My carb rebuild

[Texas]

I started my carb rebuild project today. 1981 Suzuki GS550T/ Removed the carbs and got them on the table. The previous owner said he had tried to rebuild them. I started looking them over and noticed a few things. The two center carbs had fuel bowls with a shine to thier surface and the two out side carbs had dull finished fuel bowls . The two outside carb tops, the "CV caps" have a shine to them . Looks like they were mixed up . # 1 carb had two screws missing from the fuel bowl, guess he forgot them. By looking at the screws I don't think he removed the carbs from the gang plate, he must have left them together while he worked on them. The screws are not marred like the one's you can see he worked on. When I tried to remove the screws the philips head screws tried to round out, I guess everyone was right , you have to have a impact screwdriver, my next purchase! I had planned to get it and a easy out , I just got ahead of myself . Does anyone know if the outside carbs are different, do they have a shine to the surface?

[Black 550 L]

Yes the outside carbs on mine are shiny. I think so they look good as you can't see the inside ones easily.

[catbed]

thats how suzuki sent them, shiny on the outside, dull on the inside. it looks a little better than dull carbs.

[Nessism]

I broke down a set of carbs tonight and had good success getting the stuborn screws out using a small phillips bit held in a 1/4" ratchet handle - good for putting downward presure on the screw. I typically use an impact driver but my bit is hammered so was happy to have some much success with the ratchet handle.

[Texas]

carb cleaning

My needle jets were really nasty! Felt like they were full of sand. And I'm. really having a hard time getting a air screw out, its going to give me fits! Hope I can fiind more of those to replace the ones I destroy.

[Nessism]

Check Z1 Enterprise for parts. Hopely you won't need too much. Did you get an o-ring kit from cycleorings.com?

[robertbarr]

http://www.cycleorings.com/phillips.html

[Texas]

I am going really slow with it, plan to order o- rings soon. I'm thinking about getting them all apart then i'll know all the parts I will need. Maybe I would be better off taking carbs to a small engine repair shop to get those stuck air screws out. The screws are slot not phillips. the one I'm having trouble still has some of the slot left may be they can save it. I may call. This is my first !

[hikermikem]

I am going really slow with it, plan to order o- rings soon. I'm thinking about getting them all apart then i'll know all the parts I will need. Maybe I would be better off taking carbs to a small engine repair shop to get those stuck air screws out. The screws are slot not phillips. the one I'm having trouble still has some of the slot left may be they can save it. I may call. This is my first !

Soak them babies with a liberal amount of PB Blaster. Be certain the screwdriver you use fits the slot well (no slop), may have to go to Sears & buy one just for that purpose...

And lastly, direct a heat gun (NOT a hair dryer) at the housing area adjacent to the mix screw - the alum hsg will expand more than the steel screw. Take your time & be patient.

You will need the o-rings no matter what so just get them ordered.

good luck,
mike

[DimitriT]

Best thing for stripped phillips is to use a small cutting wheel to turn into
a flathead. Then apply the impact driver. If that fails, drill out the head
and use vice grips once you've stripped it down. Apply a little heat if
needed.

Always soak everything in some penetrating oil overnight.

The real biatches is the idle jet and the idle mix screw. You strip those and
you are in a world of pain so make sure you get a nice fitting driver in there.

[Texas]

I went to sears & got new craftsman. Slot screw driver. The biggest that Will go in the hole . Soaked all night in liquid wrench. Heated with heat gun till iit had to be held with a rag. I'll have to keep trying. My strength is low due to heart transplant , I just need a stronger arm !

[hikermikem]

I went to sears & got new craftsman. Slot screw driver. The biggest that Will go in the hole . Soaked all night in liquid wrench. Heated with heat gun till iit had to be held with a rag. I'll have to keep trying. My strength is low due to heart transplant , I just need a stronger arm !

Sounds good so far, use PB Blaster penetrating oil - best stuff on the market IMO...

Sometimes I give the screwdriver a good whack with a mallet before I try to turn it (OK, maybe several good whacks).

Soak well (overnight or two), then hit it with the heat gun again. Hopefully you will feel it "crack" & start to move. Once that happens, then it's just a matter of time. Slowly turn it in & out until it frees up; keep applying penetrating oil on it as you work it. Go slow, you may have success. I've removed several hopelessly stuck screws this way.

Good luck

[Texas]

Yeah, that's what I will do. Maybe the heat gun will get the PB-Blaster down into the threads. No hurry I've got all winter & and a lot of stuff to play with.

[hikermikem]

Yeah, that's what I will do. Maybe the heat gun will get the PB-Blaster down into the threads. No hurry I've got all winter & and a lot of stuff to play with.

The heat will expand the alum & separate it from the screw material. Works pretty well, but you have to heat it good, several minutes aimed at the hsg to get it up to temp...

Keep us posted

Heart transplant! Can't say I know anyone who's gone through that...

Congratulations on being here!!

[Texas]

needle valve seat

When I remove the needle valve seat I marred the pit side of the seat. I guess this is to be expected?