Clean Carbs while out or put back in

I have removed my carbs to clean and so some much needed painting to the engine. I have not experienced any carb problems but this bike has only been mine for about 3-4 months.
Should I take the carbs to get rebuilt before re-installing or put back on till there is a problem.
I dont want to spend the money right now, but dont want the bike to be down in the summer for something I should have done.
Help.
Thanks
Brian

 

Clean them & have a fresh start, you can be sure that taking them off will have disturbed any rubbish that was sitting there.

 

Do the carbs yourself for a lot less cash man.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... n+own.html

 

Check this out for some 700 parts.

https://www.partsnmore.com/cat_index.ph ... category=x

 

If the Bike is "Running Good", ... cleaning the Carbs will make it run better.
Measure the "Depths" of the Pilot Mixture Screws so you can return them to their exact position.

Don't split the rack.
Clean the Carbs out and get everything right.

Refinish and Polish the Diaphragm Piston Bores.

Put them all back together NICE and clean and return the Pilot Jets to their Pre-removal depths.

Bench Sync followed by a Vacuum Sync.
You'll love the way it runs after.

 

Try to "backflush" any internal passage, as opposed to the very easy way of squirting carb cleaner into the mounted jets. The idea is that any internal crud goes out "upstream" where it does not clog progressively smaller passages.
Don't forget the tiny jets in the float bowl body (X4)

 

Well thats what I was afraid you'all would say.
I am scared to death to tackle the carbs.
I am scared if I screw something up it will be a big expense to get it back up and running.
Any carb clinics for northern Ohio or Southern Mich ?

 

When i bought my bike it was basically running on 3 cylinders and then at almost full choke. Then to add insult to injury it threw up gas all over garage floor and into crankcase. I read and reread the how-tos on cleaning carbs. Printed off everything inlcuding pics. Useing all the print-outs I removed the carbs, cleaned, benched-synced and reinstalled them. While they were out checked clearences on valves. Made a 2 bottle manometer and synced the carbs. Took it out for the first time today and COULDN'T believe it was the same bike. Starts almost instantly and idles great. After just a little warm-up, NO CHOKE needed at all. It ran like a bat outa Torment! HAPPY HAPPY CAMPER :wink: ...

skillet
BTW Used my camera when I thought I needed a little help putting things back together. If I can do it, you sure should give it some thought. It's a GREAT feeling

 

One of these days one of us is going to say

"I TOLD YOU SO!"

I think I'll wait for Rick since's he's the carb guy...

 

Brian:

It isn't as difficult as you think as long as you work in a clean, organized work area. Get a couple of paper egg cartons (I use a bunch of the little stainless steel condiment cups from Wally World) to place and keep your small parts organized. The best thing you can do, like Skillet says, is to take A LOT of pictures as you disassemble so you have a reference during reassembly.

If you get stuck, post a call for help and many will respond with assistance. That's the beauty of this forum, it gives you the confidence to tackle a job that you think may be too difficult. You will find that after you finish, you'll be looking for the "That was Easy" button.

 

I have to agree: do it right the first time. I pulled my rack and kinda sorta cleaned them and it barely made a difference - twice. The third time I got serious and as I think RickCoMatic or Chacal said, got them "surgically clean" using the fine instructions on this forum. After that, as Skillet said, I couldn't believe it was the same bike.

 

++1000 to the above, makes a huge difference, and not as scary as it seems (mind you I have half the carbs as most of yas )

 

The thing to do, if this is your first time cleaning carbs, is to take your time and do them one at a time.

Pull the rack and clean the whole outside nice.
Then, just do the Number-1 Carb. Keep the job from looking overwhelming.

You will find that once you get-into the Carb and start dismantling it nice and slowly, ... using your camera to take pix of what goes where, ... that you will develop a pattern of how you go about the chore and will be able top get them NICE and clean and save you from to pay to have it done.

So, don't look at the rack as having to Clean 4 Carbs.
Just look at the chore as having to Clean 1 Carb ... 4 times!

 

great tip Rick.
Ok I am going to do it.
Going to wait till after the holidays, going to get the engine painted and detailed first.
Get ready for some stupid questions im sure. lol
Thanks all
Brian

 

Carb Update.
Finished tearing down 3 carbs and will hopefully do last one tonight.
I was suprised to find half of a bee under the main pilot jet in #1 8O
I am thinking about getting the gallon can of cleaner so I can soak the whole rack. Afterwards rinsing real good and blowing dry.
Is this the best way to soak the whole rack or go at it inch by inch ?
Thanks
Brian

 

Don't soak the rack unless you break it completely apart. There are O rings and if you didn't remove them the Pilot Mixture Screws. The carb cleaner will make the O rings fail then you have a harder job on your hands.

 

You can soak the rack in normal gasoline without damaging the "O" rings and throttle shaft seals, but not carb dip !
Use a paint brush and a tooth brush to scrub.
Then a more detailed and aggressive scrub with spray carb cleaner.
(the usual WARNING! gas vapors, outdoor use only, no sparks applies)

 

I have removed the pilot mixture screws. Would there be anything else that could cause a problem from dipping.
I will probably have to dip two then flip it over to get the other two.

 

Got it. No dipping.
Thanks
Brian

 

Don't soak the whole Rack unless the Carb Cleaner is Rubber and Plastic friendly.

The Barrels in the Fuel Supply Gallery have Rubber O-Rings.
The Throttle Shaft Seals are delicate.

 

Over the weekend I finished cleaning and re-assembling the carbs. It was a fun experience. I am glad I listened and did it myself. I need to order the bowl gaskets but then its back on the bike.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help.
Question: I did not remove the throttle shafts so should I bench sync or stick back on bike and do my final Sync ?
Hoping to have it fired up late Feb to do final sync and wait for the warm weather.
Thanks

 

Found the answer to my question.
I will bench sync then vacuum sync using the two bottle method as descibed in another post.
Hope she will purrr when I am all done.
Thanks

 

If you removed the carbs and broke apart the rack or hit the throttle screws in any way you should totally Bench sync. If you've never bench sync before, I would do it just for the learning experience! Its easy and quick
Hooray for accomplishments
-Chris