I was adjusting the washers on my needles today and when reassembling everything the threads ripped on the part the bolt actually goes into.  They are not fully ripped but enough where the bolt just spins.  should i just get some thread sealer? Any other ideas?  Also, the little spring inside the cover assembly that covers where the needle goes down was missing when I first took apart my carbs.  Any idea on where to get one of those other than from an online source?  I'm gettin tired of waitin on parts to ship haha but I guess if that is the only way I have no other choice!  Thanks!

-Lucas

So I assume you mean the black plastic cover on the top of the carbs is what you are referencing. More specifically you mean the one of the two screws that hold it down stripped out on you?

If so you are going to have to helicoil the threads, or drill it out to take a larger screw. Your best bet is a helicoil though.

As far as the spring you are talking about, you mean the long one that pushes the slides down, I am confused.

Well, I have an '04 so my covers aren't black like the E models, and the spring I am talking about is part of the needle assembly.  It is not the huge spring that pops right out at you when you take the cover off, its the spring that slides over the needle and contacts the washer and e-clip.  What is a helicoil?  Thanks.

-Lucas

Take it to a machine-shop and let them decide whats best. To cut a fine small dia` thread in aluminium or soft alloy you need to use a roll-form tap, this shapes and forms the metal to produce the thread rather than cuts it in the way a traditional tap does. A traditional tap will just rip soft metal and given there is a need to cut an oversize thread before before fitting a helicoil it will be a problem.
If you wont be taking the screw out again you could always "Araldite" it in but I would consider filling the hole with a blob of weld and starting again with a roll-form tap if at all possible.

Some members of my bike club have used the services of jewelers and clock restoration companies when they have needed very fine threads reclaiming.

Helicoil  http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp

I'd buy a good set of carbs and use your current ones for parts.No more waiting on parts unless you up grade them.

Quote from: ben2go on March 19, 2008, 04:45:05 PM
Helicoil  http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp

I'd buy a good set of carbs and use your current ones for parts.No more waiting on parts unless you up grade them.

Anything you recommend?  Should I just buy other mikuni's?  How much do you think I could get for my stocks?  Thanks.

-Lucas

Quote from: lnb001 on March 19, 2008, 04:52:14 PM

Quote from: ben2go on March 19, 2008, 04:45:05 PM
Helicoil  http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp

I'd buy a good set of carbs and use your current ones for parts.No more waiting on parts unless you up grade them.

Anything you recommend?  Should I just buy other mikuni's?  How much do you think I could get for my stocks?  Thanks.

-Lucas

Helicoils can be purchased at nut and bolt suppliers.I would stick with stock Mikuni's from another GS close to the same year as yours.Newer carbs have an extra jet.Your carbs with a bad screw and complete with all internals could bring $60-$100 depends on how desperate people are for carbs.Srinath can give a better price range than me.

1000 ways to fix the bloody thing.
However why were you adjusting washers on your needles you mean adjusting the needles by add/remov-ing washers.
Anyway, longer bolt, much longer bolt with nuts on the back side, slightly larger machine thread or SAE thread bolts ... the solution is specific to the problem. since I dunno exactly what ... I'd have to leave it here.
Cool.
Srinath.

guess I never even though of just sticking a longer bolt through with a nut on the end    And yea, I was adding washers to the needles.  thanks.

-Lucas

Quote from: lnb001 on March 19, 2008, 05:33:50 PM
guess I never even though of just sticking a longer bolt through with a nut on the end    And yea, I was adding washers to the needles.  thanks.

-Lucas

Me either.I have a set of carbs in my hand as I type and it doesn't look possible on the float bowls.