TOPIC:

I am considering rebuilding the carbs

I see gas weeping from the throttle shafts.
Is this repairable?
Should I be concerned?

FloridaBiker wrote:

I am considering rebuilding the carbs

I see gas weeping from the throttle shafts.
Is this repairable?
Should I be concerned?

WOW are you sure?
The carbs should have basically "negative" pressure except below top of the float bowls, because the carbs depend on vacuum from the engine to draw fuel through them and into combustion chamber. Fuel leaking/weeping out of carbs that "high" above fuel level suggests backfiring through carbs or other reverse pressure. Or does it?
The reason throttle shaft bushings wear out is because the ever present vacuum, sucks dirt and grit into the throttle shaft/bushing interface and then the continuous rubbing action of throttle opening and closing does the demage. This is exacerbated by dirty air filters causing more air induction where it is not supposed to pass.
There's 2¢ worth for you to chew on.

Post edited by: JimatMilkyWay, at: 2007/02/21 20:57

I just purchased the bike, (with no history available). 19,000 miles, and fairly clean.

The 2 breather tubes at the valve cover are capped off.

The carbs were off, but clean.
I put them on, and got the bike running.
It idles well, and seems to accelerate ok in neutral.

Riding the bike shows no power and poor acceleration.

I can touch the throttle shaft while the bike is idling, and get a wet fingertip.

I am hoping that there is not a greater problem.
My fertile imagination wonders if the cams are out of time OR Bad coils?

Perhaps the normal suction that you describe at the throttle shafts does not exist because it is running poorly?

Any trouble shooting tips?

When I bought my '83 1100L1 shaft the slides were stuck doen in 2 of the carbs and the main jets were stopped up in the other two. It would idle fine and rev fine but if you tried to move the bike it would not pull it's on weight.

I make it standard practice to rebuild the carbs on every bike I buy. I never seem to know the history and even when I do they don't always tell the truth.

I bought a Suzuki GT550 Triple last year and I was told the carbs were rebuild by a "professional". I put the bike to gether assuming the carbs didn't need work. When it just would not run correctly I brokedown and pulled the carbs and found the floats WAY off and it had the wrong jets in it also. The way those carbs are made you can do a static sync that is really close on the bike and even it was WAY off.

Take a good look at the carbs.

Later,
Tony T

Rebuilding the carbs makes sense.

I just tore them down, and found a spring missing from one pilot air screw.

My carb kits came with 2 main jets (120 and 125)
and 2 pilot jets (37.5 and 40)

Which should I use?
Bike is pure stock.

FloridaBiker wrote:

Rebuilding the carbs makes sense.

I just tore them down, and found a spring missing from one pilot air screw.

My carb kits came with 2 main jets (120 and 125)
and 2 pilot jets (37.5 and 40)

Which should I use?
Bike is pure stock.

Sorry; I can not advise on which jets to use, as I don't have a shop manual on your bike. You knew it was missing a spring, soooo,, I assume you found that out by comparing carbs, or do you have said manual? Does it specify which to use?
I am not as intimidated by tearing into carbs now, as I was just a few weeks ago. Point being, they are not that tough. You can do it too, no problem.
Let us know what you actually find.

Post edited by: JimatMilkyWay, at: 2007/02/23 09:31

Yes, I discovered the missing spring by comparing to the other carbs.
I found a manual that lists the 37.5 pilot jets for my bike.
I guess the main jets will be trial & error.
Thanks!

My '83 KZ1100L1 LTD Shaft has Mikuni BS34's with a 117.5 main jet as stock. Look at your main and read the number on it to see what you have now.

I read a tech bulletin that said to correct cold performance issues (these bikes are cold natured) go up to a #120 main on the '83 bike.

My bike was made in the US 1983 so it has a little different spec than some of the other year models.

I don't think you will go wrong with the #120

just my opinion.

Tony T