Carb problems

[smartroad]

hay all!

I have been having problems starting my GS, it seems to be a fuel starvation issue. I have now checked the fuel tank, fuel lines, air filter & box, had the air filter off as well as the carbs. The main problem I have at the moment is that I can't remove the float bowl as the the screws are so tight they may as well be welded in! I have only succeeded in partly striping the heads  Any ideas on how to get the screws to release? When I was removing the air filter I noticed the on the right hand side it had the distinct smell of petrol and the airbox looked a little wet with residue and a wiff of petrol too. Is there anyway that the fuel can backtrack through the carb? I also noticed that the float bowl on the same side doesn't seem to fill well with fuel (after I put it all back together), where the left does. Sparks are OK and after placing a tiny amount of fuel into the cylinders directly she fired (well once per cyl!), so it seems I still am getting compression etc within the cylinders, just no fuel to them.

ARGG! 

[Jenya]

Yeah, those float bowls bolts give everybody a grieve. Don't attempt to remove them anylonger with a regular screwdriver.

Go buy an impact screwdriver. An automotive store will have it. Probably for under $20. It will look similar to this - http://z.about.com/d/autorepair/1/0/s/4/11747499.gif

If the bolts that you had stripped the heads off can't be removed even with the impact screwdriver, you would need to cut a flat slot into the heads. Dremel is the easiest way to do that.

Once all the bolts are removed, throw them away and replace with Allen head bolts.

Jenya

[jeremy_nash]

you could also grip the head of the screws with a pair of vice-grips to loosen them.  but I would get new screws to put back in it

[bigfatcat]

Yeah, the @#$%^&  float bowl screws - impact driver is probably best way, but i went right to the dremel and carefully slotted them, plus the bowl drain screws.  oh yeah, make sure to use some liquid wrench or similar, let it soak a bit,  should help which ever tool you use.

I also had problem one cylinder wasn't firing 'cuz apparently bowl wasn't filling - had the carbs off to re-jet so i assume the float and/or needle just got hung up closed what with all the handling, dissassymbly, re-assembly.  I think i fixed it by just removing the bowl and very carefully putting it back togetther to make sure float needle wasn't cocked in its valve body.

Yeah, i have gasoline in my airbox too - hope it's not serious lol.

[Jenya]

bowl drain screws are not a problem as they can be turned by a hex socket, and therefore their philips head can be left as is.

[ohgood]

PBBlaster for a few minutes, then the RIGHT SIZE AND TYPE phillips. Tink the phillips driver lightly then give it a turn. It'll break loose.

The float bowl DRAIN screws need a pair of vise grips every time I've used them. Maybe it's the vibration that makes them get so tight, or the rust in the bottem of the carbs.

either way, carbs suck

[smartroad]

Thanks guys, I will have another look at the weeken. Just out of interest does anyone know the size of the screws used for the bowls? I have an '02 model