Idle screw missing

Ive been wanting to adjust my idle screw and have read posts that describe where it is located and looked at my Clymers manual to verify I knew where it was. Heres the problem. I dont think it is there. Will the bike even run without it?

 

the idle screw should be between the middle two float bowls underneath the carb rack, when i first got my xj550 it didn't even have the piece in there that the screw connects too, so i had to idle mine by the throttle cable adjuster up by the handlebars, the only problem i had with that was when i turned the handlebars the caple would stretch a little bit and it would raise the idle from 1k to about 2k, but when the handlebars were straight it idles fine, i would only recamend this as a temp fix if you need the transportation

 

Thats exactlly what mine was doing!!! Should it be obvious if the screw is missing?

 

yes it should be pretty obvious, the screw is about 2.5 inches long, its not a normal screwdriver screw, it had almost a knob looking deal on the end of it so you can adjust it using your fingers, if the screw/knob is still in place, and you look at your carb rack from the side you should see it extending just past the float bowls on the bottom, if you still cant find it let me know and i will take a picture for you

 

Im still not seeing anything. Any chance it is turned all the way in so its out of sight?

 

Yes. Or, ... its so badly buggered-up that there isn't a slot let on it to see.

Look to see if you can see anything at all in that Hole. I can't imagine the Bike running right without that hole being sealed with something???

Once we figure-out what's in the hole ... we figure-out what to do about it,

Be sure you are not looking at an Anti-tamper Plug still in the hole preventing anyone from adjusting the Screw.
Something has to be in there.

Take a close-up picture and lets see what you got!

 

ok here are some pictures one is of the back of the carbs that shows the idle screw sticking out, and one is of the back of the carbs that shows where the idle screw plate goes, if your carb rack doesnt have this plate on there its not going to have the bolt either

 

Here are my pics of the carbs....from the camera on my phone.....

 

yea, someone removed it from the bike, i don't know why they do this, they did it to mine too, i was lucky enough to find one laying around in a neighbors junk bin, your just gonna have to keep adjusting it from the throttle cable adjuster up by the handlebars, and you can try to route the cable the best you can so it won't pinch(rev up)

 

I have got the cable to that point, but it wont run unless I haved the "choke" almost 3/4 open.

 

oh well then thats no idle issues that is carb issues, take them off and appart take out all the jets make sure everything is nice and clean and try it again

 

NOOOOOO

 

I'd be looking for a set of Parts Carbs and salvaging the parts you need off them.

Remember, parts carbs usually come with diaphragms which pay for themselves if you get parts carbs cheap enough.

 

That would still involve me taking off my carbs....NOOOOO!!!!

 

looks like you have no other choice. It's not as bad as you think.

 

I should have a good used idle screw and bracket/screws/etc. available, PM me if you're still in need!