Lesson learnt, Lesson taught VM 26's

[unfocused]

When you have as much experience with carbs in general like I do, one doesn't expect silly issues like this.
I can rebuild a quadrajet with my eyes closed, a holley in my sleep and any and all small engine carbs without hesitation.
I've even worked with/on Ford's ill advised variable venturi carb - nightmare.
I know how to read the vacuum and associate pumps and jets/needles accordingly (cars)

However, I wasn't expecting this.
DO you see the difference in the spring?

It will keep the lower mixture needle from seating properly and thus fighting a mixture issue.
I was running rich but also popping through the exhaust at idle and could not adjust it out.
So I had a lean/rich mixture... smh

Lesson learnt...

After installing the spring on the right, resetting the mixture screws, scoot idles prefectly... and clean

Resized_Oct_22_2023_1237.jpg

[zed1015]

Looks like the one on the left is for an air mix screw and the right for fuel mix..
A simple mistake if a kit comes with both options and the carbs only use one type.

[unfocused]

Looks like the one on the left is for an air mix screw and the right for fuel mix..
A simple mistake if a kit comes with both options and the carbs only use one type.

That was an early assumption however, I don't have any full kits on hand to verify this and these carbs were rebuilt in 2019 before the engine was damaged.
I was never able to dial the carbs in back then and they've not been used for anything except simple starting/testing until this year.
Usually I was testing with the Kawasaki VM26's because they were clean (been sitting in a closet since the mid 90's) and I was testing the 1000 engine.
Didn't matter if running rich...

Something I wll pay closer attention to the next go around.
Thx!

[Nessism]

I'm surprised that fat spring fit down into the carb passage. Maybe it came from some crappy aftermarket "carb kit"? Or, as Zed said, it's from an air screw. At any rate, gotta pay attention to details.

[unfocused]

I'm surprised that fat spring fit down into the carb passage. Maybe it came from some crappy aftermarket "carb kit"? Or, as Zed said, it's from an air screw. At any rate, gotta pay attention to details.

It slide down into the hole but didn't fit once you started adjusting...