1978 carbs the same as 1979 special carbs?

[TheNewGuy]

I have a 1979 XS1100 Special. The tip of the air/fuel adjustment screw in carb #4 has broken off inside the carb, I can't get it out. (I've tried everything except drilling, I'm pretty sure that would really mess it up) so I'm looking for a replacement carb. I found a set of 1978 carbs, but I dont' think they're from a special. My plan is to take one of the carbs from the set I buy then put in into the set I currently have. I will be using a rebuild kit after I clean everything up just so I have new air screws and gaskets and such. In order to do this however, I need to know if the carbs are the same. So I pose this question to anyone with experience in this area... are the carbs of a 1978 "non-special" the same as the carbs of a 1979 Special?

[randy]

The bodies are the same, but the jets and the choke lever are different.

[DeanR]

Speaking of choke levers, would anyone happen to have an extra?

[TheNewGuy]

The bodies are the same? Great! Thanks for the info!!!

[TheNewGuy]

Hey Randy, when you say that the choke levers are different do you mean that they hook up differently or they are just different.

Can I or can I not use a 1978 carb in a set of 1979 carbs?

[randy]

The choke levers operate the same rail on either set, and they mount the same, but the special lever is a push-down to choke and the standard lever is a pull-out to choke. They will interchange between carbs sets.

I think the only difference is for clearance differences under the tank(s)

[TheNewGuy]

Alright, I'll pick those carbs up and see how they work...
Thanks alot...

[John]

The only difference in the choke levers is where the black, rubber handle is positioned. On a Special, it is to the front, and it is to the rear on a Standard. The carbs will work fine. I have a set of 78 Standard carbs on my 80 Special.
One trick to try on the broken tip, if any is left protruding is to find a socket from a socket set that is close to the diameter of the carb throat, Set the carbs upside down and insert the socket into the carb, and contacting the tip of the needle. Use a hammer and strike the side of the socket to drive the tip back into it's bore. If you have compressed air, then it should blow right out. I had to do two of my 78's carbs that way because I tightend them too much when I was seating them in preparing to set them.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Laxdad/Dean,

I thought Uncle Spot was having some choke levers for specials made up, don't know if he ever had them done, or has some extra ones, haven't see him post for quite a while!?

Yeah, Randy, my Special also slides OUT not down, for actuating the choke/fuel enrichment circuit, not sure where you got that idea... Some specials had their choke lever bent down at a 90 degree angle from where they are supposed to be, and so when seeing it you could assume that it was to push down, but it was just badly bent!
T.C.

[RUSH]

I took my bike in to the dealer years ago and the did a number on my carbs. I found they had broke the tips off 2 pilot screws and really messed up the carb bodies in extracting those tips. I worked for 1 year on those carbs, trying to get the milage back up to where it was before, it wasnt untill I was able to buy a set of replacements that I solved the problem.

[skids]

That is exactly what I was thinking, TC! If fact, I test drove a special like that (bent out tab) and it broke off when I opened the "choke".

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey Laxdad/Dean,

IYeah, Randy, my Special also slides OUT not down, for actuating the choke/fuel enrichment circuit, not sure where you got that idea... Some specials had their choke lever bent down at a 90 degree angle from where they are supposed to be, and so when seeing it you could assume that it was to push down, but it was just badly bent!
T.C.

[randy]

Right, you are, T.C. I'm mixing up my Kawas and Yammis. My 81 SH had the bend in the choke lever, and I thought being a bit bent was normal?