bent jet needle

[splatt]

so i rejetted my carbs and slightly bent the jet needle in the process.  i did my best to straighten it out, but it still seems a little off.  when i reinstalled the carbs and started the bike, fuel began to leak out of that carb...could the bent jet needle be causing this leak?  also, it seemed like fuel was leaking out of the air/fuel mixture screw.  i'm hoping that's not causing the leak and i just need new gaskets

[The Buddha]

You bent the needle jet or the float needle ... float needle will make leak, needle jet will make your general life a living hell wihtout leaking ...  :x  ...
The situation is this - You open throttle, the rpm's climb and so does the slide ... then you shut throttle ... and the needle is bent and gravity and spring force cannot push the needle down if its making contact with the emulsion tube wall ... ergo ... needle stays up ... feeding in massive fuel to a cylinder running say 2,000 rpm ... will cut out on that cyl ... then next time you open ... the rpm's will really falter and run on 1 cyl till you get the rpm that is right for the mix to be right ... and say that is 5K ...where the other cylinder will abruptly make full power ... Its gotta be perfect ... its really the only moving part in that carb ... Yea Yea floats move too ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[splatt]

it's the needle jet that i bent...but it seems to be straight enough to slide back into the emulsion tube without making contact with the sides of the tube.  i guess i should mention that i put the fuel valve on prime in order to get it started then turned it to on.  when i checked the leak again, fuel seemed to be seeping out from where the float bowl makes contact with the rest of the carb.  so i'm thinking i need new gaskets, but wanted to eliminate other possibilities as well.  thanks for the feedback.

[splatt]

oh yeah, anyone know where i could purchase a new needle jet...why mess around with a bent one?

[The Buddha]

I should look, but I may have a set ... I sent out a pair to someone recently ... If I find it ... say $10 a pair and shipping. OK screw shipping $10 shipped.
Cool.
Srinath.

[sprint_9]

Yea I bent one of mine too the last time I had the carbs apart.  I got mine near straight and cant tell which one is bent, I havent noticed too many problems so far.  Though my one cyinder runs like crap, but its been doing that since I bought the bike and I just bent that needle a month ago, I think that side needs new piston rings.

[splatt]

thanks for the feedback guys...i ended up buying a new needle jet from bikebandit along with new gaskets for the float bowls.  when i inspected the old gaskets they looked flat as a pancake, nothing protruding from the seat.  hopefully beefy new gaskets will seal her up

[The Buddha]

OK what did a needle cost. Might be the ticket to people that have had bad DJ jobs.
Cool.
Srinath.

[sprint_9]

I checked into needles on bikebandit awhile back and they were right around like 9.60 or something.  Ron Ayers might be cheaper.

[Kerry]

OK what did a needle cost.

For a '93:

$9.12 from BikeBandit

$7.41 from Ron Ayers

$9.12 from Hillsboro  (Choose "Carburetor" from dropdown list)

$7.03 from MrCycles  (Choose "Carburetor" from dropdown list)[/list:u]

[splatt]

i knew i should've looked around more for better pricing.  i guess two bucks won't break me...it's only a load of laundry, or a beer at the cheapest bar in town

[splatt]

while i'm thinking of it:  for anyone who's rejetted using a k&n ru-2970 type filter, what did you do with the breather tube from the head and the airbox drain tube?  i figure i can just lay the breather tube on top of the filter (lazy man stylie) and it will function essentially the same way as it was meant to.  i don't have any ideas for the airbox drain tube :dunno:

[sprint_9]

On mine I used the stock tube that connects to the engine, then I got a plastic coupler and attached the stock smaller hose to that and ran down out the right side of the bike by the fuel tank vent.  You might need to buy some new hose though, my smaller hose wasnt quite long enough.

[sprint_9]

I can take a pic tomorrow when I rejet.