M1 vs M2 float needles

[CatatonicBug]

I'm in the market for replacement viton-tipped float needles, and came across a K&L package that contains both "M1" and "M2" float needles in multi-packs. I've never seen float needles referred to with these names, but the price is pretty good. Are either of these what I am looking for, or am I looking at the wrong part altogether?

[skids]

Once you find out, let us all know the answer and your parts source!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bug,

I did some "net" searching, found an ebay seller that had the K&L's, and showed the numbers for the needles, and had a bike compatibility guide, and the M1's were shown to be for the 78-79 series carbs. I then found the same ebay seller with the other needle (M2) and checked the bike guide, but it only showed a few Yamaha XJ's, and some smaller XS's, ie, 400's, but none of the XS11's or the XJ11's. The M2 also fits a bunch of other bikes, but apparently not the later XS11's?

T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Followup post

Okay, just to back up my claims, here are the 2 ebay links for the 2 different types of needles that your original item described:
29-2755(M1) and the 29-2756 (M2) type. The ebay seller is OEMCYCLES with over 62K feeback points.

Below is the M1, 29-2755

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-L-Supply-K...#ht_1355wt_916


18-8957 M2 full metal needle 29-2756 equivalent

http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-L-Supply-K...bac124&vxp=mtr

So you can go to the ebay link, look up the application/bike guide, go to the end for each one where the Yamaha's are listed, and you'll see!

T.C.

[motoman]

Watch for varying fuel levels between the four carbs usings K&L float needles..........hopefully they're not in the suspension business, springs, etc..

[CatatonicBug]

Thanks T.C.! I just wasn't able to find that fitment guide. The M1 and M2 needles seemed to come in packs of 6, and other sellers that showed the same pictures showed packs for the XS11 in qty's of 5 for quite bit more money.

I have been fighting a leak from my float needles for years, no matter how many times I have cleaned and tweaked them. The spot where I park at work is stained with puddles of fuel, because almost every time I park, I lose about 1-2 tbsp of fuel from my airbox. Thankfully, it always comes out of the airbox, and not into the engine. I took my carbs apart 2 weekends ago, and the viton tips have rings in them where they sit in the seats, so I figured I should probably replace them. I was just hoping to find a decent deal on needles. Mikesxs has them for $5.50 ea., so I figure I'll just get them there.

[jetmechmarty]

I suggest you go here and be done with it: Jets-R-Us


Your eBay seller is reputable, but does not specialize in carburetors.

www.oemcycle.com

[CatatonicBug]

I suggest you go here and be done with it: Jets-R-Us

Is there any reason I should pay twice the amount for float needles from jetsRus vs mikesXS? If there is a difference in quality, I am cool with that, but I don't like to pay more than necessary.

[jetmechmarty]

Jets-R-Us offers genuine Mikuni parts. They also offer aftermarket, but I go there for the genuine parts.

[motoman]

Is there any reason I should pay twice the amount for float needles from jetsRus vs mikesXS? If there is a difference in quality, I am cool with that, but I don't like to pay more than necessary.

If you intend to have equal running fuel levels with static float settings all being the same, I'd sure stick to G. Mikuni. Plus the fact that K&L sends you five float needles cause one of them will likely compress farther than the others(DAHK). Spring tension not being the same in all of them will give the four varying running fuel levels.

[CatatonicBug]

So, are you saying that the MikesXS float needles are not Mikuni? Is there a way to tell? They all look the same to me.

K&L has the needles packaged in 5-packs, but I have never seen them sold that way until now.

[jetmechmarty]

Mike's XS sells the cheapest stuff they can get. Most of it is Chinese. They've been selling faulty oil pumps for several years. It appears they don't take products off the market that they know are bad. They have some good stuff, but I'm cautious about what I source from there. It is highly unlikely that you will source any genuine Mikuni parts from Mike's XS unless they explicitly advertise it as such.

[crazy steve]

Does Mikuni even sell a viton-tipped float valve for the early carbs? OEM is metal, 'Bug is looking for a improved version (which Mikuni used in the late carbs), this may be the only choice out there...

[CatatonicBug]

Mine is an '81, so I have the "late" version that came with the Viton tips as OEM.

[jetmechmarty]

Mine is an '81, so I have the "late" version that came with the Viton tips as OEM.

Truthfully, I never bought those from Mike's XS, so I can not speak for their quality. The same goes for Jets-R-Us. That being said, I have made purchases from both companies and many from the former. I know which one I'd be more comfortable with. Do with that as you will.