Author Topic: Help-Carb cleaning!  (Read 4724 times)

Offline chrisr58

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Help-Carb cleaning!
« on: May 21, 2008, 09:30:44 AM »
Can anyone tell me the procedure to follow when cleaning the carbs on my 550 k3 without disturbing the balancing or removing more than necessary. Is there anything I need to buy in preparation that experience shows I will definitely need?
Thanks

Offline SteveD CB500K0

  • Administrator
  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4442
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • View Profile
    • Steve's Blog
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2008, 06:27:37 PM »
If they have been sitting for years with fuel in them they will be well gummed up and nothing will get your bike running properly other than a full strip and clean.

You can buy carb kits if you like (I didn't).

Take them apart and lay out all the pieces. Don't let the dog in the garage...

Soak in cellulose thinners and blow out the tiny holes around the jets with compressed air (I used aerosol carb cleaner - but it's expensive)

Reassemble. You may find that you do need gaskets and/or o-rings, in which case the carb kits are probably the only option.

I'm afraid that it is an iterative process. I've never got it right first time. Either the float bowls overflow or there's still something in the slow-running jets stopping smooth operation.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!
2022 Tiger Sport 660
1971 CB500K0

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2008, 07:56:04 PM »
I've just done mine. I removed the floats along with the idle and main jets and also the float valves. I kept all the bits from each carb together and separate from the others.

I cleaned the jets by soaking in cellulose thinners and blowing clear with aerosol carb cleaner. I also removed the idle screws and springs and soaked the screws in thinners too.

The main jets and float valves had rubber seals on so I filled the insides up with thinners using a small syringe so I didn't destroy the seals. Again I blew out with carb cleaner after soaking.

I also injected thinners into the orifices in the carb body and after soaking blew them out with cleaner.

I've now reassembled them and checked the float heights, which were ok, and I've not got any bits left over!

I've refitted the air screws and set them to spec so all I've got to do now is put the carbs back on. Hope that's easier than getting them off!

I'll let you know how I get on and whether it was worth doing.

Best of luck Chris.
« Last Edit: May 21, 2008, 08:03:43 PM by Dave M »
Dave
Melbourne.

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2008, 10:21:14 PM »
Just a quick update on progress.

Removing the carbs was quite difficult and resulted in bent jubilee clips and distorted airbox to carb rubbers so replacing them wasn't going to be very easy either.

I considered various options and only having 2 hands and no mechanic trained spiders available I found a reasonably straightforward method.

I replaced the inlet manifold rubbers and tightened them up fully. Then, without the airbox, I mounted the carbs onto the rubbers and tightened them up fully as well. This now left me with 2 hands and only the airbox to fit.

There was no way that the airbox was going to fit in with the carbs on so I removed the battery and the battery tray. By sliding the airbox in through the gap where the battery was I was able to wiggle and ease the box and rubbers past the carbs and into position. It was then just a matter of connecting the airbox rubbers to the carb and tightening the clips up.

NOTE: Before you push the airbox onto the carbs check that the lug on the rubbers on cylinders 1 & 4 line up with the datum marks that are moulded into the airbox. They're simple to see using a torch and the the rubbers rotate quite easily. If you don't do this the angle will be wrong and the rubbers will not sit properly on the carbs.

I've now replaced the air filter housing and tightened that up so all I've got left to do is re-fit the clutch and throttle cables, replace the battery tray and battery and then try and get it running again.

It's been an interesting evening and so far I'm still happy.

Watch this space...
Dave
Melbourne.

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10692
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2008, 06:55:12 AM »
The K3 has pressed in pilot jets which need to be removed to clean properly. Using mole grips Grip tightly, without crushing, and pull and twist at the same time.

Refit with a light tap from a soft faced hammer

Offline chrisr58

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2008, 08:24:44 AM »
Had to look up "iterative" ! Thanks for the advice will let you all know how it goes as long as my wife doesn't have any other plans for the bank holiday weekend! ( some chance!)

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2008, 08:40:55 AM »
Good luck!
Dave
Melbourne.

Offline mick

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1474
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2008, 11:47:26 AM »
if you use the aerosol carb cleaner make sure you dont get in your eyes coz if fookin hurts   :o :'(, dont ask how i found out  ;), cheers Mick.

Offline dave400

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 370
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2008, 09:25:18 PM »
if you use the aerosol carb cleaner make sure you dont get in your eyes coz if fookin hurts   :o :'(, dont ask how i found out  ;), cheers Mick.


 :o ;D :P

Dave

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2008, 10:37:56 PM »
Freezes your fingers too!
Dave
Melbourne.

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2008, 10:39:22 PM »
Well everything's back together and the engine idles as sweet as a nut which is a result.

Just need to balance them and get a new air filter.
Dave
Melbourne.

Offline matthewmosse

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 2161
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2008, 10:45:06 PM »
you're right about the carb cleaner in the eyes! been there but no t shirt :-[ trouble is I know I've gotta do the same with my carbs :'(  Ps how long are the carb rubbers on the k3 ( just the outside set roughly), I'm just curiousif I'm using the right set of If one of my 500's is gonna be looking a bit wrong. Doesn't bother me too much but I'll probably be selling the project 500's once they are done and next owner might want originallity for resto, I'll just be making reliable not a resto........
Got a 500/4 with rust and a sidecar and loadsa bits. nice and original and been round the clock

Offline Dave M

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Re: Help-Carb cleaning!
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2008, 05:59:27 PM »
All up and running with the new air filter now and I'm very happy with the results.

Not managed to balance them yet as I seem to have lost one of my 5mm vacuum adaptors. Waiting for new one.
Dave
Melbourne.

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal