main jet DISASTER!

[randy]

XS-cellent.

If you had ordered two, I would have walked you through cleaning the pilots. The orifice is very small and if you don't get it clean, all your work will be for naught.

Anyway, while I'm on the subject, one strand of any 18AWG stranded wire will do the trick for the orifice. The side holes are just right for one strand of solid #22 wire.

[knewsom]

Cool, well, thankee anyhow, Randy - I'm going to clean the ones I HAVE, and keep them as spares.

I also got new seals, gaskets, etc. but that was from parts n more, for the 78 XS11. (wanted to be sure that the gaskets would fit perfectly)

[knewsom]

ruh-roh..

Uh, Randy, are you 100% that 42.5 pilot jets are what I need for my 78? I just saw somewhere else that 45 was the right size.

Thanks,
Kris

[randy]

42.5's are standard for 78-79

[knewsom]

*phew*

[yadada]

I know you were working on a pilot jet, but I twisted a main jet half a turn too far one time and it snapped (it failed actually...see my quote below), leaving part of the jet in the hole. I found that a screw/bolt extractor, the kind that are spiraled opposite of regular threads and come down to a point, pulled it right out. Hope this helps you or someone else.....

[knewsom]

twisting main jets = bad.

From what I've read, every time a main jet has busted during removal, it's been because they were twisting it.

Mine were in there pretty tight, all gunked up and covered in varnish. I didn't PULL them out from the top with pliers, I tapped them out with a hammer and a flathead from below. Thankfully, I didn't mess up the main jets, only the pilot jets, which I HAD to screw out.

I'm definitely going to invest in just that sort of reverse drill bit set before I attempt to rebuild another carburator!

[yadada]

Oh I removed the jet just fine. Putting things back together is my problem. I think in my head as I screw things back together..."Maybe it should be a little tighter...." and then..... "Nope it shouldn't have been."

I have used those screw extractors several times as you might have guessed. They most of the time unscrew what I screwed up.

[knewsom]

oh man, I sure hope that doesn't happen to me when I go to put the main jets back in!

I think I'll partially reassemble my carbs tonight or tomorrow morning, just in case I foul something up and have to order yet ANOTHER part.

[yadada]

I'm sure you can put them together all right, just remember they are brass and small and the screwdriver they take to put them is is way too big.

[knewsom]

Thanks! I will indeed be nice to them.