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Ok, so I have been fighting a battle with an intermittently sticking float in #3. Given how much I hate pulling the carbs (and hate stabbing them even more!), I decided I wanted to go ahead and put a carb kit in even though the needles/jets were only a couple of years old (about 18,000 miles or so). And, while the carbs are mostly apart, might as well go all the way and give them a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner, just to get anything new out.
So, while putting it back together, I decide to reuse my existing main jets (Mikuni #35 due to altitude) and air bleeds. The new needles, float needle and seat, pilot jet (same size as existing), idle needles and gaskets all go in.
First issue: After getting the carbs back in and hooked up, I realize that I left the bloody bottom rail off! It was still sitting on the bench! After I quit cussing, I figured I might as well fire up the bike, balance the carbs and adjust the idle needles, just in case there was an issue that required me to pull the carbs again anyway.
At this point, it looked like it was running a bit rich, but nothing terrible (also still basically cold, so I should have known...) I go ahead and pull the carbs and reinstall the bottom rail and then reinstall them.
Of course, it was only when I was fully warming up the bike to do the final adjustments of the carbs that it started to run richer and richer. To the point that it would almost not run at all. Just to test it out, I buttoned it back up and took it for a quick test ride. Idle was the problem. Above 3000 rpm, it cleaned out and ran very well. But the idle just got worse after it got fully up to temperature after the test ride.
And it was out with the carbs once more! Thankfully, the root cause was fairly easy to see when I was looking closely: The new pilot jets had EIGHT holes and they appeared to be LARGER than the six on the stock pilot jets! No wonder it was running pig rich (when I pulled the carbs after the test ride, the inside of the intake boots was wet!) More cussing ensued! On the bright side, they DID have the same number stamped on them as the stockers...
Just got things buttoned back up, the carbs are synced and the idle mixture is dialed in fairly well. I always get amazed at just how smooth the engine runs when the carbs are SYNCED on the money instead of just close.
Needless to say, I am REALLY sick of pulling those carbs!!!!
Oh, and I DID fix the #3 float sticking. It was JUST rubbing the bowl. A slight tweak to the float pulled it away from the bowl and all is good. I hope...
So, while putting it back together, I decide to reuse my existing main jets (Mikuni #35 due to altitude) and air bleeds. The new needles, float needle and seat, pilot jet (same size as existing), idle needles and gaskets all go in.
First issue: After getting the carbs back in and hooked up, I realize that I left the bloody bottom rail off! It was still sitting on the bench! After I quit cussing, I figured I might as well fire up the bike, balance the carbs and adjust the idle needles, just in case there was an issue that required me to pull the carbs again anyway.
At this point, it looked like it was running a bit rich, but nothing terrible (also still basically cold, so I should have known...) I go ahead and pull the carbs and reinstall the bottom rail and then reinstall them.
Of course, it was only when I was fully warming up the bike to do the final adjustments of the carbs that it started to run richer and richer. To the point that it would almost not run at all. Just to test it out, I buttoned it back up and took it for a quick test ride. Idle was the problem. Above 3000 rpm, it cleaned out and ran very well. But the idle just got worse after it got fully up to temperature after the test ride.
And it was out with the carbs once more! Thankfully, the root cause was fairly easy to see when I was looking closely: The new pilot jets had EIGHT holes and they appeared to be LARGER than the six on the stock pilot jets! No wonder it was running pig rich (when I pulled the carbs after the test ride, the inside of the intake boots was wet!) More cussing ensued! On the bright side, they DID have the same number stamped on them as the stockers...
Just got things buttoned back up, the carbs are synced and the idle mixture is dialed in fairly well. I always get amazed at just how smooth the engine runs when the carbs are SYNCED on the money instead of just close.
Needless to say, I am REALLY sick of pulling those carbs!!!!
Oh, and I DID fix the #3 float sticking. It was JUST rubbing the bowl. A slight tweak to the float pulled it away from the bowl and all is good. I hope...
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