How I will be spending my long 4th of July "weekend"

[MisterCinders]

So a quick question to add to this. My bike currently has an aftermarket exhaust that appears to be full flow. In fact, it might just be straight pipe. I don't see anything that looks like a muffler inside the pipe, although the tip does bend downwards. I have no idea if the previous owner rejetted after putting these on. Is there anyway to tell if its been rejetted? If it has, would it be better to use the cheap K&L kit, or use the jets that are currently in it? This is my first carb rebuild, so as much information as possible is much appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I'm getting the stock tailpipes in the mail in a few days. That's the reason I'm asking.

Check your current jets, then order Mikuni bits for what you need. Jets are cheap.

[Steve]

This is the stuff you need: (sorry about the size)

What's wrong with FULL SIZE??

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[bbytes]

What size jets should a stock 79 GS550L have?

[cowboyup3371]

When was the last time you were on Basscliff's site?

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/carbspec_float_height.html

[Steve]

what size jets should a stock 79 gs550l have?

80............

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[G. Bruns]

Plus you can use the left over dip to strip grease, paint and crud off of many other items. Of course, I'm not sure I'd use mine on another set of carbs after all that, but regardless...it's well worth the money and does the best job.

[bbytes]

So I took your advice. I bought the big gallon can of Berryman's and the O-rings from www.cycleorings.com. I am using this guide. I got the first carburetor done. Here is a picture of it next to the third one (which I haven't started yet).



I know this is just an exterior shot, but the Berryman's stuff is really proving itself with just this shot.

One thing I noticed when putting the first one back together though. The pilot fuel screw looks to be a bit dull on the end. When I took apart the second carb, I noticed that one was very sharp looking. I suppose I should replace the one in the first carb (the one part that wasn't in my K&L rebuild kit). Could this be the reason my bike has trouble idling? I don't notice any other issues than it having a hard time idling.

The other thing I noticed, is that whoever did the carbs last, didn't remove the old gaskets. There were two gaskets on each carb. One really old, difficult to remove gasket, and another somewhat newer, slightly easier to remove gasket. Obviously, I removed both before putting the new gaskets on, but I thought it was funny to share.

[bbytes]

So it turns out that the 4th carb had a bad pilot fuel screw as well. Here it is next to the good one from the 3rd carb.



Anyone have a part number for these? I cant make heads or tails of the parts diagram on Suzuki websites. It's just not good enough quality to see what the parts are, and their numbers. Or if there is another company that makes them, I wouldn't mind.

[cableguy]

This would be a great thread to illustrate why carb "rebuild" kits aren't enough, not to mention that they aren't really even the right parts to freshen carbs. Glad you were able to let yourself be steered in a different direction, and you will have an awesome running bike as a result. As long as the tank and carbs are off, are you going to check/adjust your valves as well?

[MisterCinders]

Check the pilot fuel passages to make sure they aren't blocked with broken tips. If clear, Z1 has fuel screws that are easier to use than stock.

[bbytes]

As long as the tank and carbs are off, are you going to check/adjust your valves as well?

Probably not right now. This is my daily rider, so I need to get the carbs back on. It's not like taking the tank or the carbs off is really that hard. Plus, I don't have the parts to do an adjustment on the valves right now

Check the pilot fuel passages to make sure they aren't blocked with broken tips. If clear, Z1 has fuel screws that are easier to use than stock.

When you say they are easier than stock, what exactly do you mean?

I also dont see any for my bike. They have them for the larger GS bikes, but they don't say GS550 on them.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=4743

[Steve]

Plus, I don't have the parts to do an adjustment on the valves right now ...

That's OK, when you do get around to checking your valves, you STILL won't have the parts you need.

Until you open up the top of the engine, measure your clearances AND see what size shims you have, you won't know what to order, except for the obvious valve cover gasket.

While you have your carbs off is the perfect time to check your valves. If you have each carb in the dip for a day, it's going to take four days, overall. If you had checked your valves on the first day, after getting the first carb in the dip, you would have received your new gasket and any shims that you need from Z1 by the time you got your carbs back together.

As MisterCinders said, check the pilot passages in your carbs to make sure the broken tips are not stuck in there.

Check your valves, make ONE order to Z1 that includes valve cover gasket, shims and pilot needles, pay just ONE shipping charge.

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[bbytes]

Which carburetors does my bike have? Looks a lot like the Mikuni VM29 smoothbore ones.

[bbytes]

Anything I can do to get it to run (even poorly) until I can get the new screws? Right now it just pours gas out of the 4th carb overflow. I use this bike to get to work, and I may have to hitch a ride with a friend if I cant get it to work, but I'd rather it just work, even if it doesn't work well.

[hampshirehog]

Which carburetors does my bike have? Looks a lot like the Mikuni VM29 smoothbore ones.

You have VM22SS carbs. Standard fitting on a 550.