Idle jet surgery

[Arnold]

Today I pulled two of the pressed in idle jets for a look-see. The attached photos show how I extracted it with a drywall screw levered out with cut-off pliers. You can see gunk protruding from the little side-jet holes.
Also notice that the tower the jet came out of was previously damaged. I'm not sure whether that condition contributed to any of the idle problems I was having.
The other photo shows me reaming the jet with a guitar string. The string is .013 inches in diameter and is a very close fit. Ernie Ball's slinky string set says it is a B string.
I only pulled two of the idle jets, but I did run the guitar string successfully through all four idle jets. I put it back together and noticed how smoothly it idles and how all four cylinders seem to be firing as I accelerate from a stop; no more need for big revs to take off.
I only took a short ride given the temperate was 28 degrees. Nicer weather is forecast for Boise in coming days.

 

[joedrum]

good job arnold....drywall skrews are great.....makes you wonder why they would make them this way .....pressed in like that ....theres a good chance the tower wont effect anything ...... :mrgreen:

 

[dan filipi]

Looks good Arnold. Drywall screws sure do come in handy!

The million dollar question is why the heck Honda didn't make them removal eh!? Crazy.

If you find the broken tower is causing problems 2 part epoxy is our friend, but it sounds like you've already found out it's running fine.

 

[skiri251]

The million dollar question is why the heck Honda didn't make them removal eh!? Crazy.

It's EPA thing, isn't it?
My 78 XS750 has Mikuni carbs and everything is screwed in.
I hear 80~ XS850 got Hitachi carbs and everything is pressed in. Even needle position is not adjustable.

I haven't opened GL carbs yet but hopefully the PO did a good job of rebuilding them.