Are there threads here for carb service/rebuild?

is there a good thread or threads on here here for carb service/rebuild?

 

Try this one.

 

Put your bike info in your sig; it took me a minute to figure out you have a 550.

The above link is great; this will also help when working on Mikunis: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31061.html

And here's how to correctly wet-set the floats, very important: http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf

Before those freshly service carbs can be properly adjusted, you'll need to get your valve clearances in spec too: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

 

I think he means, a place he can send his carbs to have them rebuilt, and sent back to him.
Actually a pretty good idea. If I wasnt leaving my shop in a week Id do it. If parts, time, and shipping were paid for. But by then its pretty expensive! Id just as soon do it myself

 

thanks.

so have i have gas in the oil/sump (thanks fitz). Should I drain the oil?

My plan was to to do myself, and id like too. that said i am a novice and majority of what i read on this site might as well be in chinese. i tried to clean the carbs in the past and it didn't go well. and time (two small kids) is not my friend. we'll see. bike is in all around very mediocre shape. i just want to get it working and not harming itself so i can ride sometimes.

removing the carbs bringing somewhere to service is an option? that is something i would be interested in How much would something like that cost?

 

At a shop you're looking at an hour a carb plus parts. That's like 500 bucks. A shop might do it for 300 plus parts off the bike. If its a friend your probably looking 250 for the whole deal.

 

It would be a crapshoot; a lot of shops don't have a clue.

Running and not harming itself means adjusting the valves.

Running and not harming YOU means rebuilding 30-year old brakes, replacing tubeless tires more than 6 years old, and you're probably going to need a new chain and sprockets. Plus when you change the oil in the forks, you may discover that you'll need new fork seals.

Get a service manual (the Clymer is fine; the only factory book is the 550RH Seca book but mechanically everything's the same.)

You can do this yourself if you're willing to learn. If you pay somebody else to do everything that needs to be done to the bike you'll spend 5X what it's worth.

It's actually a lot simpler than what it may sound like at first.

 

Thanks guys,

When you say 'adjusting the valves' (carb I assume) is that he same as carb 'service'? And I assume this/both are if fervent than a rebuild.

Tires are actually new. Oil w/ gas should just be changed? Not sure on the brakes. My brother in law had or a while and had a mc mechanic he knows give it a tune up.

 

If you want to ride sooner, buy a newer bike that's road-ready. Otherwise, relax and enjoy bringing a great bike back to life. Think of what you'll learn while you rebuild carbs, adjust valves, rebuild forks, rebuild brakes, etc. The only way to learn is by doing yourself. Get the right tools and dig in.

Make "me" time in the garage. Just because you have 2 kids doesn't mean you have to give up something that makes you happy. Besides, if it takes you 6 months to do all the work, you're still around the house anyway.

Life is about priorities; choose wisely and balance your life. Hopefully on two wheels.

Follow the great advice served up here and get good at searching old chat strings. It's all here. It took me a year to rehab my XJ and I couldn't be happier. It runs better and better every time dig a little deeper.

 

Yes, change the oil if there's gas in it. Not doing so will make the engine dislike you.

 

Thanks all. What are the 'right tools'? Most important/essentials to get moving?

 

Adjusting the Valves has nothing to do with the carbs......

Adjusting the valves...means measure the clearance & replacing with proper shims....

 

The right tools would be a good set of metric wrenches and sockets, metric hex wrenches, plus the usual screwdrivers, pliers, etc. There are specific tools required for many aspects of reviving these bikes. A feeler gauge for checking valve clearances, a valve bucket hold-down tool for removing valve shims, etc. Each project may require you to add a tool to your "kit", both your physical tool box and also your knowledge of your motorcycle.

Use the chat strings to decide which "tools" you will need for the area of the bike you are fixing.

Remember that every project is an opportunity to buy another tool.

 

Nayonline, You wanna trailer it up + bring it over? I'm about 3 hours from you. I can teach you how to do valve clearances, carbs and get you on the right path.... I'd come out if my wife wasn't due in a couple of weeks....

as far as tools... (everything i list is METRIC if applicable) This list, you should be able to do 99% without buying additional tools. Starred ones are top priority

*sockets regular + deep well 8mm-19mm (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drive) - (don't go cheap... go craftsman or something with a lifetime warranty)
breaker bar, piece of steel pipe to extend the breaker bar handle
*socket extensions
*wrenches 8mm-19mm
*hex wrenches
(these you can usually get together in one of those prepackaged tool kits) don't go cheap... go craftsman or something with a lifetime warranty)

*screwdrivers (JIS preferred - if using US screwdrivers, plan on using easy outs + replacing LOTS of screws)
*easy outs/screw extractors
*several pairs of pliers in differing styles/sizes
*feeler guage (preferably metric, not one with metric conversions)
*yamaha shop manual and clymer/haynes
*this website
zip ties
*kroil
pb blaster
wd-40
moly grease / grease gun
silicone grease (find with the plumbing stuff usually)
*carb cleaner
*brake cleaner
snap ring pliers
*magnetic/manual pick up tool
*a BFH (big f**king hammer) when some extra convincing is needed
Vice grips
*rubber mallet
plain wooden hammer handle (for prying things like carbs off delicately)
shop towels
cat litter for cleaning up spills
dental picks
*multimeter
6"-8" c- clamp
*fire extinguisher (not kidding at all!)

and my favorite tool. get some old flathead screwdrivers from a yardsale + use a grinder to get a nice chisel point on it. Use it for scraping + prying + poking around....

 

not doing so will teach you how to do an engine swap....