How do get the jet needles out of...

[hikermikem]

I don't know how to remove the jet needle from the slide on my '85 GS550L - this is the bike with those funky siamese CV carbs...

There's a plastic "tree like thing" pushed in the open end of the slide, but I can't figure out how to remove that thing; I don't see any circlips like the standard slide assy has. I tried yanking on it with a pair of needle-nose pliers but it didn't budge & I'm afraid I'll snap it off if I pull any harder.

I assuming that when you get that tree thing out you can shim the needles a bit.

Help!!

Mike

[triffecpa]

What I heard is that you need to push the needle upwards into the slide and hold it and then the plastic tree will pull out with needle nose pliers.

TR

[hikermikem]

What I heard is that you need to push the needle upwards into the slide and hold it and then the plastic tree will pull out with needle nose pliers.TR

I'll give that a try.

thanks,

Mike

[LarryA_Texas]

ring clip

There is a ring clip down inside the slide. You need a very small and very long pair of needle nose pliers. I use a pair that are bent slightly at the tip so they get a better grip on the circlip. Look down the slide from the top and you'll see the little holes you need to grip. Squeeze it inwards enough to lift it out. The needle, spring and spacers will all follow. Remember to note the order everything in there come out in.

To replace you'll slide the spring and spacers on the needle; use the needle nose to slide it back into place. Then drop that tall plastic think back down the slide while you are pulling the needle down against the spring. Remember that the plastic thing only goes one way to fit into the holes right. Then replace the circlip.

[hikermikem]

Thanks Larry,

I'm pretty familar with taking the slide/needle assembiles apart on the other CV carbs. I couldn't see that circlip way down there on these - who's the genius engineer at Suzuki that thought this one up??

I'll have a go at them tonight after I procure a new set of LONGER needle-nosed pliers. There ain't a lot of wiggle room down there is there!!

Thanks,

Mike

[Calvin Blackmore]

Thanks Larry,

I'm pretty familar with taking the slide/needle assembiles apart on the other CV carbs. I couldn't see that circlip way down there on these - who's the genius engineer at Suzuki that thought this one up??

I'll have a go at them tonight after I procure a new set of LONGER needle-nosed pliers. There ain't a lot of wiggle room down there is there!!

Thanks,

Mike

standard nmeedle nose worked fine for me
the nylon cross shaped thing runs in a groove and pops out with minimal force

[p_s]

After all of that, you still won't be able to shim the needles. It's not like other carbs.

Be careful if you are doing this in a dark, cluttered garage. The pieces can go flying.

[hikermikem]

standard nmeedle nose worked fine for me
the nylon cross shaped thing runs in a groove and pops out with minimal force

Yes, by the time I read this post, I had already figured out they just pull out... not sure I'd say with "minimal" force, but they did come out.

I looked long & hard for that elusive circlip Larry had indicated was there - I believe he was drawing on his "other" carb experiences, not the 2 twin throated CV's used on the 550's.

[hikermikem]

After all of that, you still won't be able to shim the needles. It's not like other carbs.

Why can't they be shimmed? It looks just like the other (normal) carb jet needle assembly once its been disassembled from the slide.

[LarryA_Texas]

Yes, by the time I read this post, I had already figured out they just pull out... not sure I'd say with "minimal" force, but they did come out.

I looked long & hard for that elusive circlip Larry had indicated was there - I believe he was drawing on his "other" carb experiences, not the 2 twin throated CV's used on the 550's.

You're probably right about that. All the CVs I have worked on were for 650 and up. But there are a few single-engine dirt bikes here that used a CV carb and on those there was a very obvious phillips head screw holding it all together. I'd be curious to know how it turned out. Seems like there has to be a clip, or a screw.

[hikermikem]

You're probably right about that. All the CVs I have worked on were for 650 and up. But there are a few single-engine dirt bikes here that used a CV carb and on those there was a very obvious phillips head screw holding it all together. I'd be curious to know how it turned out. Seems like there has to be a clip, or a screw.

There's a plastic "tree" that snaps into a groove that runs around the bottom of the slide ID. You just yank it out with a pair of pliers... the rest of the jet needle assembly looks like all the other CV carbs.