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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: JCH on May 09, 2006, 09:30:10 PM

Title: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: JCH on May 09, 2006, 09:30:10 PM
So for those that missed my random post about a month back, I picked up a GS1100 as a project bike.  I'm currently rebuilding the carbs only to find to my dismay that the previous owner was a complete muppet and stripped the air screw.  It looks like he then tried to drill it out and just gave up.

Does anyone have any ideas?  I know from painful experience with another carb that a screw extractor will exert too much outward force and crack the carb body.


I can't believe I complained about carbs when I had the 500.  Now instead of 2 carbs I'm mucking about with 4   :laugh:
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: pantablo on May 09, 2006, 10:37:13 PM
c'mon....thegsresources.com is your friend....or is it thegsresource.com?
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: JCH on May 10, 2006, 06:36:21 AM
theyre out of ideas lol.  PLus, I've never seen a website with more carb problems than this one   :laugh:
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: scottpA_GS on May 10, 2006, 06:40:51 AM
Quote from: JCH on May 09, 2006, 09:30:10 PM
to my dismay that the previous owner was a complete muppet and stripped the air screw. 



Muppet  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: LimaXray on May 10, 2006, 06:56:39 AM
wait, did they strip the threads on the carb, or did they break off the screw in the carb?

if they broke it off, maybe you could use a dremel tool to put a slot on the top of the broken screw then use a screw driver to back it out.

Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: JCH on May 10, 2006, 07:08:32 AM
The latter... and the dremmel trick is exactly what I do for most broken screws, but this one is recessed so I couldnt get a cutting wheel in there... I wonder if there's a different attatchment that would work...
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: LimaXray on May 10, 2006, 07:10:43 AM
yeah I was thinking one of those small point grinder attachments... take a trip to home depot and see what they have
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: bulletproofcycle on May 10, 2006, 08:19:54 AM
The screw should be made of Brass so a small drill bit should work like cutting through warm butter  :laugh:

Use a small bit and a screw extractor. Same thing happened on my dirt bike.
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: JCH on May 10, 2006, 09:32:45 AM
No it definetely does.... drilling a pilot hole in these things is simple as pie.  its the screw extracter's pressure as it grips into the screw that caused the sidewall of the carb body to crack.  Perhaps a smaller pilot hole with a smaller extracter would have worked better, but I am at the whim of the previous owner  ;)
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: Blueknyt on May 10, 2006, 12:56:43 PM
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1982-Suzuki-GS1100GLZ-GS-1100-GL-Z-GS1100G-Carbs_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ10066QQitemZ4639239224QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: gsjohn on May 10, 2006, 02:56:10 PM
Buy a left hand drill kit.  They are turned to run counter clockwise and just the drilling force will back out the screw.  I do commercial refrigeration and use it on broke off brass fittings and plugs all the time.
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: JCH on May 10, 2006, 03:08:59 PM
Thanks John... That's the second time I've received that suggestion.

I have a reversible variable speed hammer drill....  to make it left handed to I just need different bits?
Title: Re: Stripped air screw = not fun!
Post by: gsjohn on May 11, 2006, 03:10:43 PM
Yes all you need is a the left hand bit.  Probaly have to find a snap-on truck though or maybe a Sears will have.  I don't think the depot carries them.