Midnight Special Carb Rebuild - I'm finally making progress!

[Munky]

First and foremost, a HUGE thanks to Nate for his help and patience!

This past Sunday Nate came over to help tinker with the bike. First we put the carbs back in to see if we could get it running before teardown. We came close a few times, but erratic idle and eventually some thick smoke made us stop. He pulled the oil plug and confirmed I had a lot of gas in my oil - it ran out like water and you could smell the gas. He also pulled the oil filter and showed me the washer I was missing to go with the spring. Add those to the list!

He then showed me the teardown process for my carbs, explaining what each bit does, where it goes, and what might need replaced. He's a wealth of information!

Currently the carbs are separated in the garage, and I'm going to start the deep clean. I'm picking up a kids toothbrush with some soft bristles, and Nate was kind enough to give me some brushes for those hard to reach areas.

I've already ordered 2 replacement oil filters, 2 ball bearings for the choke plunger, and a replacement washer from Speed And Sport.

Today after work I'm heading to harbor Freight to get some replacement screws, since the majority of the ones we took off needed to be replaced anyway.

I'm going to order the replacement pilot jet (one was damaged) from Jets R Us once I can confirm that #42.5 is the correct size for the BS 34MM Mikunis.

Also, I messaged the gentleman on www.CycleORings.com to see if he still has his sets available, so I can replace all the worn rubber items. You can't beat $14 for the whole kit 'n kaboodle!

Wish me luck! I would have never made it this far if it wasn't for you guys!

[DGXSER]

Good luck, although you will need a lot less with the help you have here and nearby.

On the jets, make sure you get the BS30/96 style, with six holes. and yes 42.5 pilot jets is stock for all 79-81 models.

[natemoen]

Could also get the nitril o-ring kit at harbor freight and that has the right size o-rings for the needle seats.

Like I mentioned in my text, I forgot to pull the idle mix screws out. There should be a spring, then a washer, and then a o-ring on there. I do not know of the hardor freight set has the right size o-ring for that. It might but I am just not sure, it is a small o-ring.

[Munky]

Could also get the nitril o-ring kit at harbor freight and that has the right size o-rings for the needle seats.

Like I mentioned in my text, I forgot to pull the idle mix screws out. There should be a spring, then a washer, and then a o-ring on there. I do not know of the hardor freight set has the right size o-ring for that. It might but I am just not sure, it is a small o-ring.

Sounds good - I remember seeing that in the step-by-step guide. I have to be careful not to lose those pieces.

I'm also going to see about getting those screws at HF, anything is better than the ones that were slapped in there with red loc-tite.

[donebysunday]

Sounds good - I remember seeing that in the step-by-step guide. I have to be careful not to lose those pieces.

I'm also going to see about getting those screws at HF, anything is better than the ones that were slapped in there with red loc-tite.

I bent a large paper clip into a U shape and then ground/dremeled/filed it into just the right fish hook to hook those washers and O-rings out just to check them ( sometimes took a number of tries ) never found one bad but did find a few that were missing parts.

[DGXSER]

Yes, the nitrile O-ring set from HF has a good size for those mix screw O-rings. Not sure if HF will have them, but I would suggest stainless socket head cap screws for the carbs, I use them on both the diaphragm caps and the float bowls.