- Posts: 587
- Thank you received: 33
Professionally clean and rebuilt carb..cant start
- nickleo373
- Offline
- User
1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
You need to:
A. Check the fuel level in the carb bowls using the clear tube method.
B. Check the float valves in the carbs to ensure they are stopping the fuel flow.
C. Check your petcock to ensure it is stopping the fuel flow when the engine is shut off.
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- kaw-a-holic
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1808
- Thank you received: 249
Hang in there, you will get it figured out.
Jon
1977 KZ1000a1
Mesa, AZ
Phoenix Fighter Project
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- koolaid_kid
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 783
- Thank you received: 99
Yup. Every time I see the phrase "professionally rebuilt" I shudder.650ed wrote: If you have fuel in the airbox the guy who "rebuilt" your carbs screwed them up. Before you change your oil you need to fix the carbs. Otherwise the fresh oil be very soon be contaminated. Have you noticed fuel leaking from the overflow tubes that attache to the very bottom of the carb bowls?
You need to:
A. Check the fuel level in the carb bowls using the clear tube method.
B. Check the float valves in the carbs to ensure they are stopping the fuel flow.
C. Check your petcock to ensure it is stopping the fuel flow when the engine is shut off.
1983 GPz 750
810 Wiseco, Kerker, K&N, DynoJet S3, Accel, Progressive, etc.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- floivanus
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1055
- Thank you received: 116
As a former shop mechanic I hated return work, but always wanted to know if there was a problem. That way I could know what i didnt do right
my bikes; 80kz1000(project), 77 gl1000, 74 h2 (project)
Past; 78 kz1000, 83 kz550
Andrew
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- schmjj01
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 23
- Thank you received: 0
1982 KZ550 c LTD no modifications done yet!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- nickleo373
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 587
- Thank you received: 33
1981 KZ550C LTD
"If you ain't first, you're last"
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- kaw-a-holic
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1808
- Thank you received: 249
Jon
1977 KZ1000a1
Mesa, AZ
Phoenix Fighter Project
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- LarryC
- Offline
- User
650ed wrote: I doubt that the "rebuild" included any new parts at all other than possibly gaskets. The '82 KZ550 uses VM carbs, so there's no reason to rebuild. Needles, jets, etc. shouldn't need replacement; they just need to be clean. My VM carbs have never had any parts replaced (other than carb bowl gaskets) since they were new (55,000+ miles) and they still work like new, so it's difficult for me to understand why one would rebuild VM carbs. If the guy did replace parts, is the quality of the replacement stuff as good as the originals and did he use the correct parts, set the needles clip correctly, etc? I would think if the carbs had simply been cleaned they would function fine, but the guy may have either not cleaned the float valves or bent the float tangs, or who knows what. You never know what someone else will do when they get their hands on your bike. That's one more reason I do all my own work on my bike - in the long run it makes life easier. Ed
Float valves are very common to need replacing these days Ed. Working on a bike you've owned and maintained is one thing. Working on anything that comes through the door is another matter entirely. I'm just saying don't be so quick to hammer on the mechanic that did the job without knowing anything about it other than then carbs were claimed to be professionally rebuilt. That's a very general description and quite possibly not really accurate.
Back when they were new, you couldn't buy float valve seats for TK carburetors. Kawasaki had us dress the seats with toothpaste and a Q TIp. The float valves were part of the carb body and not available individually. We had issues with them flooding on 550's and they could be a pain in the ass sometimes. I remember those very well....
30+ year old slide needles can be worn out. Labor prices can make it sometimes more cost effective to replace pilot jets instead of cleaning them.
Larry C.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- loudhvx
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 10868
- Thank you received: 1616
However, the new seats, (as Larry mentioned were once unavailable), and new needles actually alter the fuel level because they are not identical to the oem ones. The Tk22 web page shows what to look for, and a way to set the approximate height while rebuilding.
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mai...stmentsAndMaint.html
Also, if you are using a see-through plastic filter wit a yellow, paper element, those he a tendency to stop flowing. You will want a scintered bronze/brass filter, or fine metal screen filter. (5/16" ports).
Z1 enterprises has a nice, cheap, see-through metal screen filter I've been using for several years.
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.