Topic: Stripped Carb Choke Butterfly skrew

[Flying J]

OK i said i wasn't going to work on my 550 until my 750 was finished but i find my self rebuilding the carbs. So the problem is the screws on the butterflies are stripped. Is there a secret to get them out? Should i just attempt a rebuild without separating all the carbs? here's is a pic of what I'm talking about.

[BlindJoe]

Cut a slot in it with a dremel tool, then use a flat head. Use lots of  penetrating fluid too.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Unstacking the rack is a waste of time in most cases.  Leave the choke system in and together.  Clean the jets and float needle like you are going to eat with them.  Clean and verify all air passages with air or carb spray. Lube everything with a mix of ATF and acetone, replace any suspect seals or gaskets and you will be good to go.

[SteveD CB500F]

There's a source in the FAQs for those tiny screws in the carbs...

[Bodi]

Keihin peened/staked the backs of the screws so they won't vibrate out. Anyways there's an X pressed in the threaded bit sticking out the back side of the actuating shaft. You can file the protruding screw (the staked part) off with the butterfly open if you're careful, then the screws come out pretty easy. I can't think of a way to re-stake new screws that's not a real PITA, so I have used small fastener loctite. None have worked loose yet. I like to polish the plates to a mirror finish and use round head SS allen screws to reattach them. I don't think it makes any measurable difference to the airflow, but they look nice.

[KB02]

When I rebuilt the carbs on my K8, I was able to get the old screws out without stripping any of them (lucky me, right?). When I put new screws back in I drilled a small hole in the end of the screws - just deep enough to hollow out the tips. I used thread locker on the threads. Then I took a Phillips head screw driver, inserted it from the other end of the carb body and proceeded to peen out the end of the screws (using that hole I drilled). I figure that aught to do a decent job of keeping them in there.