Any Yamaha XVS650 V-Star ('03) aficionado's 'round here?

[DFragn]

So, given the way Joanne' VStar was running last year I need to get a move on her pilot jets.  

Much to my surprise I have determined they're #20's. OMG, and we thought our #35's were small. I assumed her 2 jugs were bigger then ours and they are! Who'da thunk they were that small.

Anyway, I can't determine the carb manufacturer or overall dimensions of her pilot jets to order #25's as replacements. I don't want to put OEM 20's in there. Figured I richen it up a bit and control it with the pilot screws.

I can't tear into it yet 'cause it's going to be in the 70's this week and she wants to ride before I'll have time to rip into it. I'd like to get the jets ordered...

Can anyone help with information?

If I don't get this done soon this pint size Italian is gonna open up a can of whoopass on me  

[roboto65]

It sounds like you are saying it is popping on the low end and on decel  this is a 650 right ?

[DFragn]

It sounds like you are saying it is popping on the low end and on decel  this is a 650 right ?

No, no popping or such. It's been running progressively worse (idle & off idle) for the last 2 seasons and it's noticeably worse this year. Last year I adjusted the pilot screws and sync'd the carbs, but it was no help. We've beendumping  Seafoam & Techron thru it all last season to no avail. I'm most certain the #20 pilots are fouled and that's too small for me to ream. I feel more comfortable replacing them.

[roboto65]

Have you removed the Air Injection System pretty sure they are Mikuni carbs you could also do the RAK mod here is a link  http://www.650ccnd.com/mods/RAK/rak.htm  when I had my Vstar 650 I had put Hard Chrome pipes and did the RAK mod and also removed all the AIS stuff. Same as our Valks the pair valves and air crud LOL

[DFragn]

Have you removed the Air Injection System pretty sure they are Mikuni carbs you could also do the RAK mod here is a link  http://www.650ccnd.com/mods/RAK/rak.htm  when I had my Vstar 650 I had put Hard Chrome pipes and did the RAK mod and also removed all the AIS stuff. Same as our Valks the pair valves and air crud LOL

Thanks roboto for confirming the Mikuni carbs.
Gonna stay away from the linked RAK mod and main jet change-outs. OEM is 90 & 100 on the 650. Her bike is mechanically stock and I think we'll leave it there except for a slight increase in the pilot sizes.

Now all I have to do is locate a reference to the 650 Mikuni slow jets in case Mikuni used different lengths for different MC Manufacturers. So far I haven't been able to find a specific reference.

[roboto65]

http://www.bikebandit.com/mikuni-carb-kits-parts-accessories-universal/c/a713055a684707a713721

Found these but not at the house or I would look at my manual and make sure !!!

[DFragn]

Thanks for your help I ordered these from Dennis Kirk for $6.00 ea. I stuck with the stock #20's
#1727-20
Mikuni VM28/486 Pilot Jets

Now as long as I get it done I should be able to live to ride this season 

[roboto65]

Yeah she looks like she could do a pretty good butt whooping better get that bike done 

[Jess from VA]

My wife rode an 1100 Custom V* for some years and I can tell you this, the Yami carbs get terribly gummed up, esp with ethonol in the gas, if they are not run and driven regularly.  Since she would not ride in the Winter at all, and I had my own bikes to ride, hers just got run in the shed, and it didn't matter if there was seafoam and stabil in the gas, and let it run dry with petcock off.  The carbs in that bike got seriously gummed up over three different Winters.  She quit riding and I sold it.

[DFragn]

My wife rode an 1100 Custom V* for some years and I can tell you this, the Yami carbs get terribly gummed up, esp with ethonol in the gas, if they are not run and driven regularly.  Since she would not ride in the Winter at all, and I had my own bikes to ride, hers just got run in the shed, and it didn't matter if there was seafoam and stabil in the gas, and let it run dry with petcock off.  The carbs in that bike got seriously gummed up over three different Winters.  She quit riding and I sold it.

Thanks Jess, I was sort of expecting to find them all gummed up considering how it has progressively gotten worse the past several years.
I need to enjoy some time in the garage, it's been awhile since I broke mine down completely. My bowls and internals were not bad, but I blew the circuits anyway when I added the #38's. Two will be better then six, but these 2 will likely be much crustier.
I don't ride Joannes Yamy and she didn't start really complaining until last Fall, but we both knew they had to be done last Spring. I want her to be happy and enjoy the rides while not fighting the throttle or worse, having her go down in a turn when it stalls.

[Jess from VA]

Yes, no amount of seafoam or additives could ever solve the problem short of a complete carb tear down and clean up.  Though hers just stopped running entirely each time.  I learned quite a bit about these bikes setting hers up for her.... and a lot of similarities from the 1100s to the 650s.  The AIS removal kit, removing the breather tube and plugging the cylinders (some do with .45 ACP brass, I used the kit plugs) gets rid of popping and burbling.... which you don't hear with stock pipes but do with aftermarkets.  Max Air intake kit (cone K & N filters up under the tank, and delete the entire air cleaner assembly), gave a noticable increase in power.

A great deal of info here (mostly 1100, but...)
http://www.sloneservices.com/SilverBack/VStar1100-FAQ-05.htm#Air%20Intake%20Mods


http://www.maxairengineering.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MAXFLO_VSTAR650

Put a lot of work, time and money into this, so she could quit riding.  Guy that got it was very happy.