So....I'm running lean I think.  Buddha, I need your input, and anyone else that has suggestions.

My GS is stock performance-wise.  I installed jet kit from Buddha (#20 pilot, #130 main).  Air filter is new and has only a few hundred miles on it, so it's not clogged.  Spark plugs are equally new -- a few hundred miles.

Valves are loose.

When I start up cold, I have to play with the throttle a bit to get it to kick up, but it stays running right away.  I didn't have to do that before the jet kit.  Sometimes dies initially.

Compression is ~145 Left, ~135 right.

I finally got around to checking float levels at Buddha's suggestion.

Performance seems ok, but starting from a stop can be a little jerky -- you can crank it open and it will start a bit slow, not pulling against you with great force.

So should I get richer pilot?  Shim the needle?

Left:



Right:



Left plug:



Right plug:

floats are both a bit high and i would just tweek the air fuel mixture 1/8 to 1/4 turn and see how she runs

Forgot to mention this is 4 to 5 turns out with the mixture screw.  I don't want to screw them out much further.

bump

floats look high, what size pilot? u said 20, but that cant be right  I cant really tell about the plugs.

stock replacement filter, or high flow? air restrictor in or out?  factory exhaust?

I'm not really worried about floats -- high means it should be on the rich side, right?  Will it cause any negative side effects?

Pilot is indeed #20.  Stock is #17.5.

The color you see in the photos is pretty accurate.  They're white, not washed out from camera flash.

Stock OEM air filter.

Stock exhaust.

ok, you have the 3 circuit carbs then, right?  yes, high float will have it running rich

Yes, 2001 3 circuit carb.

Plugs look really lean to me, hence my post.  With the stock air/fuel system and larger jets and floats not low and mixture screws out far, I would expect it to enrichen, but it seems to be as lean as can be.

Buddha said that was unusual and I'm wondering what I can do or whether I'm missing something.

Should I order larger jets from Buddha?

any washers on the needle??

Carbs synchronized?

They were synched relatively close last time I disassembled the carbs, however not after I replaced the jets.

No washers on the needle.  Washers will only affect mid range and up, though.

I can sit there and idle for a while and the plugs won't show any darkening, so if I was to start somewhere, it would probably be the pilots.  Hesitation is most prominent when accelerating from a stop.

you know no matter what size jet you put in if the passage is pluged your not goin to the proper fuel might wanna go through carbs and clean them you shouldnt need 4-5 turns with everything being stock.

Carbs were cleaned during the winter.  I could clean them again, but I'd like to explore other options right now.  I would kind of expect way worse behavior if they were plugged, too...

The exhaust does not appear modified.  Is there anything the previous owner could have done to the exhaust?  Anything I can check for that would indicate modification?

Anything else that could be leaning it out?  The carb boots are in good shape and attached correctly.

check the ends of the can to see if they have been rewelded back on.  i cut the end of my can off, then used a cutting torch, and cut all the baffles out.  and welded it back together.  most people wouldn't take the time to do that though

Jeremy_Nash: Compared to drilling the end, how does that sound with them all cut out?

Thanks,

Nick

Welding looks factory.  I also shined a light inside the exhaust and I can see an undamaged baffle, so I'll assume the exhaust is completely stock.

derp

i really think theres something plugging your carb but with your high float height theres enough fuel getting by to keep it running at an idle.  theres no reason you should be at 4-5 turns out unless your at 4-5 half turns  but i would look at the end of your fuel air screw and see that it is completely there and part of it isnt broke off inside the carb.  if you went up 2.3 on your pilot and your at 4-5 turns on the mixture you should be so rich you should foul plugs before you can put your helmet on and put the kickstand up.

Like I said, I cleaned the carbs during the winter first by soaking in a bucket of carb cleaner followed by boiling in slightly acidic water for some time.  Then rinsed and dried out and reassembled.  Sta-bil was in the fuel throughout the winter.

Parts are all good, best as I can tell, including the newer jets that were put in and the air screws.

Those are ~4 full turns.

wow your a pro i wouldnt look into the carbs ever again.