Topic: shimming needles on K8 carbs. Carb seperation required?

[Flounder]

 I just installed a 4-1 exhaust on my K8. I am in the process of now working through the carb tuning. Bike ran well with stock exhaust, but is gutless now. I suspect I'm lean but haven't done Chops or any real troubleshooting yet, but will.

In any case I have been researching the lack of needle clips on K8s and therefor my options. It appears if I am too lean in the midrange I can "shim" my needles with small #2 or #4 washers (or possibly go to 77 needles)

My question is: will I need to completely seperate all the carbs to do this? I have looked at the shop manuals for both 77s (which I hoped would mention needle adjustments but didn't) and 78s and can't quite tell. I have gotten okay at removing/installing the entire carb-bank, but don't really want to seperate them unless I have to, especially since this will probably be an iterative process.
Anyone know or have tips?


 Thanks!
         Flounder
 

[Bodi]

No. You take the carb tops off, remove the bolt holding the bellcrank to the throttle rod (bend the locking washer flat), disconnect the bellcrank at the slide lift link, and lift the slide out. Then remove the 2 screws holding the lift arm to the slide and rotate the arm so it will come off. This exposes the needle for removal, the shim goes on the needle below the clip.
This always screws up synchronization - probably from taking that bolt out and putting it back in. You can do plug chops with the sync screwy and do the carb sync once you're happy with the tuning, it won't be off enough to mess up your tuning tests.

[Flounder]

Ahhh. Good news!

I appreciate you taking the time to describe the process in detail. Very helpful.

[eldar]

Before doing that though, try setting your idle mix. You would be surprised how much that can change things.
Did you change the air filter too?  Does the 4-1 have baffles? I question this cause there may be very little you need to do in order to get things back the way they were.

[BobbyR]

Before you take any bending, maybe you want to just rejet.

[seaweb11]

I 2nd the re-jetting option. Buy a few sets....115, 120,125 and see what works best
You didn't mention if you kept the stock air box, but if you did, my guess would be in the 115-120 range. It can be time consuming, but when you get close....you will know

[TwoTired]

Mains and slows can take care of mixture above 3/4 throttle and below 1/4 throttle.  But, you need to change/adjust the throttle needle for mixtures in the midrange.

Cheers,

[jdpas29]

i put a 4-2 on my K8 and all else is stock...  runs like a dream. 

i guess 4-1 is different but i would do everything else to a T before i went and changed needle heights or jet sizes.  do full tune up and synch the carbs.

[BobbyR]

I also have a K8 and we have an accel pump. I would check that and also rejet before I made any physical changes to the carbs. I am running 120 mains and she runs well through the range.