Northern Illinois Carb Clinic Anyone?

Is there any interest in a clinic this late in the summer? I could really use some help with the XJ getting the carbs just right. I'd have to clear it with my wife, but hosting at our place in Dekalb, IL shouldn't be a problem. I have some specialty tools (12 and 14mm Colortune) as well as access to a YICS tool and a couple sets of manometers. I just don't have the experience needed. As far as I can tell my calendar is free, this weekend and the next. I'll have to check with my wife to see if she has anything planned.

 

I'm in, if we can make it a week from Sunday (I work Saturdays, and promised to help some relatives move this Sunday). I have a Colortune and a Carbtune manometer as well, but I'd really like to have a clinic with someone who's good at using them (I haven't yet).

If Sundays are no good, I can schedule a Saturday off, but I'd need more lead time. End of August or beginning of September might be possible...

Definitely let's try to work something out...!

 

I'm definitely interested, but the next two weekends are the two weekends that don't work for me. If you guys still do it one of those weeks, have fun, but if you push it off a week, let me know!

 

I would be in for this.

 

Ok, how about we set the date at the 17th of August. That sounds like it's pretty good for everyone. The question I still have is....Do we have someone with some decent experience willing to come out as well? It sounds like we've got tools and willing participants but none of us are that great with tuning. Is there anyone out there that could come give us a hand on not mucking our carbs up more than they might already be?

I'll PM everyone interested with my address and contact info when we get a little closer to the date.

 

You know, I'd be interested. But I'm not quite sure how this thing goes? Is there anything I'd need to bring other than my bike?

 

This would be my first carb clinic as well. It sounds from the rest of the messages, that we have most of the tools needed so basically your bike is all you need.

 

If you can round up someone with experience, I'd be tempted to come over from Des Moines. It's within an acceptable distance.

 

have you set the date in stone yet? I will be in Chicago o the 23 of august till???? i am riding my bike from pocaello idaho to medicine lake montana on the 18th, then leaving there on the 21st spending 1-2 days in wisconsin and then on to chicago. I have some experience with the carbs, and would be interested.

 

I would be interested also!

 

I will be available around that time as well (either the 17th or the 23rd) but I can only do so much on mine because I _still_ haven't replaced the jets. (Lazy/poor me. :-/ )

 

Ok, it sounds like we've got some people interested. I'm not sure about how much experience we're going to have but I'm willing to open the house and see who shows up. So, how about between today and tomorrow we decide on a date. Either the 17th of August or the 24th (both Sundays). Post your reply with the date that works best for you and that will help decide. Either day is good for me, so I'll leave it up to the rest of you.

 

The 24th would be best for me as I'm already scheduled to work on the 17th as it turns out.

 

The 24th works better for me... the 18th is my anniversary.

 

*chuckle* The 20th is my wife and I's.

Worse yet I found out that a friend of mine might be stopping by the weekend of the 24th. :-/

I won't say nay just yet but I might have to pass on this one unfortunately. :-(

 

I would be interested on the 24th also. Did anyone with experience ever reply? I hope this happens

 

I would be interested on the 24th also. Did anyone with experience ever reply? I hope this happens

 

i might be interested to come out on the 24th, im new to the forum, and am having carb issues. plus where exactly would we be meeting???

 

It sounds like people are more interested in the 24th so I'm going to call it early. The date is the 24th of August say 10am till whenever we're tired and all the tools are broken. We can meet at my house, I'm not going to post my address here but if you want to come, send me a PM and I'll send you back the address as well as some general directions as to how to get here. For a reference point, I live in Dekalb, IL 60115. Google map is here Map to Dekalb

Also, if you're going to show up really late in the afternoon, let me know so I don't close up shop and have people surprise us.

 

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it on the 24th since that's the day I leave on my fishing trip. Maybe next time then.

Have a great time guys!

 

you can count me in, havin a hell of a time tweaking these carbs by feel alone.

 

UPDATE: Today i purchased the items to build a homemade YICS tool, and a synchronizer. Hooked everything up and after about 3 hours have it dialed in quiet nicely. Maybe i wont have to attend the meeting of the minds, but if anyone has any questions, let me know. Trust me, its a lot easier than most people make it out to be. Also, anyone around the Fort Wayne area needs any help, bring the bike over, I'll help ya out.

 

Bring it along. You can give those of us who don't know what we're doing (like me) a lot of pointers.

 

i think i just may be in for this. ill send you a pm beernutz

 

Hey, I was wonderin if it's too late to buy into this clinic. I just bought my bike in July and rebuilt the carbs and have been tryin to get them runnin right ever since in my spare time. Was in here lookin for help and I amazingly have this Sunday off work too! Was also wonderin if you can accomodate special needs too. I was wonderin if you have a handicapped ramp so I can get it off the back of my pick-up. :wink:

 

Okay, what time are you talikng... I'll be in DeKalb on the 23 (Class reunioin), back to Chicago early on the 24 for work but should be done around noon. You could pm me back with the info.

Fred

 

Anything specific folks should bring along?

 

Tools: I have a 12 and 14mm colortune and I'm heading to my favorite local shop today to borrow possibly two manometers. I have a decent set of tools in the garage (not mechanic worthy by any means but it gets me through) so if you can think of anything you're welcome to bring it.

I do not have an auxiliary fuel supply tank for when the main tank is off, so if someone can either recommend one or bring one that would be great.

 

I ain't gonna make it. I found this this morning...

 

It's never too late to ask about showing up. I'll send you a PM with the address and some basic directions to get here.

As for the ramp, I have a couple of 2x6's or 2x12's that should work in a pinch. Special needs bikes are always welcome at my place. Just so you know, from Michigan you're probably looking at a 3 hour drive to get out here. Not trying to dissuade you at all, just letting you know.

 

I figured it'd be about 2 hours, bur you're probably closer. Upon further thought I'm not sure I trust my '89 pickup enough to know I'd not have to abandon it AND my new '82 Maxim on the interstate Thanks for the invite, but I think I'll double check my float levels tomorrow at home. It seems to start and run great for a while, but after I shut it down for an hour or so it seems to be flooding when I start it again. Think I'll try to check the new float seats too. Wish me luck, this is my first bike in 20 years and thank god for books and this great forum site :lol:

 

Thunderbolt - Sorry to hear your not coming. For those that may still be, I did manage to acquire a genuine bonafide Yamaha YICS tool from my local dealer as well as a set of mercury gauges. The more tools the merrier so anything else anyone wants to bring is fine with me. Supposed to be a nice day tomorrow.

Just a question, Is there anyone who is thinking of coming that hasn't PM'd me yet for directions? I'll check the website one more time tonight before I go to bed, so if anyone is still interested, it's not to late to get directions.

Also, what time are people thinking of showing up? I know the guys from Milwaukee have quite a drive so I was just trying to get a rough estimate.

Cya tomorrow!!

 

having brake issues bad now, just bought a caliper from the local salvage shop, having trouble cleaning it up(it has been sitting in a greasy oily mess for close to 10 years). hope ya'll have a great time and get them tuned to perfection. If i get the brake issues fixed tonight i may still ride on up an give an extra set of hands.

 

We're meeting up at around 7:00 and heading right out. Google Maps says it should be about 3hrs (off the freeway) so we should be there right on time!

 

Really upset I didn't get to make it to this... How did it go?

 

It went great! Ike and I had a great ride down (somewhat improvised) and a great ride back (a bit more improvised), and in between we got my 550 all sync'd up, new float bowl gaskets in Ike's 750, the YICS tool stuck in an engine (temporarily), rear signals removed, saddlebags on backwards (also, temporarily), front wheel removed, gas tanks test fitted, etc.

A good time was had...

Sh!t was shot...

Bikes were ridden...

I'd call it a success.

 

Late to the party and couldn't have made it anyway due to a wedding to attend, but I'm glad to hear this came together. I have to pay closer attention to the boards when I'm NOT having problems.

For future reference, I've got a YICS, Colortune, and if anyone's feeling frisky and wants to check valve clearances I have the holder tool and a few shims. Even if I can't make the next clinic I can meet up with someone to loan my tools.

 

Sign me up for that one too... We did do much work "north" of the carbs. Mostly because we didn't have enough experience in the room to guarantee we Milwaukeans wouldn't be stuck in smelly ol' Illinois . Plus it was Sunday, and all of the local garages were closed. Next time, more folks, and more experienced folks, and we should try for a Saturday. I'd definitely make to ride down again! (with approval from the Finance, Travel, and Planning Committee, of course)

 

thanks again for hosting beernutz. had great fun. you would have gotten a kick out of me and charles leaving dekalb. we ran on pure intuition to actually get out of ILL in one piece. heres a good example of one of the shenanigans me and charles got into on the way home.

Ike (driving the back roads in deep thought, distracted by the prospect of being horribly horribly lost)

After a few minutes looks into his side mirror. wheres charles? holy @#!

Pulls over, charles comes riding up from the distance.

ike says "whats wrong"

charles, "your side cover flew off dude"

ike "what! where?"

charles "like a mile back!"

ike !@#!@#!!!!!!

thanks for actually remembering where it was and actually finding it amongst the empty blue miller lite cans in the tall grass alongside the back roads of IL. (for shame Illinoisans!)

had fun. we'll do it again sometime