Back on the IV gas drip

[Stepka]

So I have been battling carb issues since I got my 81H running. I had #2 and #4 leaking and *****Y gas mileage so.. I took of the carbs. After adjusting the floats for height and max travel #2 started leaking again, with a tap on the bowl it stopped. I re-synced the carbs and adjusted the the mixture screw till just before it died.. #1 is 1.5 turns, #2 is 1/4 turn, #3 is 1/2 turn and #4 is 1 turn out.. does this sound right? if not what should I look for when I rip this thing apart again? Pics are included cause I got bored and have had "some" beverages
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Yes it is a mess and yes I have 4 kegs on tap.. I homebrew so I can

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I decided to smoke a turkey as well... MMMMMM, fat man likey
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[DGXSER]

Well, besides the fact you parked in a fire lane, seem to like to throw darts at the problem, must do alot of very "discreet" side jobs thus the need to change plates depending on where your going and which one their looking for right now, not to mention the fact your into torturing birds - I see you got it all tied up before you stuffed it in the hurt locker. But on to the bike issues....

Have you run a compression check on the engine? Do all four come up pretty close? Reality is that the mixture screws being off from one another is not a horrible thing, the only one that even seems worth giving any thought to is that #1 is a full turn off from the others, but even then, I am not sure I would lose alot of sleep over it. If the compression on one were just a touch low it might effect that, or could simply be a matter of synching if you have not done that yet.

Before you go jerking the carbs like you have been your bird there I would perform a good synch, recheck the mixtures, then do a final synch and see how she runs.

[mack]

Tuning

I've found that tuning has many variables. My screws were all over the place as well when I first started. I had the carbs off so many times I wish they were on hinges. Anyway, the last time I set all the bowls individually with the hose method, bench sync'd them to get back to a starting point and then put them back on with the idle screws back to the factory settings. Fired it up and sync'd with the gages and didn't have to adjust much. Rode it a couple hundred miles and pulled the plugs. They were finally very close to what I wanted. Checked with the color tune, made a couple fine adjustments, resync'd and now all my screws are less than a 1/4 turn from each other, very close to the factory settings and it's a turn the key and ride operation now. I know how frustrating it can be but hang in there, small adjustments will make a big difference. Every time you touch the idle screws, it will affect the sync.

[rpgoerlich]

I'd check valve clearances if you haven't already.
Also make sure the pilot jet circuits are clean including the 3 holes right above the throttle plate.

Polishing out the float valve seat with a Q-tip in a drill using some brasso helps them slide and seat better.

[81xsproject]

You didn't mention WHAT float height you adjusted them to. Many-a-folks (including myself) have failed to notice the "Supplementary" section at the very back of the Clymers that deals with the 80's bikes specifically. If you haven't already, set the floats to 23mm from the body at the gasket mating surface to the top (bottom really) of EACH float in each bowl. Don't worry about trying the hose-fuel level method. It's a lot more work, a lot more complicated, and the results are no better than setting the float height using calipers. After you do that, set the mixture screws to 2.5 turns out from LIGHTLY seated. If your 81 is still having dripping with the floats set to 23mm, you probably need new float valves or there is crap in them keeping them from seating.

[Stepka]

Well the floats were at 23mm, the floats are new, I have synced them, valves are adjusted but... I have not done a compression check yet, im gonna wait till after the first tank of gos goes through. I just got this thing running and have only gone 60 mines and im already at half tank. I guess I should just drive the beast until this tank is gone and go from there.

[GLoweVA]

I was only getting 120 miles out of a tank, but then my 80G wasn't properly tuned/sync'd either.
I know that if it's dialed in, we should be betting better than 30 mpg.
Unfortunately, right now, mine is Dead. I've got issues I've got to figure out before I get her back on the road.

[DGXSER]

As for milage, I avg right now about 36 MPG out of my Special. But if I get froggy and doing some wrist turning on the right side it will go down in a hurry. And I would think carrying all that baggage and fairing and such might drop it a couple MPG.

Honestly, from what you have said, if it runs decent, I'd ride it for a good 500 or so miles and then see what is going on.

[Stepka]

Thanks guys... im gonna drive a few tanks through it and than go from there

[cywelchjr]

Depending on WHAT kind of riding I'm doing it ranges from 29 to 37 on my full dress 80G. If it's short trips to and from work, I get about 29, but as soon as I stretch it out to a bit longer trips where it's good and warmed up, it jumps right up to 36 or 37. Don't know what I'd get on a road trip, cause I've never done a full tank on one. Did one ride where I did 145 miles on a single ride, then did a bit more around town on short trips, but I've done some more tuning since then, so I'm not sure if that mileage would still be valid. That tank was about 39 MPG, and was the best mileage I've gotten, that was riding highway 49 with psychoreefer a couple years ago or something like that?