Rick, any advice to me on my first attempt. Should I do all the bottoms one at a time and then do the tops one at a time? Or should I do a bottom and then a top and repeat on down the line? Also, right to left first or left to right or it doesn't matter? Thanks for your insight (and instructions).

I picked up a set of $30 carb screws from Tim on this forum (thanks Tim); but I hate to have to buy a carb rebuild kit too. My goal on this deal was to buy this bike for $350 and get it running. I hope by just cleaning these carbs I can at least get it to run. I finally got the rack off last night after cursing the air filter boots for quite some time. I finally had to get a hair dryer to soften up the rubber boots so I could get the boots out.

My budget for my project is $500 and I will have close to that when I get a battery. The bike is pretty rough so I've pretty much stripped her down to her underwear. Lots of cosmetic work to do. But I enjoy tinkering so that's why I got it. I probably won't keep this one, but I've grown fond of it and will probably get another nicer example after I'm done with this one.

I have a 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic that I ride most of the time. But there's nothing wrong with it! So I got this one to have something to work on. Bought a manual and I'm having fun. Thanks for your knowledge you've shared here.

Since most of the real "Tough" cleaning is going to happen on the LOWER ends of the Carbs ... go ahead and do all four of the Float Bowl Ends, first.

Just be sure to keep the parts of each one separate from the other. Don't rush. A real clean set of carbs is a joy to get back on the bike and tune-up nice.

What do some of you use for cleaning carbs? Aside from actual disassembly of the carbs - screwdrivers, drill bits etc that has been covered all above, what do you use to clean them.

A big can of carb cleaner is a given.
Scotch brite pads? Diamond files? Old toothbrush? Hones?

I'm sure lots of you who have cleaned carbs have some dos and don'ts to share when it comes to cleaning agents and comsumables.

I heard a little birdy say, that he knew a guy, who had sticky fingers, the day he went-in to see the Dental Hygienist.

The nice, stainless steel, cleaning and scraping instruments, on the tray, disappeared when he went back to get his sunglasses.

Dremel wire wheel, steel wool, Exacto blades and Point ... If she ain't home ... I heard some guy uses the Pot Scrubbing setting on the dishwasher.

"Not me, though ... I wouldn't ever, honest honey, no ... I didn't, that's crazy!"

Dental picks then. Usually available at your local surplus store. I worked as a Tool and Die apprentice many years ago - a lot of the guys I worked with would just ask their dentist for the old picks instead of having them throw them out. Apparently, many were happy to oblige.

Hey Rick,

Why is is so important to put the same parts back in the carb they came out of?

I have to swap some bits around, what are the do's and don'ts for swapping parts in carbs?

Cheers

When you say "wire wheel" do you mean the little brass wire brushes you can get for a dremel? What do you use that for? Same question for the exacto knife blades?

I've had emulsion tubes to clean ... worse than the one that was in that picture, the other day.

Chucked a wire wheel in the drill and put the drill in the vice and went to town on that puppy.

When you have to deal with gross neglect ... you need everything short of a Nuclear weapon.

RickCoMatic wrote:

but, I KNOW there's got to be a Carb Speciality Outlet ... I hope someone else chimes-in to tell you where to get jets.

I'm a couple months late, but:

www.motorcyclecarbs.com -- I managed to find replacement pilot mixture screws (I've got a stuck and stripped one). Not everything is listed on the website, but they are friendly and respond to emails.

You still looking for photo's Rick?

I now have a bit of a collection of both Hitachi and Mukuni pics.

Yes ... we still need pictures. But, I haven't learned how to manage them on this new computer ... yet.

But, I'm glad you do have shots that will match text. That we do need.

RickCoMatic wrote:

Yes ... we still need pictures. But, I haven't learned how to manage them on this new computer ... yet. But, I'm glad you do have shots that will match text. That we do need.

I've already posted some Mukuni shots. I'll upload a few Hitachi ones tonight.

XJ900 Mukuni carb Pics

XJ650 Hitachi Carb Pics



Let me know what else you want pics of because I have both sets in bits at the moment

i got a 82 xj750 maxim and i want to soke the carbs is there ruber gaskets seals on the butter flys or is it safe to soke the carbs just take off the ruber parts i see and know about.do you thing soking is a must or spray carb cleaner is ok.thank you ivan.

Don't soak them until you have determined if the Cleaner will be harmful to Rubber Parts.

You'll have to get that information off the label of the Carb Cleaning Product.