Sometimes you gotta ask yourself...do you feel lucky?

[Chuckster]

Well I did today! Had a real hard time getting the pilot jet out of #2 for my carb rebuild. I don't know what the heck, but #1 was bad and this one was worse. There doesn't appear to be any head on these things at all. My smallest extractor wouldn't work, so I went to the next one up which was getting real close to the diameter of the pilot jet hole. I did get it out, but it was close! :shock:

[chef1366]

Dude! You were millimeters away from a new carb body!

Well, do you punk?

[Chuckster]

Dude! You were millimeters away from a new carb body!

Well, do you punk?

Funny Clint..I mean Chef! I was definately getting a little nervous near the end of that one. To make it more tense, I had my 5 yr old daughter hanging off of me while I'm trying to get it out. She keeps asking me if it's out yet and wants to see. Am I the only one that's had a bad time getting these pilot jets out? Is there some secret to them I'm not aware of? I still got two to go and hope my luck hasn't run out! :-D

[Nessism]

Did you try heat on the carb body? Helps to soften the varnish/glue. Worked wonders on my VM's when the slides wouldn't budge. Worth a try.

[JTsGS650]

Exact same thing happened to me this weekend! Disassembling the #1 carb for dipping and could not get the pilot jet out. Finally buggered it well enough so the screwdriver wouldn't bite. So I had to drill the jet and use a bolt extractor. It worked! But man, I was sweating bullets drilling that jet!

[Chuckster]

Did you try heat on the carb body? Helps to soften the varnish/glue. Worked wonders on my VM's when the slides wouldn't budge. Worth a try.

Nessism, thanks for the tip. I may have to try that on the next two. :-D

[t3rmin]

Wow, a screw extractor actually worked? What's the board record now, 1 for 4300?

;-)

[Smokinapankake]

I've had good luck with screw extractors on master cylinder cap screws... 2 for 2 so far!

[snowbeard]

I had to file down my screwdriver to fit tightly without being too wide (either way) then I put it in and made sure it was straight and using a tack hammer (not the BFH!) gave it a couple of light taps to break the varnish. this with WD-40 and carb cleaners soaking it made the next three come out like a dream (don't ask about that first one, but I see you don't need to!) \\/

[Chuckster]

Wow, a screw extractor actually worked? What's the board record now, 1 for 4300?

;-)

That's at least 2. I had to use one on the first carb too! :shock:

[Chuckster]

I've had good luck with screw extractors on master cylinder cap screws... 2 for 2 so far!

Congrats on your good luck! I've had good and bad luck with them. They've been good to me lately and hope my luck holds out! :-D

[Chuckster]

I had to file down my screwdriver to fit tightly without being too wide (either way) then I put it in and made sure it was straight and using a tack hammer (not the BFH!) gave it a couple of light taps to break the varnish. this with WD-40 and carb cleaners soaking it made the next three come out like a dream (don't ask about that first one, but I see you don't need to!) \\/

I think I'll give the next 2 a good soak in PB Blaster. That's a good idea. I don't think there is much of a head on mine to work with as it seemed someone already boogered them up before I got the bike. By the way, is that your bike covered in snow in your avatar? :shock:

[KRISTI'SGS550]

Chuckster,

I had to use my bolt extractor in 3 out of 4 of my pilot jets. I simply tapped my smallest bolt extractor bit (carefully) into the hole in the pilot jet. Then I used my hand "T" tool and slowly turned the jets out. They all came out really easily, though I was sweating bullets while doing it.

Cory

[Chuckster]

Chuckster,

I had to use my bolt extractor in 3 out of 4 of my pilot jets. I simply tapped my smallest bolt extractor bit (carefully) into the hole in the pilot jet. Then I used my hand "T" tool and slowly turned the jets out. They all came out really easily, though I was sweating bullets while doing it.

Cory

Hey Cory. It's sounding like this is a common thing! The smallest extractor worked on my first one. Then on the second one, it seemed the bottom just fell out of the pilot and I went to the next one up which was very nerve wracking. I got a reprieve so I'm on to #3!

[KRISTI'SGS550]

Chuckster,
sounds like everything is going pretty good for you! Knock on wood. Good luck with number 3. I just finished rebuilding, and cleaning my carbs with the Berryman's and Robert Barr's O-ring kits, let me know if you have any questions. I will be putting my carbs onto the bike sometime this week hopefully. I will start a thread and post some pictures on here of the bike, put back together.

Cory