XJ 550 Carbs 1982 Seca

HI, I am trying to find a number 3 carb body for XJ550. I am based in Belfast so not easy to find here.
any help would be appreciated! I have attached pic.

 

I've found ebay to be a good source. Might drop hogfiddles a message. Last summer, I found a complete rack in pieces and bought it for the parts.
Some questions about that photo. Why the extra hoses? Normally, you have fuel line between 2 and 3 and they're all connected. Not sure why the extra lines between the 1-2 and 3-4 carbs.
Also, why does the float bowl on #3 look different than the others? I guess that'll get replaced if you get an entirely new #3 carb.

 

All good points and to be honest I don't know! I have done pretty much everything else on the bike but i don't touch carbs! I have left it with the dynojet guru for that one. I know that the bike has been crashed at some stage of its life due to finding a repair on the tank so maybe the bowl was damaged previously? Ill check with him and let you know if we can get an answer!

 

Ah ha. The hoses are float bowl vents just and no we don't know why float bowl is different!

 

What is a "float bowl vent" ? I don't have those and never heard of such a thing! Where would that connect even? I just have to wonder who got into these carbs and I'm sure you'll have a much better bike when these get sorted!

 

I had a look and found this. Bowl Vents:

Some float systems will employ a fixed external vent as well as an internal vent. We have shown in figure 10 both the internal and the fixed external vent. The external vent, located in the air horn section above the float chamber, provides a means for venting to the atmosphere any fuel vapors or pressure that might accumulate or build up inside the float bowl chamber due to high under-hood temperatures. If these vapor pressures are not disposed of, then the pressure inside the bowl pushing down on top of the level of the fuel will be greater than the calibration of the carburetor intended it to be. This will result in a rich mixture due to excessive fuel being forced through the jets into the carburetor and on into the intake manifold.
Idle Vent Valve:

Most carburetors today will use a movable atmospheric idle vent valve in place of the fixed external vent system. This movable valve will be held in an open position only during idle and park positions by carburetor linkage contacting the idle vent arm. Any tendency for fuel vapors to collect inside the float bowl will be vented to atmosphere through this opening at idle and park positions. As speed increases and throttle linkage is progressively opened, the actuating lever from the linkage will no longer contact the idle vent arm thereby allowing the idle vent valve to close. This action will now return the carburetor to the internal vent system thereby once again maintaining the same pressure on top of the fuel as entering the carburetor through the air cleaner.

It is important that the idle vent valve be closed during all periods of operation except at idle, otherwise excessive richness can be caused by the higher atmospheric pressure acting upon the fuel in the float bowl.

http://www.carbkitsource.com/carbs/tech/articles/Carburetion/Carburetion6.html

Interesting reading for me!

 

We should have a good used carb body (and bowl) available, and can certainly ship to you. Please send an e-mail of start a conversation via this website for more details.

However, it would be helpful to post more images of your carb rack, I'm not sure that those are the original carbs for your bike?

 

Some of these questions were asked and answered in a different forum:

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/swap-out-for-bigger-carbs.106935/page-2

This is why people should not asked the same questions in multiple forums....

 

@xj4ever. Email sent.

 

Have a look here: http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/550-seca-carbs-come-back-to-life.96514/
Those are my carbs and yours have some clear differences which is why people question they are the "right" carbs for your bike.

 

Once again......

 

I read the other thread - interesting, so by your measurements these are notBS28s but maybe something like a BS26 if these were ever made. Some euro countries and maybe Japan had an XJ400. Are you sure your bike is a 550? (528cc will be stamped on the front of the barrels) cos it could be something else.

If it is confirmed as a 550 then you wold do well to get the correct carbs - I notice there is a 550 being broken in the Uk right now

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-YAMA...524663?hash=item2a7b9d2cf7:g:f3oAAOSwtfhYrByB

 

hi a100man. Yip the bike is a 550. VIN plate
JyA4U8008CA022634.
It seems to have had a chequered past!. Thanks for the tip on the XJ on ebay. i am in contact with them already!
anyother help gratefully accepted.
As you will see from profile pic i have her looking pretty good now and Im keen to sort carbs as the last part in the puzzle!

 

Hi Sparky

Yep - she looks nice. As you may have realised yours is a US import (one disc, no oil cooler etc..) - I couldn't be sure until you posted the VIN. The UK carbs off the breaker will still be fine though. BTW did you do the paint yourself?

BTW what's that little fly-screen you have - looks handy. Also the front mudguard..?

 

Hi a100man. Yes it is a USA import and seems to be have been first reg in UK around 1997/98. Seems to have chequered past and Im not sure it has ever been on the road in UK. The people I bought from only used to take it to shows but never rode it. Ive spent a lot of time on her and a few £sss but well worth it in my opinion. If you have a facebook account I can send you some pics of what i found! never seen anything like it to be honest! As for paint....well......eventually had to get tank soda blasted then tried powder coating but eventually ended up a friend who used to paint did it for me. Im very impressed with that bit. I had some of the other metalwork (rocker cover and casings) blasted and powder coated aswell and handpainted in the YICS logo's etc. and did all the mechanics myself. Im happier with a spanner than a paintbrush!

 

OK sound fun, so you've not had it running yet with those odd/broken carbs I take it? BTW if you're in touch with the breakers you will need the matching intake rubbers (but then again they might be shot already).
No facebook for me - too old and miserable.
Now about that screen...?

J

 

Ha Ha! yes Im in touch with breakers. I think I might buy bike complete. i have new rubbers for the carbs i have which seem to fall into the correct spec for the bike. It may be a USA vs UK issue im thinking. Just trying to arrange courier at the minute. Screen Im afraid is purely func tional. It will be an everyday bike so need something. I use the virago for sunnny days! yes bike was fun. Ive put up pic of tank! View attachment 24063 View attachment 24063

 

OK - always great to have a spares bike - I just picked up a spare FZ750 - well my brother collects it for me tomorrow. I don't really need anything off it at teh moment but for 130 quid.. (no tank or plastics but 2 motors!).

Regards the screen I'm interested because I like the look of it - is it a Puig by any chance and does it have a model number?

PS a boat as well as a nice workshop..

 

Hey! Yes it is a puig. The link is https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G7GTDG8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and works well and easily fitted.
The boat is just a small tender and the workshop has changed a bit. I have a bigger boat which is in another shed as its too big for that one. The sheds are owned by a friend and I rent the space. Well worth it. I used to have all the toys in different places but nice to have them all together now. There are a few!(and some old cars too!). Here' s a couple more pics of the screen

 

Hmm....bikes stored at a number of different places---imagine that.

How do you think I keep 42 bikes? The harder part is remembering where that all are----lol

 

Ok thinking about it the rubbers you have will be Ok because from the look of the carbs you currently have the outside diameter is the same but the inside diameter changed.. Thanks for the screen link. will be interest to see if it makes any difference for motorway riding.

Cheers

James

 

Yes hogfiddles. PITA! Slowly but surely coming together with all the toys. just 3 bikes, 3 old cars and many boats!(not all mine) but thats what we do with the spare time! The biggest problem I have in having the right tools in the right place but getting there now. Ill let you all know how I go with the new carbs! and Ill see how we go with the rubbersetc.
Many thanks for all your help!

 

I store my collection in other people's garages. I'm also kind enough to let them register them in their name... FOR NOW!

 

Just a quick update. All good with carbs and rubbers, bike running really well. Just getting front disc skimmed and that's it ready for MOT and happy miles hopefully!

 

Good to hear -swapped the whole rack then I guess..

 

Yip. Complete carb rack and new rubbers (inlet and outlet). Now maybe looking for single front right side disc? Any ideas? The uk bike is twin smaller discs.