Another quick carb question...

[crazy steve]

I got my SG carbs done (except for those choke rod springs, but I'm still working on that..) and am looking at sealing the idle screw towers. I bought kits that come with replacement metal seals, but I really don't want to use those. But I don't want to leave them open either; I tore down two sets (to get one good one) and the carbs that had those missing were the ones that getting the screws out was tough on... the sealed ones came out no problem.

So... Has anybody had any luck finding an easily-removed, reuseable alternate to the metal seals? I've looked in vain for rubber plugs of some sort, but the closest I've found is some hard plastic push-in 'trim' plugs. They may work (and are cheap enough at about $5 for a 100 of 'em), but I don't see those withstanding the vibration... I may need the full 100...

[SFerinTEXAS]

One idea i have but not tried would be to find a small diameter vac hose that fits in the tower cut flush and stick a small button head solid rivet pushed into the hose. Grease the hose od to keep it from sticking to the threads. Just thinking .

Or a small machine screw instead of a rivet.

[crazy steve]

Good idea! No worry about the threads, as the top part of the hole isn't threaded. And I may already have some hose...

[CatatonicBug]

Just curious.. Why do you want to seal them? Unless you are planning for a mud-bath, leaving them open usually isn't a problem.

[crazy steve]

'Bug, I live 3/4 of a mile off the end of the paved road, so dust is a real issue for me (including the a**holes that go past my house that think they're running the Baja...). Collect dust, get any water in there (wash the bike), and you end up with crusty crud. Like I said, the sealed idle screws came right out, but the ones that were open were no joy; I destroyed 3 of the four getting them out, and had a bit of trouble getting the new screw into one hole due to the corrosion. Trying to avoid any future problems...

[CatatonicBug]

Gotcha. How about Well nuts? The same things that are used to hold the lowers onto the Windjammer fairings. They sell them at Home Depot and they come in lots of sizes.

[crazy steve]

Another good idea.... the collective mind comes through!

[fredintoon]

- - - - Has anybody had any luck finding an easily-removed, reuseable alternate to the metal seals? I've looked in vain for rubber plugs of some sort, - - -

Hi Steve,
not in vain, in MikesXS.
Kit #48-1408 @ $13.50 has this:-
Carb Rebuild Kit - Fits: XS650SG-SL (1980-84) stock Mikuni 34mm. CV carbs
Kit Contains : Push-in Float Valve assembly with O-Ring, Carb rubber passage
Plug & Float bowl Gasket 3F7. Made in Japan - 1 kit required per carb.
The passage plug is the one part the late SGs don't need but they are a perfect fit in the needle valve towers.
My SG has been using them to plug the needle towers since I replaced the carb needles & seats 4 years back and they ain't fallen out yet.

[natemoen]

There is a good amount of meat on the top of the tower, could thread a small portion of it and then put a set screw in there. At least that is was I was thinking of doing to the set of '81 carbs I am working on.

[3Phase]

Steve, I've been experimenting with small pieces of Play-Doh smudged in to fill and seal the wells. It seems to work okay, it's easier to remove than metal plugs and the threads stay clean.

The fluorescent colors worked fine but upset motorcycle feng shui so I used the white and put a dab of silver/aluminum paint on top.

I've also used the green Loctite wicking thread sealer under a little bit of mom's top-secret flour and water recipe she used to make by the bucket when we ran out of Play-Doh but Loctite is starting to get expensive.

[MrOzz]

I know my local ACE hardware sells all sorts of rubber and cork plugs. You could try one of those and cut them down to fit? Maybe a vacuum cap? See if it fits over the entire tower. You might have to cut a slot in it though.

[CatatonicBug]

There is a good amount of meat on the top of the tower, could thread a small portion of it and then put a set screw in there. At least that is was I was thinking of doing to the set of '81 carbs I am working on.

Seems to me that is just moving the problem up the tube. If the threads are getting crudded up, I'd hate to see that happen to the set screw at the top of the tube. Might end up breaking the tube off if the set screw gets jammed. Although, perhaps the fact that the set screw would be on the TOP of the tube will force the crud to fall off the surface and allow it the time required to seep down into the threads. Maybe a button-head screw could act as a tiny umbrella!

[natemoen]

Seems to me that is just moving the problem up the tube. If the threads are getting crudded up, I'd hate to see that happen to the set screw at the top of the tube. Might end up breaking the tube off if the set screw gets jammed. Although, perhaps the fact that the set screw would be on the TOP of the tube will force the crud to fall off the surface and allow it the time required to seep down into the threads. Maybe a button-head screw could act as a tiny umbrella!

Yeah I think that the needle being down in the tube allowing a buildup is most of the problem. I would think that if it is on the top and relatively flush it would not be a problem. I was also thinking about the rubber plugs at ace as well though (less work).

[crazy steve]

While mine had plenty of grunge in them, I think the main problem is moisture. Aluminum will corrode if water sits on it long enough, and I cleaned more than a bit of oxidized powder out of these. It doesn't help that my bikes don't get ridden daily either; we have a short riding season here (unless you're pretty hard-core and don't mind riding in the rain/cold, and even then only fools ride every day what with freezing temps and ice) so corrosion has time to work it's 'magic'. It's the old 'a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' thing...

[motoman]

Steve, I have just used the little black snap in plugs like you use to cover small holes in whatever. The specialty trays at Tru-Valu or similar. They do NOT fit tight, but never have lost one....well untill the other day taking carb bank off and turning upside down, one made the escape who knows where. Being plastic, the heat doesn't seem to affect them either, and has kept underside clean and free of dirt.