carbs too rich

I have my sisters 81 xj650 now with 38k which she has had since 6k for prox. 10 years. the carbs have been looked at by 2 different people cuz I worked a lot & sis was hoping to ride last year but did not. the carbs have been rebuilt last year by an ex yamaha/(honda trained, direct from from JAPAN), mechanic. I rode it 2x prox a month apart, long start 2x& appeared to have less power & then wouldnt start at all next time prox 2weeks later. mech. said need another set of carbs possibly, or weak compression, or emulsion tubes,,,,I think towards the end of trying to figure it out he had no time either since a new job took over with the airlines.ran into another friend this jan & he took it ,,,compression was good, spark ok, but plugs were fuel fouled bad. took carbs apart & said emulsion tubes/needle jets possibly,,,replaced them & he has had carbs aprt 5x,,,now i am told hitachi carbs once opened may never get right. now way too rich,,,fuel screws turned all the way in & still fouling the plugs,,,,someones thought & advice appeciated

 

I would start by taking those carbs away from that so called mechanic.

 

yeah what he said.

Also let us know where you are. Someone maybe down the street to give you a hand.

 

Agreed. Take those puppies off yourself. It isn't hard.
For now, leave them together, and take them apart carb by carb and inspect and clean them. While you are at it. Adjust the float height via the "clear tube method"
Here are some helpful forum posts:
This is a picture step-by-step of a basic carb cleaning. I mean *basic* There are those on the forum (myself included) that say this isn't all you need to do.

http://cycles.evanfell.com/2008/09/how- ... right-way/

Here is a post regarding the piston/diaphragm/piston bore -

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=206012.html

Here are some about adjusting via the "clear tube method"
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=202486.html

This one -- read the whole thing. Page 1 is cleaning your carbs, I like Rick's more than the first one I posted. This page is specifically about adjusting via clear tube.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... rt=45.html

 

+1 and then some for the above advice. You cant go
by someone elses guesses.
It may be no more then the bores being rough and preventing
the jet needles from dropping (i.e. clunk test).
Take a day off work and do your own carbs.Not only will
you know for sure whats going on, but the satisfaction of doing
your own wrenching is one of the most rewarding feelings a bike
owner can have.
2nd only to riding :!:

 

Get rid of the notion that "Once they are opened they are never right."
No.
Not true.
If the were opened by an Idiot and all fussed-up, ... we can De-Idiot the Carbs and Un-fuss them, too.

The Carbs are all Aluminum, Bronze and Brass.
MADE to be Cleaned and Fine Tuned.

I helped a guy Clean his Carbs ... over the Phone.
Doing them RIGHT ... so that when they are done you know you can Tweak and Tune them for Tip Top Performance takes some time ... But, there's enough folks, in here, who have done their own carbs and know where everything goes.

 

thanks guys for the tips,,, started by draining sample of fuel tonite, all appears OK but have to wait til weekend cuz of work & then tear into it myself,,,gues IM the dummy for not trying myself 1st but u know how ignorant us TEXAS boys R ,,,u have given me good directions ,,,
stuck in the 80's



81 750 virago,,,3300 miles project mothballed
80 850 xs triple ...2689 orig, miles, left in leaky barn,,,lots of TLC needed
81 650 xj mavim,,,38,000miles