What a difference 1/2 a turn makes ....

[Sodbuster]

Got my stubby pilot screw tool (red eye) in the mail and tried it out. Works pretty good actually.  Turns out the pilot screws were at 1 3/4 turns and I set them to 2 1/4 turns. Re-sync'd the carbs and voila. Smooth even pulses .. nice throttle response and runs silky smooth. Now she's hungry for some tasty HD softtails.   

[Patrick]

Yep,, i agree..

[Ricky-D]

on a single exercise regarding the pilot screws.

Thanks for the report.

I wish there were more comments about results of actions taken on singular subject experiments.

Usually they are combined with other adjustments and changes and so a good subjective analysis isn't possible.

***

[Larry]

on a single exercise regarding the pilot screws.

Thanks for the report.

I wish there were more comments about results of actions taken on singular subject experiments.

Usually they are combined with other adjustments and changes and so a good subjective analysis isn't possible.

***

I agree, with the change one thing at a time idea and see what happens. Did a 4 deg TW this summer on my IS. The results of that change was very positive. Still having an issue with somewhat difficult starting and rough idling that tends to smooth out once it is warmed up good. I'm thinking pilots with what I've been seeing on the board the last couple months as well as personal observations trying to clear them without having to do a carb job. With 100k and no carb work done other than balancing they are due I think. Did all the vac lines stuff and O rings on intakes too, more as a preventative thing due to noticing the lines getting fragile. No big changes in the way it ran after that though. Separate process from the TW thing

[woefman]

I know how I would do it , but curious how you do yours.

DO you Sync the carbs then do pilots then resync ?

Or Do Pilots then resync

also did you reset base idle after each pilot screw change ?  Or just move them all to the same setting?

Wish i knew the Best Tool to buy seems like a tight area to work with

I need a Pilot tool but scared to buy one that wont do all the carbs while on the bike.

[Sodbuster]

I took note on the first carb I did where the setting was (i.e. turn in the screw to lightly set to bottom) - it was 1 3/4 turns. Backed it out to 2 1/4 turns and the remaining carbs. Did this FIRST before the syncronization. You should always set the pilot screws first then sync. I used a four column mercury carb-sticks and works just fine.  Idle speed set to 900 rpms. That's basically it - pretty simple actually.

BTW - The stubby tool works pretty nice and I don't know how else you could adjust the carbs on the bike without it. I did have to smooth the edges on the tool - there were pretty sharp edges and hard on the fingers.

[Sodbuster]

Here is the Stubby Pilot Screw Tool and you can see how I radiused the corners. Lots easier on the fingers.  Also, it's easier if you loosen up the clamps that are shown in the lower picture and drop them down out of the way to allow more room for your fingers.  Be careful when re-installing the clamps as they will need to go back over the little rubber boss before you tighten them down. As far as the base idle speed goes it really doesn't matter as you're syncing the carbs because you are always using cyl #3 as your baseline.

One thing that's nice is if the tool slips off it can only go back on one way so you don't lose count on the number of turns.

Set all the pilot screws to the same number of turns and then sync the carbs.  If you're you're quick you can sync the carbs without the fan kicking in ....

[John U.]

I know how I would do it , but curious how you do yours.

DO you Sync the carbs then do pilots then resync ?

Or Do Pilots then resync

also did you reset base idle after each pilot screw change ?  Or just move them all to the same setting?

Wish i knew the Best Tool to buy seems like a tight area to work with

I need a Pilot tool but scared to buy one that wont do all the carbs while on the bike.

I bought this bit from MotionPro: http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0242/

And used it with this driver from Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95320

The combination works great. I cut marks in the knurled driver at every 1/4 turn so I can keep track of the number of turns.
Hope this helps.

[Dodis]

Another option for the pilot screw tool is a simple homemade version. I posted pics and description here, at the bottom of the thread.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,8485.0.html

Mike "Dodis"

[woefman]

I know how I would do it , but curious how you do yours.

DO you Sync the carbs then do pilots then resync ?

Or Do Pilots then resync

also did you reset base idle after each pilot screw change ?  Or just move them all to the same setting?

Wish i knew the Best Tool to buy seems like a tight area to work with

I need a Pilot tool but scared to buy one that wont do all the carbs while on the bike.

I bought this bit from MotionPro: http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0242/

And used it with this driver from Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95320

The combination works great. I cut marks in the knurled driver at every 1/4 turn so I can keep track of the number of turns.
Hope this helps.

Thanks John U

Others have posted them links for me before , but I had no Idea they worked together
another words that the bit would fit into that green handle of the knurled harbor freight thumb screw tool

I guess because the picture on motionpro is so huge I had no idea it was small enough
to fit in that tool.

Awesome post

[woefman]

Here is the Stubby Pilot Screw Tool and you can see how I radiused the corners. Lots easier on the fingers.  
Set all the pilot screws to the same number of turns and then sync the carbs.  If you're you're quick you can sync the carbs without the fan kicking in ....

Thanks for the Pictures as well those were sweet esp the tool in action picture