of the 4 bowls, there is a clogged passage. Tiny hole from just inside the gasket ring down the side of the bowl, and pops out just in the 'curve' of the bowl.... what exactly is that passage for?? I havent noticed any sluggish-ness or fouled/lean plugs...idles fine...revs fine.... is it something i should tackle this winter????

[CatatonicBug]

not to hijak the thread...but i have a question regarding the bowls..... i didnt think of it much when i was cleaning it, cuz i wanted to get it running enuf to see what may or may not need to be worked on, but on ONE of the 4 bowls, there is a clogged passage. Tiny hole from just inside the gasket ring down the side of the bowl, and pops out just in the 'curve' of the bowl.... what exactly is that passage for?? I havent noticed any sluggish-ness or fouled/lean plugs...idles fine...revs fine.... is it something i should tackle this winter????

Definitely clean that jet out. It's the beginning of the enricher circuit. When you pull the choke lever, that is where the added fuel comes from. If it's blocked, the enricher/choke can't do it's job. This is especially an issue in colder weather.

No need wait till winter though - Just pull the carbs, drop the bowls and use a small wire to ream out the little jet in the bowls. a shot of carb cleaner and some compressed air should then blast it out. Put it back together, and you're all set. Should take a couple hours or less, depending on how efficient you are at removing/installing carbs.

[old_chopper]

Definitely clean that jet out. It's the beginning of the enricher circuit. When you pull the choke lever, that is where the added fuel comes from. If it's blocked, the enricher/choke can't do it's job. This is especially an issue in colder weather.

No need wait till winter though - Just pull the carbs, drop the bowls and use a small wire to ream out the little jet in the bowls. a shot of carb cleaner and some compressed air should then blast it out. Put it back together, and you're all set. Should take a couple hours or less, depending on how efficient you are at removing/installing carbs.

If you use some socket head cap screws (allen wrench type) to reinstall the bowls you'll be able to take the bowls off without removing the carbs.

[DGXSER]

I was thinking the same thing Chopper. I actually did just that a few weeks ago, on carb #4. Not sure I would want to do it on the inner carbs though. I'm sure you could, but it would not be fun getting those inside screws back in place.

[petejw]

enricher operation

just want to clarify where the air/fuel
flows from the operation of the enricher



the above pic shows the hole on the left side, this is where extra air/fuel
is flowed for the enricher
chapter 6 page 143 of the clymers manual describes the operation
of the enricher.

as i previously stated the 3 small holes near the butterfly are
off idle progression holes, they add extra fuel only when the butterfly begins
to open and has nothing to do with the enricher circuit what so ever.

ive started noticing more incorrect information being posted on the site,
with either ppl to scared to say anything in case they offend
someone, or who just dont know any better.

this site just aint like it used to be.

[bikerphil]

Pete, thank you for your correction.