Newbie-carb questions

Hello to all out there. I purchased a 82 550j maxim awhile back and now have gotten around to doing something with it.I gave $200 bucks for it cause they thought they had a wiring problem. Well I aint scared of wiring so I got and trailered her home. After getting the fuel line unkinked I got it running and rode her around the parking lot. Well now it's time to get her depenable and start with doing the carbs. Is there anyone that can show a link with begining teardown to end. I'm just used to working with one carb on my harley not 4 of these darn things with all the linkage and adjustments. Any help appreciated. After that it's on from there.
Thanks

 

Trying to figure out how to add photos. how do you do that?

 

Bigfitz52 is our resident 550 guru; he posted a thread with the carb teardown here. For getting the fuel levels set afterwards, this file should come in handy.

 

I saw that article for carb teardown but I'm looking for the part befoe that. Disassembly of rack unit.

 

Well, breaking the rack isn't thst difficult -- there are two brackets, and each carb is held to that bracket by four screws, two top and two bottom. Head over to the xj4ever.com site and look through the Throttle Shaft Seal replacement file. That's really the only reason you'd want to break the rack, really.

 

Okay I guess I may be a little confused. To clean well do I just need to pop off the foat bowls or go farther?

 

Dailyrdr,

Welcome to the Club.

Gary

 

Removing the float bowls in only one of the necessary steps. At least you can have a good first look at how dirty it is in there!

Follow the links and read a lot before you start tearing the carbs all apart.

 

What you need is a service manual. It's not necessary to break the rack to do a "basic" carb service, which is the place to start. The procedure is covered in both the Clymer and factory manuals; my "exploded Mikuni" was intended to supplement the manuals, not replace them.

You also need to have a look at your valve clearances, because unless the valves are in spec, you won't be able to sync those freshly-serviced carbs.

While you MAY end up needing to break the rack to replace the throttle shaft seals, I'd start with the basics first.

GET A BOOK.

 

Okey dokey

 

Yep. I second the sentiment of read everything and do your research BEFORE tearing anything apart. Have the correct carb rebuild kits on hand to minimize the number of times you have to take the carbs off. Follow the "squeeky clean" model and get all of the passages clean, top and bottom. Bench synch and set the floats as well. It'll never be easier than when you've already got them mostly apart.

I've spent nearly a year fixing up a $200 "find" and fine tuning the carbs is proving to be the most challenging bit of work yet. Keep up the attention to detail and don't shortcut anything. You'll just be taking the carb bank off again to fix something else.

 

Okay still getting all the parts rounded up. Have already got the prerequisite gallon of carb dip. Getting the jis screwdrivers next. found a guy on craigslist selling a 4 hookup mercury stick setup,may get that it he wants $40 bucks. Luckily not in a real hurry to get this done so hopefully will only have to do this once by getting her right the first time.

 

FYI, you don't want to use that carb dip unless you're breaking the rack apart and replacing the rubber seals. Otherwise you'll just melt them.

 

Yep going all the way in head first.

 

Then you need to know about the butterfly screws in the Mikunis.

In the Mikunis, the butterfly screws are "split peined" on their back ends to keep them from coming loose. In order to remove them, you need to file the butt ends off the screws first to avoid tearing up the throttle shafts.

DO NOT use a Dremel or other power tool, one slip and you can ruin a carb body.

The best thing to do is cut a hunk of wooden dowel (or broom handle) of an appropriate diameter into a "half moon" chunk that you can slip in and hold the butterflies open while you file the butts off the screws with a small, sharp file.

 

Yep read that post and have already filed them down, just waiting till I get the proper screwdrivers to get them out, Thanks

 

As Fitz suggests, ... Get a FACTORY Service Manual specific to your Bike.

For your first time cleaning the Carbs ... Do ONE at a time.
That way, ... You only have to do ONE Carb, ... 4 times.

When you remove the Float Bowl to begin the Cleaning process ... Exercise great care not to cause Damage to a FLOAT HINGE PILLAR.

Be extremely careful removing the Hinge Pin and Float Valve Seat.

 

Yea I still have to get a manual. On the virago forum I was able to download a freebie for my 750. Both a Haynes(which I already had) and a clymere(which I didn't). Any links on here for that?