137 replies to this topic

[Studley Ramrod]

Well, I think I've eliminated every possibilty except a blockage in the carb.  Just where the butterfly contacts the carb there are 3 tiny little holes that feed fuel in at low revs just before the needle rises but after tickover.  2 of the holes are blocked off by the butterfly when the throttle is closed.  Sooooo, a blockage in these holes wouldn't necessarily be cleared out with compressed air as the butterfly stops this happening.  I've now run some acetone down the holes and wiggled a toothbrush in the holes with the butterfly open.  Hoping this will sort it, will find out when I get time to refit the carbs.

[wicklamulla]

good.  you got access to an ultra sonic cleaner ?  I use my mates to clean chainsaw carbs and it is much better dan compressed air.  I'm gonna buy one too.

[Studley Ramrod]

They're a bit pricey for summat that wouldn't get used very often, esp. the bigger wans that'll take a pair of carbs.  I will get one one day though.

 

Just fitted the carbs and it's much better, no spluttering when warmed up.   Haven't set the pilots or balanced them yet, will do that tomorrow and then see how it runs under load.

[Catteeclan]

good.  you got access to an ultra sonic cleaner ?  I use my mates to clean chainsaw carbs and it is much better dan compressed air.  I'm gonna buy one too.

 

Keep thinking about making one but not sure which components  to buy. Loads of info out there though.
Anyone done this?

 

 

Haven't those pesky holes been mentioned before? 

[Studley Ramrod]

Go on then, about time someone made a sonic bath.   Maplin staff might be able to help with which components you'd need, haven't checked lately but they used to sell the sonic pads.

[fixitsan]

I bought my bath from Maplins, it's a heated bath with timer function. Big enough for 2 Carbs.

 

It has never produced absolutely stunning results like larger commercial units can but it did a good job with a set of FJ1100 carbs I put in there.

 

The bigger the tank the better, probably

 

 

EDIT, they still sell it, although costing more than it's previous  45 quid

http://www.maplin.co...CFe4Q0wodVcQCpg

Edited by fixitsan, 26 January 2017 - 12:54 pm.

[TinTin]

I cant see them being any better than a good soak in acetone myself but I would like to be wrong for once  

[fixitsan]

The best cleaning fluid I've used for petrol/carb gum is naptha, easily obtained as lighter fluid.

 

The US cleaner always gets a lot of small particle debris in the bottom of the bath, mayeb it removes more crud than a wire brush, maybe not, it does a lot more than a soak in a cleaning fluid can do IMHO, it is excellent for cleaning the inside of small and difficult to access cavities.

[Studley Ramrod]

Potential problem with soaking in some chemicals is the damage they might do to the various seals, diaphragms, plastic parts and o rings.

 

Anyhoos, fuel tank back on and almost ready for a ride.  Bike was almost impossible to push after my chain, discs and pads got a dose of road salt a couple o weeks ago.  

[TinTin]

Oh man. I hate winter. I think if you ride this time of year you have to do it regular or everything siezes up. like my knees  

[fixitsan]

Potential problem with soaking in some chemicals is the damage they might do to the various seals, diaphragms, plastic parts and o rings.

 

 

That's why I like using naptha, it's already in petrol, if you smell it you would swear you were smelling petrol, so anything which is exposed to petrol can safely be exposed to naptha. It's not as strong as some other solvents, but the more aggressive they are the more monitoring and care you need to give.

 

The best clean I ever had was the ultrasonic cleaner, warmed to 50Celsius and 2 dishwasher tablets in the 2.5ltr of water. I ran a 20 minute US cycle, then left the item in the tank for 24 hours and then gave it another 2o minutes of US blasting the day after. A really good rinse to get the alkali cleaner off everything afterwards was the only extra step.

[Catteeclan]

EDIT, they still sell it, although costing more than it's previous  45 quid

http://www.maplin.co...CFe4Q0wodVcQCpg

 

Hhmmm. That's not bad at that price, so you got a bargain.

[fixitsan]

It was nearly 2 years ago....they must be due to sell them off soon !

[fixitsan]

They're the same as this one , at £43.99

http://www.ebay.co.u...-MAAOSwQupXV7wR

 

But looking at some others on ebay I'l go for a more professional stainless one now the prices seem to have come down.  Like this one (note the warning about duty cycle, letting it cool down between cleaning cycles

http://www.ebay.co.u...SYAAOSw9GhYbfAJ

[TinTin]

Potential problem with soaking in some chemicals is the damage they might do to the various seals, diaphragms, plastic parts and o rings.

 

Anyhoos, fuel tank back on and almost ready for a ride.  Bike was almost impossible to push after my chain, discs and pads got a dose of road salt a couple o weeks ago.  

 

Just looked at the Kawasaki chain & its solid. Only been out once before Christmas & its had it. Useless bloody things.

In the feckin 80's both Honda & Yamaha had shafts on a few of their bikes CX500, VT500, XS650/750 XV550. Why o why did they stop  

[Studley Ramrod]

Not sure they salted the roads much back in the 80's though.

 

Tank back on yesterday and today I have a small puddle of petrol. Took tank and air filter off and can't find where it came from.   Put tank back on without air filter and will leave overnight.  Happy days.........not !

[Catteeclan]

http://www.ebay.co.u...SYAAOSw9GhYbfAJ

They have come down in price, like the look of that. Not sure it's worth making one.

 

 

Just looked at the Kawasaki chain & its solid. Only been out once before Christmas & its had it. Useless bloody things.

In the feckin 80's both Honda & Yamaha had shafts on a few of their bikes CX500, VT500, XS650/750 XV550. Why o why did they stop

 

I had a XL500r I'd use off road and if I didn't oil the chain up after use that would rust up so fast.

Not sure they salted the roads much back in the 80's though.

 

Tank back on yesterday and today I have a small puddle of petrol. Took tank and air filter off and can't find where it came from.   Put tank back on without air filter and will leave overnight.  Happy days.........not !

Keep at it, it's just trying to push your buttons.

[Studley Ramrod]

I did run some chainloob on the chain but obviously not enough.  It was a particularly bad day weatherwise, wet roads and lots of fog, salt got everywhere.

 

  I'm used to mk1's and their occasional hissyfits.  At least everything is relatively easy to access, and repetition develops speed.

[Studley Ramrod]

Damn !  Just remembered, when I refitted the carbs and used a remote fuel supply, the bike was virtually upright.  Also, the vac pump splurged out some fuel that landed on the carbs and prolly into the recess below.  Soooo, now thinking that after I'd fitted the bits back on I moved the bike to its resting place where it was leaning over more and subsequently released the fuel trapped in the recess.   Not funny at all ! lol

[TinTin]

I lubed the fekin thing before I went out. It really isn't worth riding bikes in winter. Oh well there goes another £50 on a chain.
When on holibobs in Norfolk we went to Hunstanton to look at all the bikes on the sea front. Wonder if the salty air affects their chains