Topic: pilot screw adjustment tool

[heffay]

so there is this one from morgan carbtune
http://www.ekmpowershop.com/ekmps/shops/carbtune/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=33

and the one from motion pro that i already have that won't work on my kaw carbs because the bit will not reach far enough

anyone know of any others similar to the carbtune type that has longer/adjustable bit length?  not tool length... bit length.  and hopefully cheaper than 75usd!  or, where to find the carbtune brand cheaper?

[stevej]

I suppose we are talking about the awkward brass screw that sits under each carb.well as a cheap alternative all I use is a 1" piece of broken hacksaw blade its not a job I ve done very often but it works ok.

[medic09]

All I remember is I recently saw on an American site something similar to the Morgan offering.  I ended up buying the MotionPro for my Honda.  I assume you've done a search...?

[heffay]

yes... but, this is the best search i could do!   

i already have a tool that won't work so i want options if i have it but, all i've really found is the carbtune.  was also trying to find out how to order kawasaki special tools but no luck there either.

about the hacksaw blade... yeah, that would be awesome but, inside that rocket there is NO room for that type of turning motion.  i've got about an inch opening to get thru there... just getting the tool in and the flashlight beam in too is difficult.  gotta have a screwdriver w/ a bend.  most likely meaning bunches of dollars the way it's looking.

[TwoTired]

I assembled this one from parts in my hobby room.  The key parts are from a slot car circa 1967.  I think it took me 20 minutes to make.  It adjusts IMS on 1978 CB550 carbs without singeing any part of your hands.  I also use an inspection mirror to guide it onto the screw head.  Even at today's prices, I can't imagine it costing more than $10 in materials.

Cheers,

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Lloyd,

That cap looks like a 12V motor, not a 3V motor. Is that a metal gear rather than a nylon gear? Slot cars were great until i got my driver's license. Bet you used to dewind/rewind and cheat a little, huh?! Shim the magnets with a little electrical tape? Install a 1.5V battery in your controller for braking?!

Oh, I'm sorry. This is about carbs.

[TwoTired]

Lloyd,

That cap looks like a 12V motor, not a 3V motor. Is that a metal gear rather than a nylon gear? Slot cars were great until i got my driver's license. Bet you used to dewind/rewind and cheat a little, huh?! Shim the magnets with a little electrical tape? Install a 1.5V battery in your controller for braking?!

Oh, I'm sorry. This is about carbs.

Hey Jerry,
Seems I triggered a trip down memory lane.

Yes, 12v motor.  They were smaller and gave a lower CG on the track.
The track had 12 v regulated power to each lane. 10 Amps if I recall correctly.
Yes, metal gears.  Nylon gears lost their teeth in the middle of my track rental time.
1st dewind, then rewind/balance, commutator truing/polishing, and brush seating, with silvered brushes, advance commutator timing.  Dry iced the magnets and shimmed them with brass sheet, or tin. Changed bushes to ball bearings.  Can't cheat in unlimited class.

Batteries in controllers were outlawed before I started using the track.  Seems, some big batteries were responsible for damaging some expensive track power supplies. 

[tsflstb]

I've had some success with the little screwdriver bits made to go in the quick-change electric drills.  You can fit them in a 3/16" socket or geared wrench or even just use your fingers to get into tight places.  I know that 7rr is like 10lbs of stuff in a 5lb bag.  Good luck.

And not to leave out my favorite place...here's a $4 tool that might work.



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92631

[heffay]

that's funny teeseffelstub... when i first went to MMI i purchased all the tools that were on the list.  but, i couldn't stop there.  it was at harbor freight w/in my first month in school i purchased that exact same tool! 

it has gotten me out of a lot of binds... but, not this one.  doesn't matter though, i still love that twisty little guy   

thanks lloyd for a look at what you've got.  are all the parts from slot car/track materials?  or just most?  if i don't break down and blow my wad on a prefabbed version i may give a hobby shop a looksie.  things like that are a lot easier when you simply have them already in stock though.  i'd probably waste a whole day at the stores trying to find all the parts then get home and realize i have to go back for something else. 

[TwoTired]

All the parts are slot car parts except two.  The long brass tube and the long inner shaft.  However, hobby shops often carry these components as raw construction stock, too.  In fact, everything in the picture was obtained at a hobby shop, possibly the same one.

The key element is the ring and pinion to change rotational direction 90 degrees.

The make vs. buy decision is a personal one.  I saved a lot of money when I was poor by building instead of buying.  Looking back, the gained skill of creative fabricating was more valuable than the tools and widgets I built.  The self taught lessons learned, just made the following project's quality and function better, and widened my understanding of material properties.

But, it WAS a trade-off between adding riding experience or gaining building/wrenching/ project experience.  I usually enjoy both.

Best of luck!

[medic09]

I assembled this one from parts in my hobby room.  The key parts are from a slot car circa 1967.  I think it took me 20 minutes to make.  It adjusts IMS on 1978 CB550 carbs without singeing any part of your hands.  I also use an inspection mirror to guide it onto the screw head.  Even at today's prices, I can't imagine it costing more than $10 in materials.

Cheers,

Brilliant.

[scondon]

  Heffay,  I had to modify the MotionPro tool to work better on my CB750. The bit head was just a bit too wide to fit all the way in the recess so I filed it down just a bit. The metal is pretty soft and I could have filed it completely away if I wasn't paying attention. Since the bit extends beyond the shroud when you push the handle, and since the shroud doesn't help much anyway, couldn't you file down the MotionPro tool to suit your Kawi carbs?

[heffay]

that's precisely what i've already done.  i pulled the bit back as far into the housing as possible and cut the shroud and larger diameter end of the housing off. 
it is a better tool now than it was before.  but, it still can not reach my kawi pilots   
if i am to modify it anymore i'll have to cut the housing around the screwdriver bit while it is in the housing.  not sure if my dremel would do that or not.  i originally cut the end of the housing off w/ a metal blade cordless circular saw. 
i should go have a look at dremel bits i suppose... i just don't want to ruin a perfectly good tool.

[scondon]

that's precisely what i've already done. i pulled the bit back as far into the housing as possible and cut the shroud and larger diameter end of the housing off.
it is a better tool now than it was before. but, it still can not reach my kawi pilots

 Damn, they must have buried those screws so deep that only a Kawi tech with Kawi tools can reach them. This, of course, means WAR and I, for one, am pullin' for ya