Pilot screw?

[Titbit21]

I got my bike running today and it is not quite right. The one and two cylinders seem to be getting the right mixture. but the 3 and 4 seem to be running to lean. those two cylinders are also very hot compared to the 1 and2. Any ideas?

[mack]

sync

Carbs need to be sync'd.

[Bonz]

As long as the carbs are good and clean, floats set, etc, get the pilot screws dialed in first as best you can (i.e. set them all at 2 turns or 2.5 turns, or whatever you feel or know is a good starting point) and then sync the carbs. Once they are sycn'd, then fine tune the screws, and to be exact and proper, check the sync again if so desired. Changing the pilot screw adjustment changes the mixture, which in effect is the same as having a carb open or shut a small, tiny amount, and the re-sync just fine tunes it if needed.

[Titbit21]

etc, get the pilot screws dialed in first as best you can (i.e. set them all at 2 turns or 2.5 turns, or whatever you feel or know is a good starting point)

Ok when you say set them at 2 to 2.5 turns is that top or bottom of the thread. When you turn in, does the air start to decrease in the mixture?

[Bonz]

"Turns" refers to turns out from lightly seated, so turn them in until they "seat" and then start backing out from there. I thinks mine are at 1.5-2 turns out, check my signature

Someone told me once that when pilot screws are on the front of the carbs (like the XS), they control the fuel whereas when located on the rear of the carbs they meter the air.

So, in a nutshell, the more you turn them out from being seated, the richer you are making your idle/low speed mixture by letting more fuel in.

Hope that helps.

[WMarshy]

Just be careful when you tighten them to fully seated, the tips are fragile and can break off and stick in the hole. The trick is to not over tighten them, thus saving you a lot of headache. You might want to pull them out and make sure they are not already broken off while your at it, so our not chasing your tail...

[Bonz]

Yes, maybe I was confusing when I said "lightly seated" and then referred to "seated" later in my last post. Over tight is no good for pilot screws.

[Titbit21]

cool thanks

I decided since i didnt have a carb sync tool that i would build one. Hopefully this will help. thanks for the pilot info. I didnt want to screw it up

[DGXSER]

Also, check your petcock operation. Is your petcock fully opening eiht the vacuum? Have you tried on Prime. 3 and 4 are fed from the same petcock, so all else being equal, most likely the petcock is not giving good flow.

[Titbit21]

Also, check your petcock operation. Is your petcock fully opening eiht the vacuum? Have you tried on Prime. 3 and 4 are fed from the same petcock, so all else being equal, most likely the petcock is not giving good flow.

That could be it also. the petcock operating the 3 and 4, was leaking very slowly at first, but seemed to stop. (huh?) But i have a feeling that the sync is way off also. I got it going alot better with my ear and burning my hand alot, but its still way off. I built the vac gauge last night and gonna try giving it a whirl tomorrow.

[Titbit21]

where to get new pilot screws?

So before i bothered to sync my carbs i wanted to make sure my pilot screws weren't broken, indeed 3 out of 4 are. So after mother f'ing for awhile i got on here and looked up to see ideas where to get new ones. Bikebandit wants $40 hah! I tried to see if george fix would sell some, but he said he couldn't. anymore ideas?

[natemoen]

Might as well buy rebuild kits. Are the tips of the needles stuck down in the holes?

[Titbit21]

oh yeah. i'm working on building that little screw, with drill head tool. Somebody posted about it earlier. should work. http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31470&page=2

[forexbob]

Was there originally a pic of the "tool" in that thread?
I'd like to be able to get and print it out to give to someone to make for me.

[planedick]

Pic

Just scroll down a few posts and there it is...