Hello all! I am pleased to say that I have finally found a solution for anyone that has the dreaded VB44A carburetors!
The one downside of these carbs is the inability to remove and effectively clean the pilot jets. No longer my friends and the solution costs less than 5.00!
Here is what you will need
1. The carburetors
2. A Brand New Philips screwdriver. (I cannot stress this enough)
3. A small punch or Allen key (Remove float pins)
4. PB Blaster and carb cleaner
5. A propane torch
6. An Irwin #1 easy out extractor.
7. Either a tap wrench or any wrench that will fit.
8. Patience
OK let's begin. First step is to remove the carbs from the bike. Once you have accomplished this take the new Philips head screwdriver and remove the bowls of each carb after the fuel has been drained. Use the punch and or Allen key to remove the float pins and floats from each carb. DO NOT MISS THIS STEP! SPAY THE CARBS OFF WITH THE CARB CLEANER THEN FILL EACH PILOT JET WITH PB BLASTER ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. LET IT SOAK OVERNIGHT. Now we did this so all the Gas is out of the carbs. When you come back to it the next day make sure you have a cold beer here is where the patience comes into play. Take your propane torch and began evenly heating the tube that the pilot jets in. DO THIS ONE AT A TIME. After the heat has been applied give it another shot of the PB. Now comes the fun part, take the easy out (make sure it is the one with the spiral groves not the square one) place it down into the recess of the pilot jets. Give it a few small taps into the opening of the jet, you will feel and see it rotate counter clockwise. This is it biting into the jet. Now comes the scary part. If you have done all the steps accordingly take your chosen wrench method and apply even pressure lefty loosey like. You will eventually feel a snap. The jet will then need to be rotated and as you rotate it it will come out fairly easily.
If you wish to clean it follow the following steps.
What you will need
1. Guitar string (to clean imulsion tube holes)
2. Solvent and wire from a wire brush (clean main pilot jet hole)
3. Dremel
4. Brass wire wheel bit
5. Polishing bit and pad
6. Red compound
7. Carb cleaner
8. WD40
Take each jet and soak them over night in the carb cleaner. Then take the brass wire wheel in the dremel and go to town on the jets! DO NOT USE STEEL WIRE WHEEL! Once that is complete take the solvent and wire then run it straight down the jet. The pilot jets on the VB44A are #35 mains are #120. Just for info. Once that is clean take your guitar string or whatever you are using and go to town on those emulsion holes. YOU MUST CLEAN THE CENTER OF THE JET BEFORE THE EMULSION HOLES. If you do not, you won't be able to get to the holes. Once everything is good and clear spray with carb cleaner. I used a little flashlight to check that everything was nice and clear. Now swith bits in the dremel to the polishing pad. You will need twould pads to finish up. First one put the red compound on and go to town. After, wipe down with a towell. Next soak the #$%* out of the second wheel with the wd40. Turn the dremel on inside of a lid or can or bottle. This is to just spin out the excess wd40. Now finally polish the jets with the wd40 wheel. Wipe down and they are brand new again! No more idle and throttle response problems!
To reinstall all you need is this
1. Punch that just fits the recess where the jet goes.
2. A small ball peen. (Use this not a soft face)
3. The tiniest amount of grease.
Take the jet and apply the tiniest amount of grease only to the area where it seats into the pickup tube. Now take the punch and and ball peen. Make sure the area you are in is dead silent. Now begin lightly tapping the jet into place when it seats fully the tone of the hammer against the punch will change. This is the reason why we do not want to use a soft face hammer.
Now that you got the jets cleaned and installed, put the carbs back together. Put them on the bike and run it. I would highly recomend readjusting the carb now that you have everything squeaky shiny new.
Enjoy fellas.
NTD
Please make this a sticky!
