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550 carb controversy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Hello,
I just picked up a '77 GS550 which is in reasonable shape but the carbs came with it uninstalled. PO seems to have snapped the fuel screw tips off and then driven them out from the same side into the carb throats. the screw hole in the #1 carb is larger than the rest. Will I be able to tune these carbs if I replace the needles? Are the holes tapered?
I've also found two sets of used carbs that the owners swear up and down are GS550 items, but when I hold my rack against them the throat spacing is completely wrong. What gives with this?
 
The new ones could be from an 80 when they switched to CV carbs. Also, yes, they are tapered holes.

Pictures would help.....
 
Both sets of carbs that I looked at didn't have these fuel needle circuits forward of the slides. When I saw this, I gave up on the idea of swapping the rails and linkages. Does anybody know if that will in fact work?
 
as previously stated, post up some pics of the carb sets you have and it might help us identify them and therefore tell you what is compatible (if at all).
 
Carb spacing is the critical issue.

New members here sometimes are not aware of POS (previous owners syndrome), which afflicts old bikes.

1st, have you held the rack you have up to the intake ports to confirm that they are the correct spacing?

All of the Suzuki VM carb racks are the same for all the 550s up until 1980, when they switched to the VM carbs

So, if the carb racks you are looking at have different carbs, or different spacing, it's most likely they are from a Kawasaki 650 or something

Is the pilot fuel hole on yours ruined? yes

You best bet would be to check with Portdave or Tom and see if they have the VM body you need, providing your current rack is the correct one.
 
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Bog standard 550 carbs; identical to those on buddy's '77; 3" throat spacing; fit the head like a dream; original carbs; what else would you like to know?;)
 
All of the Suzuki VM carb racks are the same for all the 550s up until 1980, when they switched to the VM carbs
Click to expand...
Please make me understand this statement.;););)
 
He meant when they switched to CV carbs...just a typo. If those are VM22s, I have 4 like new carb bodies. No guts installed though. I also have the slides. I took the rack apart a long time ago to use things like the fuel tees and some pilot screws.

My point is this. If the PO knocked the broken tips out from thew bottom and into the carb throats, your carbs bodies are now junk. If you wish, I can go to the storage unit and get as many of the parts together for you and we can come to an agreement on a price. Measure the engine side of the throats to confirm they are 22 MM and let me know.
 
Sold it this March. Needed the cash and It wasnt a daily rider anyway, so the "least" of the herd went. Sounds like they are 22s. they usually did measure large. Want me to go take a look in the tote and report back?
 
All the bodies and bowls, slides, and everything else that I have left of them for 50 is what I was thinking. Can take pics of them soon as I dig them out. Where they being shipped to??
 
That's reasonable, but with shipping and carb kits (for the needles ) I'm looking at a couple hundred.
Thanks anyway!
 
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