1983 GS450E build. My first bike.

[pete]

Excellent, well done! Very satisfying isn't it?

[83_450E]

Took her out for a ride today and after twisting a couple dials on the carbs, still can't clean up the idle.
Pulled the plugs and they are white white.
So! I've got k&n pod filters, where should I start for jetting?

[pete]

Start by getting your main jet right, then move to the needles, then adjust the mixture screws.

Plug chop at full throttle and read the plug colour will get your main jets done.

Same at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 throttle to read the colour will get your needles right.

Do a search on Koolaid Kid's adjusting CV carb mixture screws to get them right.

There should be a better write up on this on BassCliff's site.

[83_450E]

136 main were in the bike, found some 132's and drilled to 137.5 and wot top end pulls better.
Mid range...still bogs when wot near 6k then takes off at 7. Top end does pretty well. I drilled the cv's and cut the springs 20mm like you did.
I read koolaid's tut but still can't find where my idle mix screws would be.

would they be the vertical screw just behind the choke rod?
On the right facing side of the carbs there are two small plugs one slightly larger than the other. I pulled the smaller one out and there was nothing! Should I pull the second plug out?
The plug was destroyed in the process.

[83_450E]

Found it. One is an idle speed mix screw. The other is an allen bolt with the needle rtv'ed to the end no spring or oring. ****! Might need a new carb on this one.

[pete]

Ok, lost me on that one... got a pic? I haven't seen '83 carbs myself but I would've said that the vertical screw near the choke rod would be my first guess...

[83_450E]

Mind you I have little idea what I'm doing to this thing. I'm trying to pick it up as I go along.

here you are
looks like the previous owner pulled the threads on the idle mix adjustment and decided to fix it by himself.
The left carb has an o-ring - spring - needle - adjustment nut
The right carb has needle - bolt

A super effective setup.
I took the left carb and went snug in, then 2.5 turns out and measured how much the adjustment nut came up by referencing the top of the carb. The right carb went snug in then backed out the same distance, or as close as I could get.
The idle has cleaned up and isn't popping out the carbs any longer but still very rarely popping through the carbs on decel.
I'll have to run by the motorcycle salvage yard around here and see if they have a similar carb laying around.

[pete]

Wow ok, that's ugly!

Popping on decel is typically a lean condition, but being on decel probably means your needle needs a little shimming.

You can compensate to a certain extent with the mixture screws but the proper way is to shim the needle.

[83_450E]

I'll go to the hardware store tomorrow and grab some stainless. Figure .010" shims outta do it?

Pretty sure I owe you a beer for your help on this.

[GateKeeper]

Radio Shack has the small washers that fit, from what I have read on here in the past...

.

[83_450E]

Radio Shack has the small washers that fit, from what I have read on here in the past...

.

perfect thank you

Shimming the needle up affects which throttle range?

[pete]

Hahah virtual beer time... love it! Bit early in the morning here though... haha

Shimming the needle will help out in the 1/4 to 3/4 throttle range.

[83_450E]

Exactly what I need. My needles have different clip positions, going for fat on this one. Already has a shim in it but was two clips away from max richness.

[83_450E]

I sat my needles with the clips at their lowest, bogs misses and blacks plugs 3-6k @ 1/2-WOT
7k rpm to 9k+ WOT pulls like it should. Pulled against my friend's '10 ninja250 and just dusted him. I thought this 450 would be on par with today's standard 250 but no, it has much more going on. These old jap motors are very impressive...22k miles on my odo!

I'm going to put the needles two clips higher, their initial position when I received it. I cleaned the carbs again, cleaned and oiled my pod filters and it is running rich.
Kinda weird but I'll take it! No more lean condition!

Rainy day out so I doubt I'll see road or run time to chop plugs.

Oh I ordered some yamaha r1 grips and throttle tube. I believe my bars were shortened by the previous owner so in about a week I'll get new bars too. The bars are the bike are absolutely knackered.
Unemployment benefits are approved :cheers:
Time to sit back, relax and work on the bike some more.

[83_450E]

So carb needles at richest clip was...too rich went back to where the carbs were when I received them, too lean, I ended up at the second clip up from the bottom.
2.75 turns out.
Now 3-5k rpm 0-1/2 throttle pulls nicely but anything above 1/2 throttle it bogs.
5k-9k rpm pulls cleanly and nicely
still backfiring through carbs occasionally at idle.
Power off idle is much better.