Carb confusion

[Guest]

I've been struggling to figure out the fuel system on my bike and it appears that I'm missing some inlets? The only one I can see is called out as a vent line according to my manual
IMG_0426.jpg

Any ideas?

[chuck hahn]

Im not sure what your calling a vent. What i see inn the picture is what i assume are bowl drains. What you should see is the main fuel tubes consisting of a TEE in between carbs 2 and 3, then two transfer tubes located between 1 and 2 and 3 and four. These are the lower tubes right abve the top edge of the bowls. Up higher, and slightly to the rear of the rack should be 2 plastic tees. One between 1 and 2 and one between 3 and 4. These are bowl vents.

[chuck hahn]

Maybe take some pictures from above and close ups in between the carbs. What bike is this?? I note that thre is a fuel tee ( what look like one anyway ) between 1 and 2 and transfer tubes between the others. This looks 100% wrong to me.

[kevinl]

I should've specified in my original post - this is a 1980 GS550

[chuck hahn]

Ok...so as you can see by the breakdown in the parts fiche the main fuel tee is in the center just above the big idle adjust knob. The vents are plastic between 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

https://www.partsoutlaw.com/oemparts/a/suz/50d3f5a9f8700230d8b4c723/carburetor

If you look at the pics of these parts carbs on Ebay youll see the aluminum fuel tubes and black plastic vents where your bikes carbs should have them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-81-Suzuki-GS-550-E-L-S-GS550E-Mikuni-Carb-Carburetors-For-Parts-Or-Rebuild/272903413101?hash=item3f8a4f9d6d:g:ZwUAAOSwYwJZ8qoJ&vxp=mtr

[Big T]

It's easy to be confused when some idiot took the carbs apart and reassembled them wrong. Chances are good the carbs are in the wrong positions.

At least, you'll need to break them down and clean them anyway. That will give you a chance to correct whatever they screwed up.

Follow the tutorial and you'll be good

[kevinl]

Ok...so as you can see by the breakdown in the parts fiche the main fuel tee is in the center just above the big idle adjust knob. The vents are plastic between 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

https://www.partsoutlaw.com/oemparts/a/suz/50d3f5a9f8700230d8b4c723/carburetor

If you look at the pics of these parts carbs on Ebay youll see the aluminum fuel tubes and black plastic vents where your bikes carbs should have them.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-81-Suz...JZ8qoJ&vxp=mtr

Any idea where I can get the vents? None of the online parts stores seem to have them listed on the diagrams

It's easy to be confused when some idiot took the carbs apart and reassembled them wrong. Chances are good the carbs are in the wrong positions.

At least, you'll need to break them down and clean them anyway. That will give you a chance to correct whatever they screwed up.

Follow the tutorial and you'll be good

How can I check the carbs to see if they're in the correct positions? Are there any identifying marks on them?

[steveb922]

What carbs are those? The main bodies look like BS32s, but the float bowls are different to what I'm used to. Can you post some more pictures, from different angles?

It looks like you already have the correct positions.

[Steve]

I am seeing things there that make me think they are not even the correct carbs for the bike.

- The caps are wrong. They appear to be steel, with a dimple. Stock ones are aluminum, with perfectly flat tops.
- The "choke" mechanism is wrong. Should be horizontal, not vertical.
- The float bowls are different.
- I don't see the pilot mixture screws.
- The air jets in the intakes are in different locations.
- The fuel inlet is between #1 and #2, with straight tubes going to the rest.

Others may spot other differences or maybe even correct me in saying that these ARE proper carbs for an '80 550.

.

[chuck hahn]

Yes they are not Suzuki carbs. After reading Steves post i went and looked again. The choke plungers are where the mixture screws should be.

[chuck hahn]

Im gonna venture a guess on them being early 80s Yamaha.

EDIT.........upon a little research I see that the 80s XJ bikes had the same flat for the choke actuator rod and the fuel tee between carbs 1 and 2. Dont show the chokes at the top but im about sure these are close to what he has.

https://www.partsfish.com/oemparts/a/yam/50042020f8700209bc786d66/carburetor

[kevinl]

Im gonna venture a guess on them being early 80s Yamaha.

EDIT.........upon a little research I see that the 80s XJ bikes had the same flat for the choke actuator rod and the fuel tee between carbs 1 and 2. Dont show the chokes at the top but im about sure these are close to what he has.

https://www.partsfish.com/oemparts/a...d66/carburetor

You are a LIFESAVER! Wow... I was getting so frustrated that every tutorial or diagram on the GS550 carbs didn't even resemble mine!

I've began diving into xj650 carb tutorials and that's definitely what I have on my bike

[chuck hahn]

Once i posted I remembered I parted out a 82 XJ50 Maxim a few months ago. I still have the carbs on the shelf. Have dipped them and fully reassembled the rack. Just need float needles. I didnt go out to look at them but i will bet they are twins to yours.

[Nessism]

Hitachi carbs?

[chuck hahn]

yes they are.... long before I started at Hitachi though...LOL