Replacement Valve Needle and other carb overhaul ?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey EH,

Didn't see this reply! Regrettably that part is no longer available new, but many folks have spare carbs and parts that I'm sure they can find one for you if you can't rescue yours. BTW, note whether it has a 2-3 hole pattern, or 4 holes down the side, makes a difference in richness and where it's supposed to go in the bank of carbs!! See my basket case thread for that discussion!

Ah...the sweet smell(or lack thereof of leaky gas) of success!!
I did the J-B weld fix on my 81SH carb float post, and got it back together, and mounted the bank, filled them up, and it fired up nicely, ran rather smoothly as well since I did a precise bench synch using the little holes in the top of the carb throat as markers! Nary a drop from the #2 carbs!!! Now I can do that actual vacuum synch....once the rain stops ! And I also can now do a better video documentation of how the slides behave under actual riding and load conditions. I already shot a little footage showing how the slide barely rise when in neutral and slowly revved up to 7K! But crack the throttle and they bounce open nicely!!! Anxiously awaiting to hear your SUCCESS story with the nozzle!
T.C.

[EHLawyer]

Glad to report that I was able to fix threads on the nozzle, and am just about ready to reassemble last carburetor, balance the floats and move on. I know that I have to replace oil, but wondering how to at least immediately test if carbs are okay..........Set petcock to "prime" and wait, to make sure that carbs don't leak?

[TopCatGr58]

Yeah, that's about all you can do, you may want to gently tap on the carbs with a rubber mallet to help jostle the floats just to make sure they don't stick down/open! You can also push up the vacuum slide and put your finger tightly over the arched slot on the top of the intake throat where the filter attaches, and see that the slide doesn't drop down, or comes down VERY slowly, which further ensures that you don't have any holes and leaks in the rubber diaphragms!! But don't leave it on PRIME for too long, like hours, just a few minutes, as long as you don't see any gas flowing out the intake, then they should be sealing well, but why put/take that extra risk by leaving the petcocks on PRIME, turn them to OFF once you're convinced that they aren't leaking!
Then change the oil/filter, and fire that puppy up!!! You need some reward for all of your hard work!
T.C.

[don07tncav]

Getting close EH!! Good luck on the next step!

[EHLawyer]

Its good that I'm satisfied with small accomplishments........like actually getting the carburetors back on the bike again, properly attached to all of those cooperative boots................Here's another stupid question: There is a hose under where the seat goes..........attached at one end above where the middle gear oil is added...........I don't believe it's supposed to be attached anywhere in the area under the seat (all of the carb hoses are attached, all of the air filter case nipples are being used)........Some kind of "breather" hose? Just stays where it is?

[xssiveone]

Some kind of "breather" hose? Just stays where it is?

Yep, exactly what it is. It's tucked under the seat to keep it away from road dirt and dust.

[EHLawyer]

Thanks for the reassurance..............

[EHLawyer]

Small successes every day...........no fuel leaking from the carbs or airbox, after prime and even when petcocks are on........haven't changed oil, yet, but couldn't resist starting the monster up.......revs like hell on full choke, with white smoke out of the driver's side exhaust, but with choke in, idles rough and when throttle opened up........death. Oil change help? Praying?
Always anxious for the response of the knowledgeable (and sympathetic) XSers...........

[EHLawyer]

Overhaul update: Carbs all cleaned and back on the bike, no leakage noted........oil drained and replaced, new oil filter......starts up with choke completely open, lots of white smoke......after a while, will still idle with chose in middle position and, after a while, with choke fully closed. However, no change in idle when throttle opened......in fact, engine dies more often than not.........I did not clean the air filter, which was probably gasoline soaked.........could this be it? Even when its running, with choke open or in the middle, sounds a lot more active on the left (driver's) side of the bike, than the right......though there is exhaust coming from both pipes...........Help?

[EHLawyer]

Update.........while still not idling, ran a little better.......less white smoke.....then, more again........bad gas?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there EH,

Take the air filter out just to see if it helps? Could be badly clogged, choking down the carbs! White smoke is usually carb, too much gas! Have you tested the carb intake mounts for leaks? If the engine is not responding and revving properly, then you may need to check into the ignition, timing, vacuum advance/retard unit. Hopefully you put in fresh gas in the tank, and you had flushed out the old first? Keep at it!
T.C.

[GNEPIG]

... black smoke is rich, too much gas... white smoke is oil.. if this bike has been sitting around for a couple of years than the valve seals may need replaced
.. the plugs tell all

[EHLawyer]

What would be the first thing to check to determine why the engine does not respond to the throttle being opened? Mechanically, there is no restriction...............

[EHLawyer]

Reading and re-reading many posts on carb cleaning, lean condition, etc. When I pulled and cleaned the carbs, I did not remove/clean the idle adjustment screw (the one in the middle) nor the idle mixture screws.........can/should they be removed and cleaned? Would this cause/create the problem? Thanks.

[EHLawyer]

Carbs cleaned and re-cleaned......Progress! Engine will rev in response to throttle, while choke in fully open or middle position (which it wouldn't do before)........but barely idles when choke closed completely.......

1. Where should the main idle adjustment screw be? Clockwise to increase idle? Or the reverse?

2. the individual idle screws are 1 1/2 turns out from lightly seated..........I believe that they can be turned out (counterclockwise) to increase the fuel (richer).......

Anything else I should be thinking of? Thanks