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This weekend I decided to finally take out those mixture screws that everyone has been telling me to do and it could not have gone worse. #1 and #4 were stuck and I ended up with a broken off extractor in both (last time I use a RH drill bit on a screw). Long story, short I have a junk set of carb bodies now and I'm going off to pick up a new set to cobble together a new set out of the two. I wouldn't give up on these carbs unless I absolutely know that can't be saved but the aluminum body are the screw is toast. The extractor metal is just too hard to be drilled out with exploding the little tunnel. I might send them off to a machine shop to see if I can salvage one of the bodies and chase it with a tap but we'll see.
On to the present. Unfortunately, I can't find a set of early model carbs that are within my price range so I'm stuck with buying another set of late models. My question is can I get away with not trying to pull these d@mn mixture screws? I would really like to avoid the fiasco I just had to go through.
If pulling them is a necessity, how do I avoid the problems I had before. The first thing was using the "drill a hole in the plug and stick a screw in" actually breaks the aluminum tunnel that is sits in. I'm very particular and having cracked/broken bodies is not an option. The second problem was the screws being seized in place and having the flat head slot destroyed trying to pull them out. The third (and I think I already figured this one out) is how to remove screws that are frozen in place. I guess using a left handed drill bit for the extractor pilot hole in the first place would have helped but if I break another extractor I can't guarantee I won't set my bike on fire.
Is pulling those screws really THAT important?
Also, what is this fuss I've been hearing from everyone about replacing the butterfly seals? I ordered some new ones from MikesXS but I keep hearing about how hard it is to remove the screws holding them in place. On the set I have now I just took a screw driver to them and they all came out without too much fuss. The flattened end didn't put up a fight once it hit the threads on the shaft, it just got bent back with no problem.
On to the present. Unfortunately, I can't find a set of early model carbs that are within my price range so I'm stuck with buying another set of late models. My question is can I get away with not trying to pull these d@mn mixture screws? I would really like to avoid the fiasco I just had to go through.
If pulling them is a necessity, how do I avoid the problems I had before. The first thing was using the "drill a hole in the plug and stick a screw in" actually breaks the aluminum tunnel that is sits in. I'm very particular and having cracked/broken bodies is not an option. The second problem was the screws being seized in place and having the flat head slot destroyed trying to pull them out. The third (and I think I already figured this one out) is how to remove screws that are frozen in place. I guess using a left handed drill bit for the extractor pilot hole in the first place would have helped but if I break another extractor I can't guarantee I won't set my bike on fire.
Is pulling those screws really THAT important?
Also, what is this fuss I've been hearing from everyone about replacing the butterfly seals? I ordered some new ones from MikesXS but I keep hearing about how hard it is to remove the screws holding them in place. On the set I have now I just took a screw driver to them and they all came out without too much fuss. The flattened end didn't put up a fight once it hit the threads on the shaft, it just got bent back with no problem.
Good news is the new #1 carb body is in the mail and should be here soon.
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