Running bad

[osmosis4b]

So I took the bowls off of the carbs, reinstalled the tank and checked shutoff at the float valves. Carb # 1 is dripping slowly constantly. (ps the carbs bowls look pretty dirty, lotsa rust residue...) How hard is it to get to this float valve, do I need to remove the carbs from the bike?I couldnt figure out how to get a wrench on the retaining nut, the float pivot was blocking access.

[knewsom]

"pinned" in the corner

Well Os, I'm afraid you may want to pull the carbs and replace all the float pins. If you WANT, you could try to get away with JUST taking of the float on the #1 carb, then reach in and grab the float valve - replacing it may be your only option, because I don't think cleaning it is going to make it work again. If your bowls are that gunky, you probably want to pull yer carbs, take them all apart and give them the once-over, because that gunk probably has gotten into your main jets and pilot jets too. (one of MY jets was so badly clogged that I think it was totally starving cylinder #1 resulting in a cold pipe). If your pilot jets are shot, I've got extras for you.

Good luck man!

-Kris

[randy]

osmosis4b,

Knewsom is right on the money here, even if you could get the float out with the carbs on the bike, getting it all back together again would be almost impossible given the limited space under the carbs.

[osmosis4b]

I was afraid you guys would say that...
So reality check, how difficult is it? On a scale of 1-5
1=just existing
2=tie your shoes
3=taking a dog in heat to the dog park
4=making Bakalat (greek dessert that takes a few weeks to prepare)
5= spending a weekend with the inlaws (seems like a f** eternity)

[knewsom]

Well, all I can say is that if a total FNG like me can take apart my carbs, then you can do it too!

Word of advice: order the parts you need ahead of time - don't pull yer carbs until they arrive, then make it a saturday (and sunday if it carries over) project. Might as well buy new gaskets etc while you're at it - they'll probably need to be replaced.

it's a pain, but I'd probably only rate it a 3. ...unless you notice that there's other things that are horribly wrong with your carbs, like a bad diaphram, or you have a snapped jet, etc. then it gets really frustrating.

...at least it's not uber messy like cleaning the gas tank.

[randy]

Some of us can do it with our eyes closed

You know who you are!

[DiverRay]

And we try not to brag about it, as it's because we did it for money, or it took a while to learn. And no, I won't say how I got to be so good...
Ray

[osmosis4b]

LOL
I guess I got a job ahead of me...

[mro]

do it with our eyes closed

Was wondering were I went wrong when I went thru my carbs.
Guru types always keep the good tips till your already done



mro

[prometheus578]

"Ack... I'm Blind!"

I usually get about halfway through before I get a squirt of carb cleaner in my eye, then I do the rest of the job with one eye closed!
Osmosis... cleaning carbs is the easiest thing in the world. Just takes time to do it right. The worst part of the job is getting them off and back on the bike, so that says a lot about the ease of cleaning.
Pull a bowl and remove a float needle. Head to any shop in town and have them match it up. They run about $5 a piece. (Quicker than ordering from somewhere)

[osmosis4b]

thanks for the confidence builders...
I spent the last 2 hours of work yesterday, and half a ream of paper reading and printing info on this from the site...
I dont doubt that I can get the R&R done, it is the fear of it not running as good as it used to when back together. (Also, all of the stuff about breaking one of the float support rods is a guarantee I will do the same)

[GNEPIG]

(Also, all of the stuff about breaking one of the float support rods is a guarantee I will do the same)

.. hey Os, Ken Talbot sells a groovy tool that makes removing the flote pin a breeze. only cost 10 bucks, shoot him a personal message to see if he has any left.. but be carful, there is a certain amount of coolness that comes with owning one of these tools

[osmosis4b]

thanks! Gne

So Ken... is this tool available still?

[knewsom]

really..... this intriuges me.

hell, I just used a small phillips screwdriver and a hammer with a light tap. *shrug*

I cant' imagine what tool could do the job better, but I'm all ears! I mean, after all, I was a little nervous doing it, because if I broke something in there... eeeegh.

[Ken Talbot]

The tool is basically a variation on a chain breaker. Here's a link to the page in a long thread talking about stuck float post pins. Be sure to browse the rest of the thread too.

Feedback has been generally pretty good as far as functionality goes. The fact that these were hand made introduces some minor variation in dimensions and fit.

I believe I'm down to the last two prototypes, offered at US$10 delivered anywhere in the world. PM me if you're interested.