1200cc engine, VM29 carbs, Pods, what jetting?

Nessism wrote:

BTW, the Joe's carb kit seems nice.  I'm not a fan of rubber float bowl gaskets, but they are well executed.  The jet block gaskets look great.  I think the same material was used as I purchased separate.  I'm going to save that for a future project, not this one. 

Wookie58 wrote:

Nessism wrote:

BTW, the Joe's carb kit seems nice.  I'm not a fan of rubber float bowl gaskets, but they are well executed.  The jet block gaskets look great.  I think the same material was used as I purchased separate.  I'm going to save that for a future project, not this one. 

What is the issue with these Ed - I ask because I just bought a sheet of Viton to make my own (my thought process was that by the time they have been on and off a few times for float height setting and possible jet changes paper ones will have compressed and may not seal fully ?)

asphalt900 wrote:

Injected, these VM29's do indeed have the slightly raised perimeter rib like all the VM series. Wookie the concern with those rubberish "flat" replacement gaskets is they can swell and distort. The areas around intake side, float posts, not a problem. Area around engine side not problematic either. It's the sides, parallel to the floats, that are of concern. Any swelling DOES push the flat gasket out because it is locked in place by the raised casting shoulders next to the M4 screws. Weakest area swells and pushes the thin strip of material out and can indeed interfere with float operation. If you've ever worked on any early Honda Keihin's that also came with factory flat rubber float bowl gaskets you will know what i'm referring to. They did it all the time.     

asphalt900 wrote:

Nothing wrong with experimenting!! Just use an existing oem gasket as a template. Not sure how compatible glues would work on that compound of rubber though? I just use rope stock Buna-N-70, usually 2mm CS, when i do all mine so superglue is great. I always attach to the bowl, Not the carb casting.  

Wookie58 wrote:

asphalt900 wrote:

Injected, these VM29's do indeed have the slightly raised perimeter rib like all the VM series. Wookie the concern with those rubberish "flat" replacement gaskets is they can swell and distort. The areas around intake side, float posts, not a problem. Area around engine side not problematic either. It's the sides, parallel to the floats, that are of concern. Any swelling DOES push the flat gasket out because it is locked in place by the raised casting shoulders next to the M4 screws. Weakest area swells and pushes the thin strip of material out and can indeed interfere with float operation. If you've ever worked on any early Honda Keihin's that also came with factory flat rubber float bowl gaskets you will know what i'm referring to. They did it all the time.     

Thanks as always for your extensive experience Clay. My intention was to use "Viton" sheet (because of the effects of E85 on Nitrile etc) which I could bond to the float bowls - or should I abandon the idea ?
PS: my BS's have a raised ridge all the way around the carb base

zed1015 wrote:

Wookie58 wrote:

asphalt900 wrote:

Injected, these VM29's do indeed have the slightly raised perimeter rib like all the VM series. Wookie the concern with those rubberish "flat" replacement gaskets is they can swell and distort. The areas around intake side, float posts, not a problem. Area around engine side not problematic either. It's the sides, parallel to the floats, that are of concern. Any swelling DOES push the flat gasket out because it is locked in place by the raised casting shoulders next to the M4 screws. Weakest area swells and pushes the thin strip of material out and can indeed interfere with float operation. If you've ever worked on any early Honda Keihin's that also came with factory flat rubber float bowl gaskets you will know what i'm referring to. They did it all the time.     

Thanks as always for your extensive experience Clay. My intention was to use "Viton" sheet (because of the effects of E85 on Nitrile etc) which I could bond to the float bowls - or should I abandon the idea ?
PS: my BS's have a raised ridge all the way around the carb base

No need to make your own.
Nigel at Aire Valley Classics has Viton ones for the VM's In stock and they work just fine..
Viton float bowl gasket set: Kawasaki Z650 Z900 Z1000 & Suzuki GS Series - Aire Valley Classics | Keyster carb rebuild kits | IMD Pistons | YSS Suspension | Classic Kawasaki