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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: redhenracing2 on August 05, 2009, 03:51:20 PM

Title: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: redhenracing2 on August 05, 2009, 03:51:20 PM
I have come to the conclusion that my engine problem (or one of them anyway  :icon_rolleyes:) must be due to a clogged jet. I happen to have a few cans of seafoam laying around from doing my Supra back in the day. From personal experience with the Supra, the results were fantastic. But I was wondering if anyone had tried it on a GS, and whether or not it would help in my situation. I had the carbs cleaned a while back, and it definitely helped for a while. But then after a few weeks, same thing came back, and I have just been riding it that way ever since. If it's as easy of a 'fix' (temporarily at least) as pouring a bit of seafoam in the tank, I'm willing to try it and hope for the best. Thoughts?
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: Dr.Sparkie on August 05, 2009, 05:00:08 PM
if its gas-goo, then yes. if its rust, then you'll need something stronger, which of course you wouldnt want to feed your engine.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: gs500Ant on August 05, 2009, 05:06:50 PM
do you have a fuel filter fitted between your remote tap and carbs redhenracing2? just pithcing a simple idea to you if you havent bud
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: mi_dude on August 05, 2009, 05:08:06 PM
You know, it's not really that hard to clean your carbs yourself.  Seafoam may help, but if you had them cleaned and then the jets clogged in a few weeks, you have another problem.  Rust in the tank, perhaps.  Add a fuel filter?
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: redhenracing2 on August 05, 2009, 06:35:57 PM
Quote from: mi_dude on August 05, 2009, 05:08:06 PM
Add a fuel filter?
I have thought about doing so. I guess its not a bad idea now that I think about it. Either way, I added about half a can of Seafoam to my tank a little while ago. I guess we just gotta wait and see whether it helps or not. And my only hesitation to ripping the carbs apart myself is that I have never done it before, and I can't afford to mess something up since it is my only means of transportation. If the Seafoam will clear the issue up temporarily, I will be satisfied.

Just out of curiosity, would it be a bad idea to get a jet kit to match my exhaust? If I have a bad jet, the new good ones would not only clear up the issue but also make my jetting correct, thus increasing the overall mechanical 'correctness'(for lack of a better word) of my bike. Is this a logical theory?
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: lilwoody on August 05, 2009, 07:50:56 PM
Seafoam is a great decarboner, I use it once a year in everything that runs on gasoline that I own. @ boats,2 SUV and my bike. It sure can't hurt and they all seem to run a bit better and get better fuel ecomony after.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: The Buddha on August 06, 2009, 07:23:07 AM
Quote from: redhenracing2 on August 05, 2009, 06:35:57 PM
Quote from: mi_dude on August 05, 2009, 05:08:06 PM
Add a fuel filter?
I have thought about doing so. I guess its not a bad idea now that I think about it. Either way, I added about half a can of Seafoam to my tank a little while ago. I guess we just gotta wait and see whether it helps or not. And my only hesitation to ripping the carbs apart myself is that I have never done it before, and I can't afford to mess something up since it is my only means of transportation. If the Seafoam will clear the issue up temporarily, I will be satisfied.

Just out of curiosity, would it be a bad idea to get a jet kit to match my exhaust? If I have a bad jet, the new good ones would not only clear up the issue but also make my jetting correct, thus increasing the overall mechanical 'correctness'(for lack of a better word) of my bike. Is this a logical theory?

Seafoam is best used to clean carbs if - you put it in the carb only and not the tank. The reason is, there could be more caked up gunk in the tank, and you wont want it all released in 1 shot and into the carbs. Without seafoam in the tank, you would release it as a dissolved impurity and burn it along with gasoline.

A jet kit is a must on a stock bike, but I dont recomend Dynojet. I sell a +1 kit for stock bike, or I can give you jet sizes and settings and you can fish em out of your local dealers jet box (if they even have that sorta thing).

So, Stock bike or pipe - run 125 mains, 40 pilots, 1 #4 washer under each needle and 3 turns on mix screw.
Also set the floats to the top of the float bowl and no higher or lower, and yes clean it when you're in there with a mechanical cleaner ... AKA toothbrush.
If you got some else in it, lemme know and its a different jet size for filters and pipe combo ...

I really wont do seafoam except to clean it on a short term basis. On a 100% clean tank with no rust in it, you can run it on a regular basis, like 4-6 oz in a whole tank. But otherwise I'd really only fill in carbs.

Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: redhenracing2 on August 06, 2009, 08:06:01 AM
Quote from: The Buddha on August 06, 2009, 07:23:07 AM
A jet kit is a must on a stock bike, but I dont recomend Dynojet. I sell a +1 kit for stock bike, or I can give you jet sizes and settings and you can fish em out of your local dealers jet box (if they even have that sorta thing).
Well the filter is stock (dirty, but stock) and it is basically straight piped, the pipe that is on there provides almost no backpressure I'm sure, pic below. What kinda jets do you recommend? And on a sidenote, I have never disassembled carbs on a bike before. Should I be able to replace these jets with no experience, minimal tools, and crossed fingers?

(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb144/redhen2/SSPX0480.jpg)
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: The Buddha on August 06, 2009, 08:49:57 AM
Dirty filter ... WTF ... put a nice clean one on ... you can wash yours with gas a few times ...

Otherwise - with that pipe ... maybe get a 125 and a 127.5 (I'll check if I got em, but just in case you needed it) ... I can sell you the 125/40/washers kit for 25 shhipped, and 127.5 - add $8 ... so 33 for the 125 kit + 127.5.

My suggestion is to run 125 first ... but hey, try 127.5 first - you may only need 1 try.

No experience - take it slow, read manual, keep manual on hand and PM me or post here if you get stuck. And most importantly ... do not lose your temper or patience. Its not hard, it is freakign tiny and delicate and tempermental and intricate. Taking pics of it before you pull apart helps sometimes, but you have to have "kerry" esque pic taking skills. Man we need him back ... or screw that, I'll do a photo CD sometime ... whenever I get to it ... screw that, kerry is needed back.

Anyway lable, tag or picture. Dont force stuff, it will fall in place literally if you're careful.

Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: Dr.Sparkie on August 06, 2009, 02:06:44 PM
next time i take apart my carbs i'll photodocument, so we can just point to the pictures and everyone will know.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: redhenracing2 on August 06, 2009, 02:50:19 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on August 06, 2009, 08:49:57 AM
Otherwise - with that pipe ... maybe get a 125 and a 127.5 (I'll check if I got em, but just in case you needed it) ... I can sell you the 125/40/washers kit for 25 shhipped, and 127.5 - add $8 ... so 33 for the 125 kit + 127.5.

My suggestion is to run 125 first ... but hey, try 127.5 first - you may only need 1 try.
So I need to go get a 40 pilot, a 125 main and 127.5 main. What are these washers you speak of? How many, what sizes/shapes? Will the dealer who I get the random jets from know what I need?
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: impulse816 on August 06, 2009, 03:28:45 PM
Quote from: Dr.Sparkie on August 06, 2009, 02:06:44 PM
next time i take apart my carbs i'll photodocument, so we can just point to the pictures and everyone will know.

I should be rejetting in the next few days if I remember Ill document. It will be a little different since Ive go an 07 though, but it could give you an idea?

I would have to say just go ahead and go with the jets, its cheap, and it definitely won't hurt anything.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: Dr.Sparkie on August 06, 2009, 03:35:55 PM
the washers are #4 washers, any hardware store #4 washers will do.. theyre really small, and they go under your needle (inside the slide) to lift the needle up and give you more fuel at the same airflow parameter.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: The Buddha on August 07, 2009, 08:32:17 AM
Redhen - You need #4 washers. Yea hardware store or lowes/HD has em. You can even get nylon, though they tend to be a bit porky. I would just get metal if I can, and make sure they are all consistent thickness. You dont have a fit issue ... ever, its not going into a well like the 01+.

Impulse - your 07 needs #2 washers, and even so I have had issues getting the ones I have found in a lot of places to fit. I have had to buy as per dimensions.

Either of you need a jet pack - PM me. The real reason I started doing jet packs even though information was out there and published for over 5 years was that there were many many dealers who would pass off the wrong parts.

On 89-00 you must have non bleed pilots. They dont have holes on the sides and well ... look like a d1ck. Just a straight one. Mains are large round slotted.

On a 01+ you need 20 pilots - not sure what they are otherwise called, but there is a few honda CVK jets that look like it in pics but are wrong. The washers also can be tricky to get. You need small round slotted mains.

Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: redhenracing2 on August 07, 2009, 02:27:44 PM
Spoke to the dealer and they said they could order jets individually, but they need to know my model of carburetor, not just the model and year of the bike. What model carbs are on my stock '95? And thanks on the info on the washers, how many do I use per jet?
Title: Re: Would seafoam help a clogged jet?
Post by: The Buddha on August 07, 2009, 07:25:18 PM
Dude WTF ... they will then get you the exact same jets in the damn carb.

$25 shipped for a jet pack with washers and cool ass stainless bolts for the bowl ...

Idiot dealers is why I stared the jet selling BS.
Cool.
Buddha.