Carberator adjustment

[1NorthRyder]

I dis-assembled the carbs to clean them and discovered five of the pilot screws were backed out between three to three and three quarter turns and the sixth pilot screw (#2) was not turned back at all. The bike ran reasonably well but a Honda mechanic earlier this year told me he thought the carbs were only operating at about 80%. I had thought the pilot screws were normally turned back two turns. Here’s my question, do I reset them where they were except for #2, maybe set it three turns out or do I set them all two turns out and then resync them from there?

[RonW]

Aren't you suppose to use a manometer to fine tune the adjustments. 2 turns on one pilot screw might be equal to 2⅛ turns on another carburetor's pilot screw, so on.

[Pete]

Any other signs of mal-adjusted carbs.

Like dark or wet spark plugs, hesitation, smell of gas at the exhaust, stains on the intakes or carbs, hard to start, rough idle?
 

[1NorthRyder]

Any other signs of mal-adjusted carbs.

Like dark or wet spark plugs, hesitation, smell of gas at the exhaust, stains on the intakes or carbs, hard to start, rough idle?
 

Nope. Bike actually was running not to bad but obviously it potential to run better. I have a digi-sync but need to know if I should use the factory recommended starting point of back 1.75 turns or start with the 3 turns back that I found most carbs at.

[longrider]

I had an experience similar to yours last summer.  I picked up a 2000 IS that had carb work done by a honda dealer.  It seemed to run fine at speed but idle was poor.  Rode it home 1600 miles.  Removed carb bank and found the pilots set anywhere from 5 turns open to closed.  As with the other valks I have owned I adjusted to 2 1/4 open on all pilots and installed.  Then a carb sync.  Was probably the smoothest idle of any I have owned (4).  Bike lasted 4 hours on the road before it was totaled. Woman pulled out in front of the wife (her new ride) from a side road.  Hit the car at 55 mph in the drivers door.  My wife survived and hopefully will ride again

warren

[John Schmidt]

I'd just set them all(all 6) at two turns out then use your Digisync to balance/match #1,5,2,4,6 to #3. Then forget it and ride. That's what I set mine on a few years ago, haven't touched them since.

[Pete]

The last one I worked on that was screwed up, I set to 2.25 turns and cleaned everything, it then ran perfect.

[Bighead]

I took mine to Tulsa and let the attic rat aka ( my freind) Bob do bis GLH package all all is tire spinning good

[1NorthRyder]

Ok so the bike is back together and the pilot screws are all set at two turns back. Once the digisync is connected and the bike warmed up how the heck do you adjust the pilot screw without burning yourself on the intakes? I have tools galour from flex drivers to flex sockets but the only thing I can get in there is my fingers and that’s just not going to work once the bike is hot.

[old2soon]

Ok so the bike is back together and the pilot screws are all set at two turns back. Once the digisync is connected and the bike warmed up how the heck do you adjust the pilot screw without burning yourself on the intakes? I have tools galour from flex drivers to flex sockets but the only thing I can get in there is my fingers and that’s just not going to work once the bike is hot.

                   Just asked my Brother-da prez-and even after a cup a joe-well it's the D shaped end on the tool you need for those adjustments. Redeye sells one for bout 5 bucks American. Ya gitz dat tool in yer paws and the job becomes WAY easier!  RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ok so the bike is back together and the pilot screws are all set at two turns back. Once the digisync is connected and the bike warmed up how the heck do you adjust the pilot screw without burning yourself on the intakes? I have tools galour from flex drivers to flex sockets but the only thing I can get in there is my fingers and that’s just not going to work once the bike is hot.

when doing your carb synch you are not going to mess with the pilot screws. The synch adjustments are made on the fronts of the carbs.

[indybobm]

I had the same quest1on. I found the tool pictured below on sale from Honda a couple of years ago. The 'D' tip on the adjustment end was crap and gave out so I silver soldered the end from the Red Eye tool over it.  This made the tip a little longer which made it easier to use. Not sure if you can still find them but I got mine for $75.00 and avoided burnt fingers.
There are other similiar tools avaialbe from other sources. The original part number on mine is 07KMA-MN9A100. This comes up as not availlable now.

[97BLKVALK]

Ok so the bike is back together and the pilot screws are all set at two turns back. Once the digisync is connected and the bike warmed up how the heck do you adjust the pilot screw without burning yourself on the intakes? I have tools galour from flex drivers to flex sockets but the only thing I can get in there is my fingers and that’s just not going to work once the bike is hot.

when doing your carb synch you are not going to mess with the pilot screws. The synch adjustments are made on the fronts of the carbs.

 

The digisync hooked up you are only adjusting the idle set screws on  1,2,4,5,6 carbs matching to the #3 carb which is not adjustable.

Michael

[John Schmidt]

C'mon dude, the pilots are what you said you set at two turns out, they're underneath and are hard to get at once installed. That part is now done and leave it alone. Once you hook up the Digisync the only thing you're adjusting is the screws on the outside....phillips screws on the carbs I listed above. As the procedure describes....you are synchronizing the remain five carbs to what #3 is reading. No chance of burning your fingers because you're not adjusting anything on the inside. Get a manual and read it.

Added: It's too bad these carbs aren't like the carbs on my GL1200. The Pilots are external and accessible from the side rather than underneath. To sync the carbs, you balance each side by itself, as in balance #1 & 3 to each other, then balance #2 & 4 to each other. The last step is with a separate adjusting screw where you balance one side to the other. If the Valk had that last screw available on the linkage, you could do it exactly the same way. It's quick and effective. Recently I notice the plugs on the 1200 were quite sooty, telling me it's a tad rich. So, I'll get out my nice long skinny screwdriver today and tweak the pilots about 1/4 turn in then go for a ride.

[1NorthRyder]

Thanks guys, first time trying to work on carbs. With your help I got it done. She runs real nice,now I just have to wait three months to get her on the road after the snow melts.