Needles... how the heck do you get the snap ring out!!!

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to adjust the needle on my 1982 gs850L, I love learning, ha, I've been having plenty of issues I've never had before working on other stuff... it's great, ha!! anywho how do you guys get the little snap rings out of the slides to get the needle out? I have 4 diffrent snap ring plyers, none of them are small/long enough to get in there to the ring. I also checked the local hardwere store and they didnt have anything small enough either.? thanks guys!-darren

[Jethro]

I bought a cheap pair and ground down the sides on the bench grinder. Works great for the small snap rings, but the metal is thin by the pivot holes, so I use another pair for the heavy duty stuff.

[pano]

I originally tried to grind down some needle nose pliers and then went to about 5 different places to find snap ring pliers that would fit. I could not find snap pliers that would fit andgot aggrivated and now own a fancy pair of Suzuki brand snap ring pliers.

[gtsg01]

After cursing several sets of carbs, I found the perfect tool for the snap rings.

Go to your local Sears store and get a set of Craftsman Professional #45661 needle nose pliers.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00945661000

You don't have to grind the tips, and they work way better than any snap ring pliers I have ever had.

[Mr. Jiggles]

The first time I did it all I had was a hemostat - kind of a cross between scissors and heavy-duty tweezers. I ground the ends to points and they worked very well. I've seen hemostats at flea markets for less than $10 each.

I've since gotten a set of reversible snap ring pliers from sears and they work fine but there are days when I prefer the hemostat.

[Anonymous]

snap ring

Hey its a japanese bike use chop sticks, 8O I did the same as jethro and ground down a cheap set from harbor freight

[850_GS]

Go to www.mikesxs.com . Mike sells snapring pliers that will do the job. Use the correct tool!!!!!

[Anonymous]

wow thanks for all the replies, last night I ground down an old set of snap ring pliers and it worked perfectly. but how do you adjust the needle now? there is no clip positions that I'm used to on 4-wheeler carbs and such. I just thought I'd put a thicker washer under it...?thanks again-darren

[first timer]

if yo udon't have teh adjustable needles then you nee dto go to radio shack, they have some small washers that fit real nice on the needle and you the add several of these to raise the needle up if you want a richer midrange.

ryan

[ptm]

Hey, 850_GS - thanks for the link to MikesXS. It's just a few weeks too late - I searched all over for long tip snap ring pliers for the master cylinder clip. Finally after grinding down two sets, and doing some very careful filing of the tips on one, I got it, but what a pain. And Mike has them for only $9.00...

[Mr. Jiggles]

Darren -What kind of mods have you done that requires you to rejet??

[Anonymous]

Darren -What kind of mods have you done that requires you to rejet??

I removed a air boot that goes from the just basically reroutes where the air is coming from (outside to airbox, not the boots from the airbox to the carbs.) Then I bought a Universal set of megaphone style muffers on ebay, which I also ended up modifying(removed inner baffles).. should still have sufficiant back pressure. oh yeah I totally redid the seat foam and made a whole new covor for it.... that should add adleast 10hp 8) . I'll get pics of her soon as it gets nice and warm out. Thanks guys!-darren

[Anonymous]

Well, this evening I put her all back together and shined her up and got a few pics... Here is a link...to the link. haha.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/viewtopic.php?t=32565

-darren

[vlad65]

How do you get the rings back in?????8-[

[chef1366]

Mr. Jiggles, we all know what hemostats are used for (hospital use only) but they do make a handy tool also. I bought a cheap set of long needle nose pliers from Harbor Freight and they work great. To get the clip back in put the snap ring plier ends into the holes of the snap ring and squeeze (make sure it doesn't go flying) and lower it into the diaphragm tube. Push in and squeeze and let go. Two washers equal one notch on raising your needle.