Carburetor jets

[petevan]

Hey guys I am still relatively new to my bike. My question involves what I believe are carburetor jets. Right before the snow fell in the fall I rebuilt my carburetors, being the first time I have rebuilt a carburetor I did one at a time replacing one part at a time taking out the old one replacing it with the new one. When I was done I was left with some parts. I looked and looked but I could not find where they went. After my rebuild, my carbs leaked; frustrated I took it to a local shop to see if I had done anything wrong. What happened was a piece of dirt got into my carbs and was holding one or more of my needles open (stupid me I did not clean my tank). In result I paid a lot of money to get my freshly rebuilt carbs cleaned. When I picked the bike up they said I had some jets missing. They pulled a microfiche and showed my which ones. They where the ones on the left side of the carb right by the intake boots. They did not seem to be worried about it and said the bike ran fine. I only had the chance to her out a few times before the weather went sour and sure enough I she ran great. However, now that riding season is rapidly approaching I am worried that missing these jets will have an adverse effect on my bike, on the flip side I do not want to go through the pain of pulling my carbs Again! ( I live in an apartment with only a carport to work under)
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Petevan,

It sounds like what you had leftover were the AIR PILOT JETS, they screw into the lower left round orafice on the intake end of the carbs....where the air filter attaches. They are designed to control the amount of air flowing into the carbs pilot circuit(idle). With them out, those carbs might run a little leaner cause they would be getting more air than they normally would. I would think that it would be best to put them back in, would be important in maintaining synch balance, I think!?

You can easily fit inline fuel filters between your petcocks and the carbs to help prevent what happened. Sounds like it might be more than just "dirt", but possibly rust particles from inside the tank. The coating/seal doesn't last forever, and you may need to reseal it!? Sorry you had to learn the $$ way!! Good luck. Hope you have nice weather soon to work in your carport!!
T.C.

[petevan]

Thanks for the info, I install the jets as soon as my carport thaws out, as for the the inline filters the shop took the liberty of installing them. Just out of curiousity how often do I need to change them, is there a way to tell they need to be replaced, or is it a routine maintence sort of thing

[mitch]

FILTERS

As you are zooming down the road and your bike coughs and quits cause it got no gas would be a good time to put new ones in Seriously i change mine twice a year mid summer and spring....MITCH