VM 26mm rebuilding

[Billyboy]

Hey fellas.

I've been reading a lot of stuff on carb cleaning.

I just got my o-ring kit and I was about to tear down and clean the carbs ( VM26's) on my 78 GS1000. I was wondering if you had any resources and advice you might lend me that would be helpfull? I'm admittadly a little intimidated by the task. Anything I should know?

Also, I was thinking of taking apart the spare rack of carbs and cleaning and o-ringing them and then swapping them into the bike. I have no idea how they'll run because I've never heard the parts bike run. Should I stick with the carbs I know seem to run ok, or rebuild the spare set and swap in?

[GSstiny]

Go buy some carburetor chemdip. it comes in what looks like a gallon paint can and has a little basket included. Take your time and do 1 carb at a time. That way if you get lost you have 3 others to use as a reference. Taking pictures may help too. Clean everything that isnt plastic or rubber (DO NOT put plastic stuff in chemdip) with carb cleaner, dip it for the specified time, reclean everything as per the GSR carb clean writeup, and reassemble. Do not interchange parts from carb to carb. Make sure ALL the little passages are clean. Take your time, and put everything back exactly where it was. They really arent that hard. I promise. 8-[

[mark]

Good advice above. The most important thing I think is to be very organized. I get a table and put some clean white paper on it and lay out each carb, keeping the pieces for each carb separate. You'll want to keep your float needles for example in the same carb they came out of. Get a compressor with good pressure to blow the carbs clean. Use a correct fitting screw driver for your parts, and maybe a small pick type thing that will help you get your floats off. Watch for the little springs there.

Make sure you're floats are adjusted correctly, do a bench synch before you re-install and do a carb synch when you are done. Maybe some new float bowl gaskets on hand in case one tears?

Also when you remove your pilot screws, note the number of turns out they are and write it down so you can put them back at the same setting as you found them.

As noted above, its not that hard really, the o-rings are easy. But if you lose a piece its a real pain.

[mark]

Oh, and this. http://www.thegsresources.com/files/vm_carb_rebuild.pdf

[Hoomgar]

Hey fellas.

I've been reading a lot of stuff on carb cleaning.

I just got my o-ring kit and I was about to tear down and clean the carbs ( VM26's) on my 78 GS1000. I was wondering if you had any resources and advice you might lend me that would be helpful? I'm admittadly a little intimidated by the task. Anything I should know?

Also, I was thinking of taking apart the spare rack of carbs and cleaning and o-ringing them and then swapping them into the bike. I have no idea how they'll run because I've never heard the parts bike run. Should I stick with the carbs I know seem to run ok, or rebuild the spare set and swap in?

No problem at all. Many of us have experience with these exact carbs on that bike. As you have questions, ask them and we will be glad to help.

As for the spare set of carbs, that is the best idea. That is what I did. You can keep the originals untouched until you get the spares correct and then just do a perm swap.

It's a lot of reading but there are several threads in this section that go over this exact procedure. You can do it, we can help

[Billyboy]

Thanks guys!:-D I'll take 'em apart this weekend.

[Surly]

Use compressed air if possible

Not a tough job, just take your time. You don't want to have to redo four carbs if you have a problem.

Compressed air is invaluable for drying after the soak in cleaner and making sure passages are clear.

Also, after dipping in the cleaner, I sprayed aerosol carb cleaner through all passages and jets just to be certain they were clear and clean. Watch your eyes, wear eye protection, sometimes spray comes out where you don't expect it.

Watch your float height, and don't forget to do a bench sync which is outlined in the carbs section of this site.

The toughest thing I encountered during the whole process was reinstalling the carbs on the bike. If I remember, I had the airbox in (but not bolted down) and tilted slightly up. Then I put the carbs in the bike and installed them to the boots from the airbox (don't tighten the clamps) first. Then I installed the carbs to the intakes. Of course this was only after swearing a bunch and fighting the whole mess. I am pretty sure the cloud of profanity is still over the Western states somewhere....