Changing Carb Needles

[Foozle]

If a person wanted to restore a Valk back to stock configuration, how difficult is it to install a set of OEM carb needles?  I'm fairly mechanically-inclined, but get nervous at the prospect of fiddling with the carburetion.  Is this task doable by the average bear?  Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated.  Terry

[Tundra]

You did say carb. needles, correct? Not the jets? If it's just needles your wanting to change, I'm guessing 15 minutes and no skill required.  http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/shims.html
  I think the needles are in this link somewhere, should illustrate the procedure for you.

[Foozle]

Yes, just the needles.  As far as I know the bike has not been re-jetted - and the pilot screws look untouched.  Terry

[sandy]

Why change them back to stock? They are adjustable if you're having some running issues.

[Foozle]

Hi, Sandy.  Here's the deal.  I'm at least the third owner of a 1998 Standard that came to me with Cobra exhaust.  While I had them on, the plugs were always a nice medium tan color - and the bike idled nicely and accelerated smoothly.  After a short time, I tired of the loud exhaust note - and swapped the Cobras out for a set of OEM pipes.  I also installed a K & N filter (without pre-filter), and had a local stealer tune and sync the carbs - which necessitated the use of multiple shims.  Now, given the age of the bike (deteriorating vacuum hoses, etc.), these events may be completely unrelated - but the bike has never run right since.  The plugs are now pretty dark - and my Rytek exhaust tips are dark and discolored; the idle is rough and choppy - and the bike is prone to cracks, pops, and gurgles upon deacceleration.  Admittedly, I'm no mechanic, but taking things back to stock - and starting over with a known setup (and parameters) - seemed like a viable alternative to continued visits to the stealer.  Before I do anything with the carbs, however, I've decided to do a desmog and replace any hoses.  After this, I'll reassess the issue and decide whether carb adjustments are needed.  Terry

[9Ball]

sounds like a good plan to me.  I went through the same change and it worked for me, except I didn't do the desmog....yet.  Replaced all the hoses, etc and it's back to normal.  Glad I saved the factory needles...have you seen the price of new OEM needles?  ouch

[R J]

If you have a 97, the needles are different from later years.

If it has adjustable in it, I'd just move the little ring around till it is good to go.

Mine is a 97 and I think I'm in groove 3.

I changed mine in a parking lot on a trip to California in about 2000.