Starter Jet/Choke Tube question

Can someone tell me if the tip of the starter jet/choke tube on my carb body, shown in the picture, is an actual jet? The tip appears to have a tiny pin like hole in it, but I'm not sure how I can tell if it's obstructed or not. Should I be able to blow air through it? Most carb cleaning documents I've read don't seem to mention it.

its not really a "jet" just a hole. I like to pull the brissles out of a wire brush, straighten them out and use them to poke throught small holes like that. spray carb cleaner throught it also followed by compressed air. hope that helps.

Ah ok, so it does need to be unobstructed. I'm also guessing that it pulls fuel from the float bowls through that small hole? Which probably means that the tiny tube compartment in the bowl that the starter jet fits in, needs to be unobstructed and I should be able to blow air through it? I've attached a picture as I'm sure what I typed makes no sense.

I should be able to blow air through here:

Yes, your thinking properly. blow compressed air(if you have it) through everything. you can also goto a welding shop and buy a set of torch tip cleaners to clean out jets and little things. Good luck, when in doubt clean it!

Frankn9 wrote:

Yes, your thinking properly. blow compressed air(if you have it) through everything. you can also goto a welding shop and buy a set of torch tip cleaners to clean out jets and little things. Good luck, when in doubt clean it!

+1 this is good advice. Just be careful poking around with those torch cleaners. BTW have you noticed that some MC tool companies (I won't name names) have started selling torch tip cleaners that have been re-badged as carb orifice cleaners for a significant markup? I saw one the other day for almost $30! :ohmy:

Thanks for all the great advice guys. This site really is a life saver.

wait till the ugly davidson guys find out about them the price will really go up then!!!

One extra super tid-bit of info...

When you spray carb cleaner through your jets/passages/etc, its best to use the little straw (sometimes tapered with a knife) and insert it flush into the jet/etc and VISUALLY VERIFY that the spray is passing through the passage cleanly.

Wear safety glasses and look down the bore when spraying through pilots/mains/air jets etc, and compare the difference to the other carbs to make sure the flow and movement of fluid is the same between all the carbs.

Spraying pilot jet through carb is a particularly small passaged circuit. The carb cleaner needs to flow through all the little holes into the carb bore visually cleanly.

This is the absolute verification that prevents having to guess if there "could" be an obstruction in your pilot circuit/whatever, because your 100% sure its passing fuel into the carb bore/engine!

Then you don't have to say "but I cleaned my carbs like 6 times - maybe it could still be something in the pilot jet passage" - VERIFY! and clean them right, once.

Peace.

testarossa wrote:

+1 this is good advice. Just be careful poking around with those torch cleaners. BTW have you noticed that some MC tool companies (I won't name names) have started selling torch tip cleaners that have been re-badged as carb orifice cleaners for a significant markup? I saw one the other day for almost $30! :ohmy:

Uh... yes.

Wanted to say thanks again, especially for the advice about the torch tip cleaners. $5 at the store! Worked perfectly!

no problem citizen its just want I do! up up and away!!!