• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

How to raise the needle?

danny01975 said:
What is this "air corrector" you speak of? Are you suggesting bigger air jets and then a larger main to compensate? It's already got 120 mains.
Click to expand...

I make the air correctors specific for several Suzuki (and Kawasaki) models with both Mikuni VM or Mikuni CV carbs and can also provide recommended main jet sizes as a starting point.
They go in the main air jet passage to the needle jet tube which is located at the 4 'o'clock position in the mouth of all Mikuni CV carbs.
They require the passage to be tapped m5 x 0.8mm to 6mm deep and simply screw in and can be removed for reverting back to stock.
They richen the transitional mix via the needle jet tube and their effect feathers off as the revs rise so do not significantly alter the rest of the fueling curve.
This is the same method Mikuni uses on their smoothbore carbs for the same purpose.

Contact me at zed.1015@yahoo.co.uk if you require a set if the snorkel doesn't cure it.

They are ?37 delivered worldwide sent 1st class tracked and signed.
 
So this is an interesting development. I did a full tear down, ultrasonic clean, and rebuild with all new seals. I was mainly concerned about the transition ports, possibly being clogged since the issue is right at the transition.

6 hrs later, that did not fix the problem. But I wanted to do things one thing at a time so next on my list was to raise the needle if all else failed.

I took the first cover off and pulled out the slide and needle, and lo and behold look what I found! A needle with clips!

This means these needles are clearly not stock and who knows what the taper actually is or if they were ever in the right position in the first place. Also, carb number four was one position lower than the others for some unknown reason.

I went ahead and raised them all up one position. We will see what that does. IMG_4878.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4878.jpg
    IMG_4878.jpg
    81.1 KB · Views: 0
Update.. No amount of raising or lowering the needles fixed the mid range stumble. So I went ahead and found some stock needles on eBay. And wouldn't you know it, that resolved the issue completely! I also re-adjusted my fuel height because it was higher than normal to try and eliminate the "lean stumble" from the other needles.

Now the bike runs perfectly with a smooth transition between the pilot and midrange circuits. And my gas mileage has drastically improved!

Long story short, I never "checked" the needles because that wasn't part of the cleaning process. And I saved it for last because I didn't want to make a non-reversible change. I should have found that a long time ago!

Lesson learned. You just never know what kind of mods the PO did. Why different needles on a nearly stock bike? Who knows.
 
I'm an ...OLD PERSON... been doing my own tinkering since around 1970. Cars, Trucks and Bikes.. Over the decades, the most difficult 'fixes' were usually trying to UNfix what some 'doofus' had done previously....
 
BrucecurB said:
I'm an ...OLD PERSON... been doing my own tinkering since around 1970. Cars, Trucks and Bikes.. Over the decades, the most difficult 'fixes' were usually trying to UNfix what some 'doofus' had done previously....
Click to expand...

Yea, if I ever sell this bike, which I don't plan to do, I would want to include a list of all the things I did to it so the new owner knows. But that's just me.
 
I have a stock 82 550 and would like to try shimming the needles but I'm wondering how folks remove and reinstall them from the slides. How do you get the little c-clips off and on? Is there a special pliers you use?
 
DimitriT said:
I have a stock 82 550 and would like to try shimming the needles but I'm wondering how folks remove and reinstall them from the slides. How do you get the little c-clips off and on? Is there a special pliers you use?
Click to expand...

In the carb rebuild tutorial

Screenshot 2025-11-26 045048.png
 
Last edited:
DimitriT said:
Can I get a link for that please.
Click to expand...

My signature has the link. If you can't see it, make sure "view signatures" is turned on in your forum preferences. Or, go to Bascliff's website (the version hosted by Brian)
 
Are you near an Auto Zone, Advanced Auto Parts, Oriley's Auto parts, or Federated Auto parts? They usually have different sizes and shapes. I never had any that worked good, but have some like he shows that will get the clip out. Good luck.
 
rphillips said:
Are you near an Auto Zone, Advanced Auto Parts, Oriley's Auto parts, or Federated Auto parts? They usually have different sizes and shapes. I never had any that worked good, but have some like he shows that will get the clip out. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I have the same ones. If you grind down the leading edge of the long nose parts, you can get it positioned better to engage the holes in the retaining clip.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top