Getting the old girl running again - '84 GS550ES

[Anonymous]

I tried last year to get her running, and found that the old diaphrams were shot. Instead of getting them at a dealership, I got a set of used carbs with good diaphrams for a few bucks.

However. The carbs need to be fully cleaned out - only did main jets - and it seemed to have a Jet kit in it. We dropped one of the slides, and bent the needle... so we took the slides out of our old carb, and the jets that go under it, into the used carb.

However.. the bike didnt have an air box, and the used carbs came wtih K+N pod filters (two of them)

When it was all together, the bike didnt want to start for quite some time, and finally did but wouldnt go over idle. Im guessing it was still dirty inside the carb.

The thing im worried about is there is an air line coming off the engine that I think went to the air box. its sucking air when the engine is running, and I wonder if it has to do with correct operation of the diaphrams.

Does this make a difference for it to run?

Will stock jets and K+N Pod filters let it run OK?

I will be cleaning the carbs throughly in the next day or two... and let you know if I have anymore progress

I'm just worried about the Jets and that damn air line.

[Nerobro]

honestly, I don't think you'll get over idle with the K&N's and the stock jets. That's exactly the situation my bike is in. Pods and stock jets with an opened exhuast. the bike will not go much over idle unless I manually add fuel by opening the choke circut.

Get bigger jets... or ideally a jet kit ;-)

[Anonymous]

Alright, thanks. Where can I find them? Any local dealership? What do they run for price?

The carbs with the K+N pod filters did have a jet kit in them, but like I said, I dropped one of the slides, and had to replace the slides and the screws under them with stock ones.

Is there anything else in the carb that was changed when the Jet Kit was installed?

[Nerobro]

Well most motorcycle places carry mikuni jets. You need the small mikuni jets. the dynojet numbers are probally 116 or 118's. We have the 118's in the center of skreemers bike, and 116's on the outside. I think we have the needles in the third position up. They probally still need a shim to be safe. There is some very slight lean surging at cruise. I think we'll get it all settled down.