Author Topic: cleaned carbs, now running rich  (Read 3409 times)

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Offline carl550k

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cleaned carbs, now running rich
« on: September 18, 2006, 10:11:36 AM »
 last week i took my carbs off to clean and see if i could fix the no idle/ engine reving problem. i found my pilot jets completly blocked. after soaking overnite and a fine piece of copper wire i was now able to see daylight through the jet lengthwise. put it all back together and it fired right up. the idle racing issue was gone, the rpm's dropped right down to idle every time. it now seems though the bike (76 550k) runs very rich, especially #1.nothing else but the jets were removed and cleaned, the bike has run all summer with no problems other than the idle issue which now seems fixed. but why does it run so rich now? probably the extra gas coming through the now open pilot jets, but didn't think it would be this bad since i am running a uni foam air filter and a mac 4/1 exhaust. before the mixture screws were all set below 1 turn out, now #1 is at 2 turns out and the other 3 are at 1 1/2 turns out. also the carbs are the stock original 76 550k, they have been apart for cleaning but never rebuilt with new parts. yes some of the o-rings are sloppy, but there are no fuel leaks. the floats also were never touched. any advise would be appreciated, am running out nice weather and dont want to throw money at the bike this close to the end of the season. thanx carl

Offline carl550k

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2006, 10:16:40 AM »
forgot to mention the bike will run and drive, but only for a few miles, then the plugs seem to start to fowl. the plugs are ngk d7es brand new. the more red lites and stops you make the quicker the plugs fowl.the carbs have also been synced with a vaccum type carb syncronizer.

Wammied

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2006, 10:29:58 AM »
Sounds like clogged air filters. Try running without to check.
Good luck,
Mike

Manic

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2006, 03:21:42 PM »
I'm in the same boat.  I am on here now doing a search for one of the problems.

When I had the filter off, I started the bike and was looking at the slides.  Gave it some gas and it sprayed down the slides before they were even open.  Now if I had a accelerator pump, I think I know what I could do, but now I'm at a loss.  Is that just the way these carbs are?

Offline carl550k

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2006, 05:18:13 PM »
  the copper wire i used came from a lamp cord, it was pretty fine wire once unravled.blasted the passages with gumout and honda carb cleaner plus compressed air. cleaned and reoiled air filter, i did find a loose jam nut on my pull throttle cable. put it back on tight. i also tried d6eas plugs for a whille to lean it a little, but no luck. put the stockers in today, starts nice and idles well but i didnt get a chance to ride, but sounds good.

Offline Patrick

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2006, 05:39:17 PM »
A makeshift tool I found very helpful for cleaning jets without scratching them is a single strand from a nylon bristle broom. What especially nice is the strands are not uniform size so you can usually find one just the right thickness for the jet you are cleaning. To my experience, nylon cannot scratch brass.

Patrick
1970 CB750 K0
1982 VF750S Sabre
1987 VT1100 Shadow
1979 Yamaha XS11
1969 Yamaha DT1B
etc.

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2006, 06:34:48 PM »
What material are the pilot/slow jets made of? Looks like bronze. I can't imagine that copper wire which is very soft would enlarge the size of the orifice in bronze jets. What do you guys think?
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline csendker

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2006, 06:54:18 PM »
Carl-

Fouling at low speeds and/or starting and stopping looks to me to be either your air screws, slow jets or needle clip position.  I'm writing off taper and cutaway as you didn't change anything, and the main jets don't come into play until 1/2 - 3/4 throttle minimum.  With the Uni & 4-1 being your exception to stock, both will probably flow a little more air than OEM, which would tend to lean things up some, unfortunately the opposite of your problem.  

First, assuming your near-stock configuration, I'd go back to stock settings on the air screw: 1-1/2 turns out +/- 3/8.  Then I'd also check your clip settings for stock (4th groove from the top), as you never know if they're on the right slot or not.

The stock slow jets are #38, which is a mighty tiny hole.  I also just read a thread indicating they have a small venturi-shape within, which may have been buggered up in the cleaning.  Or the whole thing may have been reamed out.  I don't think there's any going back here - gotta get new ones if they're trashed; BUT, I don't know how to check these either.  I like the idea of a nylon bristle, but that's too late for this thread.

A last thought is to check your float settings (22mm), , I seem to recall that if it's too high, you may flood the jets and suck way too much fuel.  I would expect them to wizz some fuel when it's off and the petcock left open if it's that high though.

One foolish last thought - is your air passage open, the one in the tool-tray?  I used to keep some stuff in there that would sometimes shift and partially block the screen.  And when I bought it, the screen was gummed up; an hour with a toothpick solved that one.  And now it's just a couple of tools allowed in there.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2006, 06:56:34 PM by csendker »
Actually runs --> 1975 CB550-K1
Projects ---> Crusty old boat
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Offline carl550k

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2006, 06:26:03 AM »
thanks for all the advise and ideas guys. the bike has been in my family since the late 70's, first my uncle, then dad, now me since 92.it's pretty safe to say other than the changes i have made the bike is totally stock, especially internal carb parts and setup. im starting to suspect the o-rings inside the carbs are done, they are either the original or 26 years old.(my dad got the bike in 1980).i know he never messed with it.the bike ran well all summer with the exception of the rpm's hanging up at red lites and stopsigns.a little fiddling with the main idle would lower the idle. no big deal just annoying. at that time the bike always ran lean, my mixture screws were all lessthan 1 turn out. to go from that lean to that rich just from cleaning the pilot jets is crazy.will try to ride today to see any improvement.its about 10 degrees cooler today.

Offline csendker

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2006, 07:08:52 AM »
Actually runs --> 1975 CB550-K1
Projects ---> Crusty old boat
Gallery --> http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/Christopher/?g2_navId=xada3c7ff

Offline carl550k

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2006, 07:45:50 AM »
 yeah, i seen that . but trying to find those o-rings local is near impossible.

Offline csendker

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Re: cleaned carbs, now running rich
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2006, 08:53:41 AM »
Try Hector's Hardware, or Ed Young's in Williamsville or any other 'old-time' hardware store.  Maybe Tractor Supply Company.  The HH by me has a pretty good assortment - I got new float bowl drain plug o-rings there.
Actually runs --> 1975 CB550-K1
Projects ---> Crusty old boat
Gallery --> http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/Christopher/?g2_navId=xada3c7ff