Topic: 74cb550 carb part question

[Eddie]

So I removed my carbs this weekend and removed the bowls and noticed the slow jets did not have the "leaf Springs" to hold them in place and one of the jets was laying in the bottom of the bowl...wtf.  The po must have left them out at some point. Does anybody have any spares??       Also do I need to remove the slides to clean the needle jet?

[orange550]

So I removed my carbs this weekend and removed the bowls and noticed the slow jets did not have the "leaf Springs" to hold them in place and one of the jets was laying in the bottom of the bowl...wtf.  The po must have left them out at some point. Does anybody have any spares??       Also do I need to remove the slides to clean the needle jet?

Those are the main jets; the slow jets are screwed in.

When I bought my bike, I was also missing one of the leaf springs. Thankfully the jet was sort of seized in. I hunted high and low for a spring... couldn't find one so i fabbed one from allround... It seemed to work but it always bugged me. I eventually found a leaf spring at an old timey motorcycle shop that had a typical darkened "back room" full of miss mash.

[Gordon]

The needle jets, also known as emulsion tubes, are only held in place by the main jets underneath them, and are designed to fall out on their own.  However, years of crud and varnish build-up tend to cement them in place.  If they won't come out easily, the best way is to remove the slides and push them out from the top. 

[Deltarider]

If they won't come out easily, the best way is to remove the slides and push them out from the top.

 
Here's a tip to get the emulsion tubes (needle jets) out when they stick. Carbs can stay where they are. Remove the float bowls, spring leaves, floats and the main jets. Open the throttle let's say half way so the needles will be raised. Now there's room to bring from underneath a wooden stick (match, tootpick, whatever) that fits tight into the emulsiontube. By using wood, you will not damage the needle jet's interior. When it fits snug, you can wiggle them out. A shot of WD-40 prior to this procedure is not a bad idea. Always worked for me.