Rebuilt Carbs - Runs like crap w/conical filters

Had my KZ550 carbs rebuilt by XXXXXX (not gonna say who). Told him I wanted to run conical filters. I installed the carbs w/conical filters and it runs like crap - low end throttle is totally dead. Runs at high RPM with NO-LOAD, but has no pull mid/upper throttle under load. A real piece of crap! I pulled the carbs and took off the bowls and the carbs have stock idle jets and 110 mains. The carbs look REALLY clean, but the bike runs lousy. How can I get this fixed? 1) go back to stock jets/settings; or 2) _____________ (please help fill in the blank).

Is it possible to run conical filters on a KZ550A1 and have it run TOTALLY AWESOME, or am I wasting my time here?

Totally bummer - missing the entire summer of riding here. Thanks to ALL for any/all help.

YUP the bike can be made to run just perfectly with "pod filters" the guy that rebuilt them did not know how to set the carbs up right. Don't tell me, let me guess,

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WG

Thanks for the reply! Can you please guide me through the process to setup these TK22 carbs? I am at the end of my rope ... good guess on the rebuilder!

Go up two sizes on the jets and see what you get. Roy

Thank you for your reply. However, I do not know what 2 sizes up on the jets means. The carbs have a stock idle jet and a 110 main jet. I haven't removed the needles, so I don't know what the rebuilder guy did there - probably nothing. Can you please help guide me through this process? Thanks in advance to any/all assistance ... down and OUT in the Pac. NW.

I suggest you do a search on this site's search engine for the word "pods." There's lots of info here, pros & cons, etc. that you may find useful. You'll probably find 1000 postings on the subject. Ed

The main jets are calibrated in 2.5 increments. Therefore, to go up two sizes means that from 110, you go up one to 112.5, and go up two sizes to 115.

I believe the pilot or idle jets are calibrated the same way. You can also move the increment up less by putting a spacer/washer in between the jet and the carb body.

Bummer you are not set up close after spending the bucks.
look up member Loudhvx as he has set up a web site on the 550, with attention to the TK-22 carbs you have. He will have a lot of very useful reading for you. Here is the link: home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html You should cut and paste that whole link into your browser search.
I think Sigmund means to add a small washer to the Jet needle, to lift it slightly. There are small washers available to do this at about 1mm at a time. As your Jet Needles being from the USA are not adjustable. The other option for this part would be to get the Canadian Jet Needles, they will have 5 notches and can be lifted up Two positions. This would be for the mid range.
I don't know the reason for you to select "Pod" air filters. But it would be good advice to go to the Factory Intake Airbox to make your experience more enjoyable. You can be guided to set up the carbs for Pods, but you will still be open to the other issues. Like 650ed said, do a search and read comments.

I have suggested there should be a sticky titled: "I put on pods and now it runs like crap..."

In some cases you can re-jet and re-needle until it runs OK again, sometimes not.

I doubt George has enough feed back to jet those carbs without a test bike. If you have never tuned a set of carbs you are in for a big learning curve.

I got a set of carbs from george recently jetted the way I wanted and there was still adjustments to do.

I learned a long time ago to get every maintaince adjustment correct before trying to dial in a set of carbs.

Were you riding this bike before the carbs were sent off?

Do you have the stock air box? If you do,I would install it and check the adjustments of valves etc,then tackle the carbs.

I am surprised, it's been almost 3 days since the last "I added pods and now my bike runs like $hit" post.

My opinion is if you have to ask on the internet about why and how to get your carbs to run decent after the installation of pods, at this point you are FAR better off re-installing the OEM airbox, go back to OEM jetting, and you should only require a "slight" jetting tweak to get your 550 to run superb in all conditions on the street....

Bottom line pods are a NIGHTMARE to correctly tune for the street. If you don't believe me do a search , crack a brew, and you will have a years worth of great reading knowledge on the usage of pods. (The info you will quickly learn is that pods are BAD for the novice street tuner ). But you make your own decision...

Where the carbs jetted/tuned for PODs pre sending away for 4 months service? :whistle:

In "carbs rebuilt by XXXXXX (not gonna say who)" defense, the carbs could indeed be jacked up :pinch: no doubt and very possible but............

They also also could be just fine where you sent in your carbs that had previously been jetted for air box, elevation you live in, environmental temp conditions, different exhaust/baffle whatever...

Now if you're throwing on pods, possibly different exhaust, head port work, change in cams etc... who knows all of which require a jetting/tuning/tweak/needle clip change etc...

Here's a good rule of thumb... Pretty much says it all...