Stripped pilot jet?

[Fuzzlewump]

So I'm finally down to the carb clean and then I can put the bike to a road test!  :D

I'm still on the first carburetor and I managed to get the throttle valve shaft screws out without a major problem, but just went to remove the pilot jet (the one in the bottom of the body) and after a slight crack, it started spinning....and then just stayed there.  :(

Now I'm not sure what to do. The head of the jet isn't stripped, I can get a screwdriver on it without problem. The jet simply spins and won't draw out. I have an extra set of carbs to play with but the jets on those are also in the same condition!

Anyone got suggestions on a way to remove this bugger? I really don't have the money for another set of carbs right now, especially if I could run into the same problem again.

[supervision]

  Have you tried turning the carb over and letting them fall out while taping the body with with something soft. You did the hardest part, taking out the plugs and breaking the jet lose the rest should be easy.  Don't loose them under the bench

[pinholenz]

I had the same thing happen to me - its pretty disconcerting. There is a baby "o" ring on the needle valve - mine had broken and prevented the needle screw from dropping out. Here's a couple of other things to try.

If you have an airline, try puffing down the idle circuit holes  below the throttle valve with a needle nozzle on the airgun. (Edit: you might have a needle nozzle as part of your tyre pump set - the sort of thing for blowing up bladders in footballs or basketballs - at a pinch your tyre pump might do the job).   If you don't have that, try the same thing using a skinny straw attachment on your can of brake cleaner. Brake cleaner makes the "o" ring nice and slippery and it should pop out past the threads. Good luck.

[Rikugun]

I think Fuzzle is referring to the jet(?), not the idle mixture screw but the compressed air trick sounds like a good solution. If it doesn't work, you might work a small screw into the end of the jet and pull it out that way.  What you do after you get it out is anyone's guess if the carb body threads are stripped. :(

[Fuzzlewump]

So I call my buddy down the street to ask about the stuck jet. He's rebuilding an '89 Honda CBR600, and he has a lot more experience in these things than I do. He says to bring the carb over and he'll see what he can do.

Mind you, this V has been taking me quite some time to restore, and it's getting to the point where friends are starting to talk and have a chuckle at my expense. Not one to be easily deterred when I have my mind set on something, I just let the comments roll off and keep working away. I'll prove to them all that 30-yr-old gremlins are at fault for this extended rebuild, and not any incompetence on my part. With this in mind, I walk over to Jeremy's house with the filthy carb so he can see for himself how gnarly this thing is.

I swear to you, I took one step into his garage and the jet just fell out of the body. I hear a "tink", look down and there it is. Jeremy just grins.

Unbelievable, and hilarious.  :)

[pinholenz]

Humiliation is good for the soul. I am convinced that Vision riders are in it for the long term pleasure of defeating the gremlins and not to impress our friends. Perhaps we should rebadge our bikes as eXtreme Zen 550's.  ANY solution is a good solution! Nice one.

[Fuzzlewump]

Lol@extreme zen! I like that....may have to put that on the side cover. I definitely get a kick out of solving these problems that I didn't know how to approach at first. I'm sure it'll all add to the joy of riding once she's running.

[Rikugun]

I swear to you, I took one step into his garage and the jet just fell out of the body. I hear a "tink", look down and there it is. Jeremy just grins.

At this point do you drop your chin, do an about face and shuffle off with a barely audible "never mind...." to your friend?  :o  ???

Or, is there a triumphant WOO HOO! and a happy dance?  ;D  :laugh:

[Fuzzlewump]

@Rikugun...

I did a combination of both, lol! The relief of having that thing out of there was equaled by the confusion over how this had happened at all.

I can only conclude that like Supervision said, the carb simply needed some slight jarring. I think that handling it while walking to my friend's place was enough to shake it loose (I walk fast and tend to swing my arms a bit). It's crazy to think it could possibly have just fallen out in my own garage if I'd done some quick pacing back and forth.  ;D