Kelly, glad this worked out for you...I'll close this out with a safety tip .......http://www.ky3.com/news/local/11228531.html
One more tip to would-be carb top removers: the bit about the gasket tearing. This can be avoided, I think, by being careful to note when you loosen the top to lift it that the gasket comes away from the carb body vs. sticks to it in one place or another. One must go easy here and not lift it too much if the gasket is hanging up on the carb. If if does hang up, you can gently nudge it loose w/ fingers or a small screw driver, or similar. When I replaced the gasket and carb top I put a little silicone grease on the gasket bottom, so next time (there will be a next time, I just know it) the gasket will have a better chance not to stick, like it did the first time. This tip was figured out the hard way, after the fact,as I guess you can tell.
PS: what I might do about the tight float pivot pin, if I ever need to take that out, I have no idea . . .
PS: what I might do about the tight float pivot pin, if I ever need to take that out, I have no idea . . .
And to anyone who removes their carbs altogether, make sure you cover the manifold throats with something to prevent stuff from falling in there. I used green masking tape.
Who the heck has green? I have only seen the standard tan and the now prevalent blue!
Kelly, glad to hear you're running smooth. Just keep the water out and the fuel clean, and you shouldn't have to take the tops off again. Oh yee of little faith, have you learned a little, Grasshopper? Just kidding! Those carbs are daunting until you dive in, aren't they? I have had two plugged jets(same barrel) since cleaning, then it's been ok since. So if you get another, carb-top removal probably won't be needed. You should be able to isolate the dead cylinder and unplug the jet, you are an expert now Kelly.
Kelly, glad to hear you're running smooth. Just keep the water out and the fuel clean, and you shouldn't have to take the tops off again. Oh yee of little faith, have you learned a little, Grasshopper? Just kidding! Those carbs are daunting until you dive in, aren't they? I have had two plugged jets(same barrel) since cleaning, then it's been ok since. So if you get another, carb-top removal probably won't be needed. You should be able to isolate the dead cylinder and unplug the jet, you are an expert now Kelly.
The BS ya gotta go through with these carbs.......
No wonder Chris wants to go EFI!
No wonder Chris wants to go EFI!
EFI does seem like a very cool thing. Maybe one day. But I am old-school, and getting a Speedster w/ smelly tempermental carbs is an old-school move, so whaddaya going to do? PArt of the charm, right?
Meanwhile, to tie ribbon on the thing, I have just spent the past ~10 days in the Speedster, off to the DE shore, cruising the beach, running down the interstate, etc. Engine running very well -- clean jets do make all the difference. Looking back on the 3400 miles put on the car so far (in about a year) this might be the longest period where I felt like engine things were going well, and I could think that they would stay running well. That said, the car did give me a little problem, however. Not engine related. The $#@!!*& steering wheel came loose again. Some will remember that the car as delivered with the nut holding the wheel to column loose. On-site tighteneing on day of delivery lasted about a year. Managed to scrounge (?) enough of the right tools from neighbor at the beach to retigheten, this time w/ Locktight. So the week at the beach was not a truly care-free expedition.
Meanwhile, to tie ribbon on the thing, I have just spent the past ~10 days in the Speedster, off to the DE shore, cruising the beach, running down the interstate, etc. Engine running very well -- clean jets do make all the difference. Looking back on the 3400 miles put on the car so far (in about a year) this might be the longest period where I felt like engine things were going well, and I could think that they would stay running well. That said, the car did give me a little problem, however. Not engine related. The $#@!!*& steering wheel came loose again. Some will remember that the car as delivered with the nut holding the wheel to column loose. On-site tighteneing on day of delivery lasted about a year. Managed to scrounge (?) enough of the right tools from neighbor at the beach to retigheten, this time w/ Locktight. So the week at the beach was not a truly care-free expedition.
For the tight float pivot pin, a the shart edge utility knife blade pressed into the slot opened mine enough to withdraw the pin. The blade stayed in place while I swapped parts; replaced the pin, removed the blade. Done.