1982 Seca 550 Carb Cleaning Woes

Working on a low mileage 1982 Seca 550 that is about as clean as they come. Bike has been sitting for a few years and I pulled the carbs off and was going to clean them out good and replace the pilots & main jets. The carbs were gummed up as expected. Well the mains came out easy and I got 2 pilot jets out and of course, the other 2 pilot jets I ruined the flat groove on the jet with the screwdriver trying to get them out.

Am I totally screwed here? Or is there a way to get these pilots out? Is there such a thing as an EZ out for pilots? Or should I be looking for another bank or carbs?

Or is it possible to use a carb cleaning kit to poke the gum through the pilots? The pipe cleaner type of cleaner kit?


Thanks in advance....

 

Its a common problem. Left turn drill bits are the easy way to go if you have some. The drill will grab the jet and unscrew it right out. A machine shop could help with those. I have never had much luck with easy out extractors with small jets, they tend to mess the threads up. Though some have had success.

 

I just took apart a set of carbs and had to cut new slots for the screwdriver to go in with a dremel and a cutting wheel. after letting it sit on kroil for a little bit it came off. Like mlew said left turn drill bis may be another option for you.

 

Huh, never heard of a left hand drill bit before. What size should I use?

 

Grab the outside of the jet gently with vice grips. Once you crack them loose you can unscrew with your hands. This works for just about anything that is stuck and you don't want to strip with a screw driver.

 

I thought these pilots are recessed, so there's really not enough room to go grabbing them with vice grips?

 

Correct, mains are easy to get to. Can't get to the pilots.

Any ideas on left hand drill bit sizes? I'll have to order a bit but like to have an idea on sizing.

 

it's hard to specify "a size". Sometimes you need several different sizes. it just depends how badly that jet (or screw) wants to stay put....

 

It's best just to get a kit with a half dozen sizes in it

 

It's one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ET ... UTF8&psc=1

I ordered this set for my carb bowl drain screws. I have tried it on something else and it worked great - but haven't hit the drain screws yet.