Carb overhaul?

[fudgie]

Do you think its necc to take the carbs out this spring and clean them and instal bigger jets? Or am I wasting my time. I have had no problems, just want to be proactive instead of reactive. 98 Tourer, 55,000 miles, seafoam or others every month or so, seafoam for winter nap time, run E-10 when I can, pingel with additional inline filter-changed every spring. I don't have much planned for my spring bike prep and was wanting to get parts around.

[Valker]

Dang, I have 115,000 on my 98 Tourer and I run about 1 can of SeaFoam a year through mine. Never had any problems.

[1fastbob]

I'd leave it alone unless you are having problems with the carbs.

[junior]

if it aint brole dont fix it

[SgtBunny]

fudgie, I have been contemplating doing the same thing.

I decided to go ahead and take mine off and install the 38's for more grunt down low and to take the time and set everything right while I was in there.  My bike burns your eyes after it runs for a couple of minutes in the garage so I am of the strong belief that it is running very rich.

We will know soon enough.

[Ricky-D]

Do you think its necc to take the carbs out this spring and clean them and instal bigger jets? Or am I wasting my time. I have had no problems, just want to be proactive instead of reactive. 98 Tourer, 55,000 miles, seafoam or others every month or so, seafoam for winter nap time, run E-10 when I can, pingel with additional inline filter-changed every spring. I don't have much planned for my spring bike prep and was wanting to get parts around.

You would be wasting your time!

Why mess with success?

Haven't you heard of "Pandora's Box"

***

[Robert]

You have been here long enough to know most all the pros and cons of the thing but I will come from another point than most here. I did the jet kit from Factory Pro and I am very happy I did it, I even went with the stage 2 kit. The reason I did it was I always wanted that little more umph out of it and didn't like the off idle or the idle or top end. Do you need to do it NO, do you want to? If all you want is to run your bike and your happy with the running and power and you are not a person like me that is just not totally happy till I have it the way I want it then, forget it. I would also say that installing the 38s will give you what you asked for but why do things half way. Do a jet kit entirely with float needles or do nothing. In one shot I took care of some problem points did the factory one better got better mileage and more power. Carbs are a compromise and have 3 ranges low mid high if you start to play with one and not the others then it will unbalance how they are setup. Thats another reason I recommend a jet kit.  I will tell you the advantages are maybe better mileage definitely more power and smoother running and maybe easier starting. The thing I did different than most I also replaced the float needles considering the problems that those little things bring. They were expensive though like to the tune of 17 each. If today I lost my Valk and had to buy another one I would do it again. It easy to compensate with the needles for a lean low speed condition but its better to run a little richer at low leaner mid and richer at top. If you did just the 38 you would have to lean the idle screws and maybe lean the needles. Maybe if you dont want to do the jet kit just richen the needles slightly with a shim. The jet kit job is not hard but time consuming and plan on going over all the vacuum hoses and if you didn't do a desmog then now would be the time get it all done one shot. Get all the problems, maintenance,and tuning done so you can spend the rest of the time enjoying. I find that most who do things and are not happy with them are the ones that didn't get into the thing with the idea doing the thing 100 percent through either lack of knowledge or just plain didn't want to go all the way. There are also those who may believe that this is a daunting task but its only what you make it and if you keep your eye on the goal of what you want your bike to be then a project becomes a pleasure and the results a reward.