Topic: specific carb cleaning question with picture

[brianbmw]

I'm cleaning the carbs on my 550.  I blow air in all of the openings and the air obviously comes out where it's supposed to and the passage ways seem clear.  The only two that I'm not 100% sure of are the very top hole on the right and the one on top of the brass post.  Where does the little hole on the top of the brass post go?  It's hard to blow air in such a small hole and figure out where its coming from.  The other one i'm not sure of is the one at the top of the pic on the right.  Thanks for your help.

Brian

[lrutt]

The lower one is your low speed jet. Looks to be a press in. You can remove those carefully I believe. At least on the K8 750's you can. That way they can be soaked and cleaned out then you can blow the carb passages out.

I removed mine with pliers and a gentle twist and pull motion. I'm sure someone will verify this process soon as I've not worked on the pressed in 550 carbs. The earlier ones had screw jets making this easy.

Don't know what that top hole is though.

[brianbmw]

I just realized the top hole is outside the bowl cover so it must do nothing.

I think i have an old set of carbs at home with the press in slow speed jets.  I'll try to remove the pressed in slow jet and see if i can get it to stay i again.  If it works i'll give it a sot on my good carbs.

[bollingball]

brian is this a K or F what year is it?  get the numbers off of the carbs I don't know where they are on a 550. With this information we can look it up.

                                              Ken

[brianbmw]

Ken it's a 1978 CB550K. 

At this point my only question is, is it safe to remove the pressed in slow jet and clean it then expect it to go back in and stay?

Brian

[Gordon]

Ken it's a 1978 CB550K. 

At this point my only question is, is it safe to remove the pressed in slow jet and clean it then expect it to go back in and stay?

Brian

Yes, and it's the only way to make sure it's completely clean and clear, just do it carefully so you don't bend or break it.  The top portion of the jet is a small emulsion tube with very tiny holes that are easily clogged and almost impossible to clean with the jets installed. 

[bollingball]

Gordon is correct If that picture is the #2 carb that hole would be for the accelerator pump rod. You can still get new small jets. but if you are easy on them you will be fine. I have a pic if you need it

                                         Ken

[brianbmw]

Thanks guys, the slow speed jets came out fine, cleaned up nice and went back in.

Now i just need to find one float needle.  The little push button on one of them is stuck.  It's been soaking for a couple days now and still won't budge.

Brian

[bollingball]

brianbmw: Hope this helps. Are the needles metal tip or rubber? if it were mine and they don't free up I would change both needle and seat to have a match pair. If the tip is metal you can try to lap them in to seal. In addition to soaking try spray carb cleaner while trying to work the plunger on the needle.
About that top hole you have in red the one to the left of it HAS TO HAVE a oring in it or it will leak when the accelerator pump is used I found this out the hard way.

                                                 Ken