Pilot jet question

I’ve got the Maxim X 700 and I noticed carb 1-3 have holes in the pilot jets while carb 4 does not. Could this be the cause of an unsteady idle? Which one is the right pilot jet?

 

The ones without the holes in the shaft are correct for your engine (actually, for all of the XJ series bikes using Mikuni carbs).

The style with the holes in the shaft are used on "early" style BS34 carbs as used on XS650, XS1100, and other manufacturer model bikes. The early BS34-series carbs supplied the pilot fuel jets thru the main fuel jet via a drilled passageway between the main jet and the pilot jet cavities (and then a screw or a rubber plug was used to block-off the pilot jet cavity from the fuel in the bowl). So those holes allowed the pilot fuel jet to take in fuel from the main jet.

Yes, that could very easily (and probably) why your engine doesn't perform properly!

 

That would make sense then. I’ll look into finding some that are actually for this bike. Thanks for the input

 

I had the same issue with my 900. The PO had put the drilled pilots in. The reason I figured out they were wrong was because he also left one of the non-drilled ones stuck on the end of an ez-out in the tool bag. Put 2 and 2 together with the shiny new drilled pilots and the old stuck non-drilled one and went hunting for the answer like you.

My bike wouldn't start and would backfire horrendously while trying, (neighbor even came over to make sure everyone was ok at one point) so I am surprised you could get it to run at all with those.

 

It was actually running pretty alright. Just not best. This would explain so much though.