Topic: CB500 float needles - missing tips?

[Tugboat]

I'd post a pic but the battery in my camera just died. I'm rebuilding the carbs for this '71 CB500 and none of the float needles have tips on them. Is that right?

[dave500]

if they are a nice pointy tapered metal thats what they are,one end has a tiny pin that is spring loaded,this action should be working.

[Tugboat]

Actually I just looked back at my pix and one of them had the tip... so I guess the other 3 are missing them and need to be replaced. Ugghhh...

Is there anywhere to get them by themselves, without getting the seats too or having to buy whole rebuild kits? Or will ones from a different SOHC work?

[bryanj]

No and No try sirius in canada for the needle sets not in rebuild kits

[dave500]

or you have a mix match of parts some po have used over the years?the upper part in this shot is the needle that goes into the seat,,the lower pin should have a spring loaded action to it,if you have some rubber tipped ones they might have been from some old repair kit,,or just be the wrong ones?or someone had them handy?,,you might even score a set of carbs for less than replacing those needle and seats,,they should come as a set,,if you have an old set,and they dont look damaged,,like lapping valves you can "grind them in"with metal polish like autosol to re furbish them,its a hardend needle against soft brass so only a few twists will do it,,if they are badly corroded or damaged forget it.


quick edit,,david silvers has them as an aftermarket part heres a link,im not sure if the keyster kits have them?
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB500K2-FOUR-1973-USA/part_61853/
not cheap for what it is times four!

[Tugboat]

Whew! Pricey! I think I'm going to have to get rebuild kits as all of the slow jets are clogged after long soaks in carb dip.. Some of the float needles that are intact - their springs are stuck, and some of the main jets are still somewhat clogged (though I can get a guitar string through 'em). All-in-all, a big bummer. Thanks for your help y'all!

[ekpent]

Sometimes a heat gun can soften the varnish in the springs on those little needles and get things moving again. Lacquer thinner dissolves that stuff well also.Have saved them before.

[BAchvytrk]

i might have some old carb kits that will work for you instead of buying new. bought some for a customer a few years ago and he stuck me with them. I can't remember if they were for a 500 or a 550, but i'll check and let ya know.

[Danno]

you can use a single filament from a 16 gauge wire and carb cleaner to work the gum out of the slow jets once you get a hole in the gum push the wire all the way through and spin the jet while you hold both ends of the wire this will dislodge the rest of the gum then blow it out with carb cleaner and air till you can see a nice tiny round hole the wire will not hurt the brass jet it is not hard enough

[ekpent]

Like Danno says once you get the initial hole through then re-soak,preferably in some real carb dunk, but that will really get the cleaner going and your good to go when its gone.I would LOVE to have all the original Kehin jets and brass bits,needle valves etc that have hit the garbage pail over the course of the last 40 years,I like the original stuff more than aftermarket.