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K & L carb rebuild kits

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Guest

Guest
I'm considering buying a K & L carb rebuild kit on e-bay. The kit includes bowl gaskets needle valves, all jets, etc... specific to the GS model needed.

For around $50 i can purchase 4 complete kits, one per carb.

I'm mainly interested in the bowl gaskets & needle valve assy's.

Does anyone have any experience with K & L kits??
Are they decent quality, or essentially junk?

Thanks,
mike
 
K&L is basically OK, but have you priced those parts through Bike Bandit or one of the other suppliers?
You may find them cheaper, and you will know the quality.

Are you also going to change the o-rings? Very inexpensive from cycleorings.com.
While ordering o-rings, also get the o-rings for the intake tubes and change them, too.

.
 
I used four of them in my '79 GS550E several years ago. Not a single issue. They appeared very well manufactured and fit perfectly fine. I still ride that machine almost every day. I've also used Keyster carb kits and they worked okay too.
 
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I’ve used K&L parts before with mixed results. The valve shims seem excellent. The brake system rubber parts don’t have as nice a surface finish as the OE parts but seem to function fine. Had a problem with a brake master cylinder kit; piston was either warped or too large in diameter since it physically bound up inside the master cylinder bore.

If you choose to use the carburetor kits, compare the various parts to your stock parts before you install them. My opinion is to use as many of the stock jets as possible. If your stock float needle and seat are trash though, there is not a whole lot to loose in trying the K&L parts since stock needles/seats are crazy expensive.

Good luck.
 
Steve said:
Are you also going to change the o-rings? Very inexpensive from cycleorings.com.
While ordering o-rings, also get the o-rings for the intake tubes and change them, too.
Click to expand...

Hi Steve - Yes, I've already ordered all the replacement o-rings (including intake tubes) from Robert Barr. I've used several of his kits before on other bikes & they are great stuff.

I've just picked this bike up - it's been sitting inside for 15 years, has 7K for mileage, and appears to be in extremely good condition.

The carbs however, are essentially frozen & the throttle cable is stuck so I plan on pulling all that stuff off and doin' the "strip & dip" dance.

I will post pics next week if you'd like to see this baby "before" fixin' up.

Mike
 
I recently got the K&L kit for my 650g and all the parts fit great. I had 2 main jets that where broke and the needle valves where all bad.

Is the listing from "SportingForLess"? cause thats where I got mine and they shipped it out right away and I got them only 3 days after making the order (helps I live only a state away) but still no issues here.
 
Skateguy50 said:
Is the listing from "SportingForLess"? cause thats where I got mine and they shipped it out right away and I got them only 3 days after making the order (helps I live only a state away) but still no issues here.
Click to expand...

Yes, as I remember that's the place. I guess I'll just go ahead & order the kits - might as well have the part before i start the work. beats waiting for them.
 
hikermikem said:
I will post pics next week if you'd like to see this baby "before" fixin' up.
Click to expand...
A little humor is always appreciated. 8-[

worthless.gif
 
I like the K&L carb kits. Just don't use the jets. Use only the Mikuni jets. I ran the K&L float needle and seat in my 1100 for about three years until I put the 1150 carbs on.
Just remember changing the needle and seats will change the float heigth so adjust them.
 
Thanks for the advice Chef. I'll be sure to do that. Hopefully the jets will clean up OK so i can reuse them. I'm expecting the needle valves & seats to be toast.
 
Skateguy50 said:
I recently got the K&L kit for my 650g and all the parts fit great. I had 2 main jets that where broke and the needle valves where all bad.

Is the listing from "SportingForLess"? cause thats where I got mine and they shipped it out right away and I got them only 3 days after making the order (helps I live only a state away) but still no issues here.
Click to expand...


I checked on the SportingForLess ebay site, and they don't have anything for a 650? I need a kit for a 550 and they don't have that either. Or does the kit from the 750 work for everything?
 
I have used the K&L carbs sets on at LEAST 50 sets of GS carbs & had ZERO problems with them. At one time I was doing 3-4 sets a week & have used stock & K&L with no issues either way. Ray.
 
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