Sunday, July 12, 2009

Clean Carbs?

So yesterday I did the most "grease-monkey" work I have ever done! Haha I feel accomplished somehow..

I cleaned the carbs on my 550 by following the great instructions I got at GSresources.com:

  1. Drain the Carbs (I had a drain screw on the bottom)
  2. Put papertowel underneath to catch the gas, to see whats in your carbs
  3. Put the drain screws back in
  4. I put the Petcock on ON - this CLOSES the fuel flow (putting it on RES would do the same thing)
  5. I removed the gas line and vacuum line from my petcock (gas line was the bigger one, vacuum the smaller one going up out of the petcock aka fuel valve) - no fuel flowed :)
  6. I removed the gas tank, and drained it into a big juice container (only one bolt which is under the seat - I made sure this was the only by checking the parts micro-fiche on bikebandit.com)
  7. The gas had a good flow, and was quite clean except for really fine sediment (Maybe I'll install an in-line fuel filter??)
  8. I sprayed carb cleaner into the fuel line (the larger hose that came off the petcock)
  9. Left it in there for about 10 mins', trying to 'swish' it around in the carbs
From the pictures of the paper towel that I used to drain the carbs on, I think mine are pretty clean :) I didn't try the seafoam option but it will be my next step if I have more problems.. I just didn't have any on hand..
















Through this process I noticed the little hoses coming off the carb float bowls leaked a little, or at it least it seemed.. also there was a bit of gas sluged around, and a bit around the petcock...

(This process is thanks to Calvin Blackmore and prosolar from gsresources.com at my thread http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=145163)

Here I am before the trip where my bike stalled a few times.. with my new heltmet and jacket

Below is a picture of the stuff that makes my bike move...

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