Author Topic: Very little adjustment on my idle screw  (Read 436 times)

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Offline JDrider

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Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« on: August 17, 2023, 04:49:29 PM »
Just rebuilt my carbs and did a bench sync.
I then noticed that my idle adjustment screw was pretty much used up.
What do I need to do?

Thanks,
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline ekpent

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2023, 04:55:46 PM »
You need to lower all the slides so you have more headroom for the idle screw. Without them on the bike though do you really know what the idle is ?

Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2023, 05:01:49 PM »
I’ll have to figure out how to do that.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2023, 10:01:08 PM »
When I read elsewhere that you planned to use the drill bit method, I rather expected you would have idle issues, unless you were very lucky.

I’ve posted in the past about a simpler method with the carbs off the bike.  You back way off the idle knob and put a light at one end and lower a slide with the adjuster til the light into longer passes at the other end.  You then designate that carb as the master and don’t adjust again in the future.  You adjust the other three carbs to match slide position of your assigned master carb When ever you do any kind of carb sync.

The problem you have now is that all the adjusters are skewed so the slides are unable to reach the “floor” of their travel and the idle knob can’t control minimum slide opening.
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Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2023, 04:59:28 AM »
I need someone to tell me the best way to lower the slides and have adjustment for the idle screw.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2023, 05:10:36 AM »
I need someone to tell me the best way to lower the slides and have adjustment for the idle screw.

Back the main idle screw out all the way so it's not in contact with the plate. Undo the lock nuts on the top of each carb slide adjuster, screw the centre adjuster down so each slide bottom out. Then adjust the slides up to ⅛ gap using the individual slide adjusters and tighten each lock nut. Then you just use the big idle adjuster to control idle speed from then on.
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Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2023, 05:35:33 AM »
Will I have enough adjustment to screw down the individual adjustments?
I guess thats what I'm concerned with.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2023, 06:04:13 AM »
Will I have enough adjustment to screw down the individual adjustments?
I guess thats what I'm concerned with.
Yes, the slides go all the way to the bottom if you screw each adjuster screw down all the way.
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Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2023, 06:18:41 AM »
Ok, thanks. I will attack this after work today.
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline bryanj

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2023, 08:32:39 AM »
If you go to the UK site and look in either alladins cave or ashs dropbox i did a write up on bench syncing 500 catbs
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2023, 08:48:15 AM »
If you go to the UK site and look in either alladins cave or ashs dropbox i did a write up on bench syncing 500 catbs

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,17769.0.html
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Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2023, 11:29:37 AM »
If you go to the UK site and look in either alladins cave or ashs dropbox i did a write up on bench syncing 500 catbs

Main tick over screw is the idle screw?
JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline bryanj

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #12 on: August 18, 2023, 01:20:27 PM »
Yup, the main screw that adjusts the tick over
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

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Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #13 on: August 18, 2023, 01:20:43 PM »
So following your instructions.
I took the idle screw all the way in to the bracket.
Loosened all the adjusters and dropped all the slides.
There is still this much space between my idle screw and the carb flange.
Photos attached.
What could be wrong? How can I fix?
If I turn the idle screw all the way in, it will lift the slides about 1/16” and it is topped out.

JD
1975 CB550K1

Offline JDrider

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Re: Very little adjustment on my idle screw
« Reply #14 on: August 18, 2023, 03:52:03 PM »
I think I have it adjusted enough so the idle screw does something.
I wish I new how much adjustment the idle screw is supposed to move (on the screw itself)

Then I can feel confident to put this back on my bike
JD
1975 CB550K1