How's this for a dirty carb? (photo)

[Steve]

hey there nessism,

you seem like the right guy to ask, I'm about clean the carbs for the first time on a newly aquired 550 that's sat for some time, how long do you have to let these parts soak?

OK, so I'm not nessism, but I'll give you an answer, anyway.

When I did my first set of carbs, I did exactly what the can said, 15-30 minutes. Had all four carbs done in one night. \\/

The joy only lasted until I fought them back into place and found no improvement.

Took the carbs out again and dipped them for about 2 hours each. Took all day Sunday to get them done and back in.
Still no improvement. ](*,)

Took them off the bike a third time and decided to go overboard. I soaked each one overnight. :shock:
This time, when I got them back in, they worked like a champ.

When I did my second set of carbs, I just went straight to the overnight soak. Works beautifully.
So, I offer my advice: don't soak them for 15-30 minutes as directed, soak them for 15-30 hours.

In the case of your carbs, I think I might soak them overnight, then use a brass-bristled brush and scrub them,
poke a wire through all the jets and passages, then soak them overnight again.


.

[Nessism]

My opinion is to soak the carbs as long as it takes to get them clean. Be warned though, if you soak too long the metal starts to change colors and gets dark.

[justmount1]

so where can i get ahold of some of this dip? because i guess i am going to pull the carbs and dip them then make sure everything is set up right. hopefully i can find all the specs and tell how to do it lol

[Dave8338]

Nessism... I've got a set of carbs that look like that : (yeah right)...Do ya think that a good shot or two of the carb cleaner spray will get things clean enough that I can just "ride it out"?

Were going to have to see the after photos...just to give the masses an IDEA what carb dipping will do for them. Let me guess... RAN WHEN PARKED!!!! :-D

[Nessism]

Nessism... I've got a set of carbs that look like that : (yeah right)...Do ya think that a good shot or two of the carb cleaner spray will get things clean enough that I can just "ride it out"?

Were going to have to see the after photos...just to give the masses an IDEA what carb dipping will do for them. Let me guess... RAN WHEN PARKED!!!! :-D

So far the carb bodies are looking good and the slides are all loose now. Floats are clean and “float”, so I think they are all going to be okay. Big concern now is the brass parts, the gunk came out but the surface is pitted and stained. Bit the bullet and ordered some K&L rebuild kits from Z1 Enterprises. From what I’ve heard the reputation of these kits is suspect but I’m hoping to at least use the float needle/seat and the gaskets. Z1 has a stellar reputation so how bad could these kits be?

[chef1366]

I've used the K&L kits a few times and like them. Don't let Brian read this!

[Steve]

so where can i get ahold of some of this dip? because i guess i am going to pull the carbs and dip them then make sure everything is set up right. hopefully i can find all the specs and tell how to do it lol

It is your lucky day. \\/

Here is what you are looking for.

Here is where they say you can find it.

Just looked at some of your previous posts, and am assuming (yeah, I know 8-[) that you will be doing this on your '80 550.
Here is how to do the carbs.


Any other questions?


.

[MissFabulous]

It is your lucky day. \\/

Here is what you are looking for.

Here is where they say you can find it.

Just looked at some of your previous posts, and am assuming (yeah, I know 8-[) that you will be doing this on your '80 550.
Here is how to do the carbs.


Any other questions?

"They say" is right... I had to try a couple of places listed, and at NAPA they looked at me like I was speaking Chinese and kept pointing me to the spray. I kept saying "no, no, it's in a big can" and they just nodded their heads, trying to humor the dumb girl... AutoZone ended up having it for $20.

Anyone have a rough idea of how many times the stuff can be reused?

[justmount1]

wow i wish someone would have given me this information long ago! thank you very much Steve

[rustybronco]

Anyone have a rough idea of how many times the stuff can be reused?

Till it don't clean any more (a friend has a 10 year old can still going) it depends on how many carbs, how dirty, how long left open.

[txironhead]

....trying to humor the dumb girl...

Heheh.....dumb girl, my a**.....did you show them the bike you rebuilt?

Most of them there couldn't rebuild a CV carb to save their life. After dealing with the local Napa, AutoZone and O'Reilly's for the past month, I'm beginning to believe that they hire people that are too stupid to flip burgers. My apologies to anyone here that works at one of the aforementioned places, I realize that some people there really do know mechanics, but they are the exception, not the rule. I miss the one old timer that used to work at the local AutoZone, that guy could rebuild a C6 transmission in his sleep. Why'd he quit? He got tired of the idiot manager that couldn't tell a PCV valve from a lug wrench.

Plus, anyone that can do an awesome tattoo rates up there with Chip Foose and Arlen Ness as far as I'm concerned.

[renobruce]

not to be a smart a$$ but i would look on e-bay for a new used set of carbs. personaly i can't see those things ever coming clean enough to run with out headaches.

BAAA! They'll come clean! Carb dip is wonderful stuff!

[Nessism]

Carbs are coming together nicely. After close scrutinity I decided to reuse the stock brass. All the various jet orifices are open and while there is some staining on the outside of the pieces, most look pretty good on the critical surfaces. Even the float needle and seats look okay after a little polishing.

One oddity is the float height specification. The factory manual calls for the height to be 26mm but the carbs are set closer to 24mm. The float tangs are going to have to be significantly bent to get the floats to 26 which doesn't seem right. Also, the VM rebuild instuctions on the GSR homepage indicate a float height of 24mm. I'm thinking that 24 is the number - going to have to research the manual some more (sometimes they revise the specifications and the info shows up in the manual supplements - which are hard to find sometimes). EDIT - manual calls out 24mm as the proper float height for the E/L model with VM carbs (1979 model) so that's where I'm going to set them.

Kind of amazing that these carbs are going to come through with only O-rings and bowl gaskets being replaced. Fingers crossed...

[justmount1]

good luck bud. at least u know what u are doing. i'm taking my first crack at my carbs. my buddy cleaned them the first time and dealership cleaned the second. i don't trust anyone but myself to get them done right now!

[chef1366]

Carbs are coming together nicely. After close scrutinity I decided to reuse the stock brass. All the various jet orifices are open and while there is some staining on the outside of the pieces, most look pretty good on the critical surfaces. Even the float needle and seats look okay after a little polishing.

One oddity is the float height specification. The factory manual calls for the height to be 26mm but the carbs are set closer to 24mm. The float tangs are going to have to be significantly bent to get the floats to 26 which doesn't seem right. Also, the VM rebuild instuctions on the GSR homepage indicate a float height of 24mm. I'm thinking that 24 is the number - going to have to research the manual some more (sometimes they revise the specifications and the info shows up in the manual supplements - which are hard to find sometimes).

Kind of amazing that these carbs are going to come through with only O-rings and bowl gaskets being replaced. Fingers crossed...

Maybe the spring in the float needle are worn out. Or that is the reason someone put it on the bottom of the pond for so many years.

Bruce, your bike is so clean it's almost anal. I need to show my wife a pic so she can leave me alone. She thinks I'm anal.