2026 TK Carb Project for my 1981 Kawasaki GPz550

I bought a set of 1981 GPz550 carbs. They have arrived and while they look like they barely survived Dresden they look pretty good and are seemingly clean inside. I pulled all the jets out of them and dropped them off with my guy with a pro-level ultrasonic cleaner. I was gonna pull the top ends off and get the emulsifier tubes out but I lost motivation and gave them to him.

Pilot and main jets were clean. Needle and seat seemed good.







 

Are you planning to repaint them ?

That model carb has issues with the flap in the choke slide falling out.  The pivot pin works loose.  You can find info about this and more in Lou's old webpage, which miraculously is still up.  

s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html

the flaps might be available separately. but here's a kit w them. ebaayy. item. 116774289280

Def will re-paint them once they return from the industrial bubble cleaner.

Ordering up needle and seat, pilots from KHI.

This set marks the first time I could not read the numbers on the jets with just my eyes.

Ya just joined our club! Membership is still free.

It looks like the seller of the TK carb flaps has an entire Youtube page devoted to these old and obscure carbs. Does anyone have an opinion on his methodology as seen in these many videos?

www.youtube.com/@madmax4239

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The carburetor bodies need to be separated from each other, and from the mounting bracket, preferably before cleaning, else you will not be able to replace the petrified orings on the fuel transfer tubes. Also, it is much easier to clean the insides of the tubes and the passageways when they are disassembled.
Take a look at this diagram near the bottom
www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motor...0-d1/carburetor-assy

P.S. The throttle shaft assembly can be a bit of a pain to reassemble. I like to take several detail pictures from different angles before disassembly, so I have a good reference for reassembly.

Hope you realize that float needles need to be kept with their parent seat.  They wear in together and create a matched set.  If replacing the float valves, ignore.  Noticed you mentioned replacing them, but the OEM parts are $100 each.