Fentible
XS400 Enthusiast
After all attempts to remove the seized and head-chewed examples that were living in my carbs had failed, I realised that the only way they were coming out was via the drill and extractor method. As they aren't exactly accessible this was going to be tricky.
So yesterday afternoon I plucked up the courage, mounted the carbs into my vice, fitted the 2.5mm bit into my drill, lined it up as centrally as I could and squeezed the trigger. Starting at very low speed until the drill bit into the head, I then drilled down exactly 5mm, managing to keep it dead central. I had previously soaked both screw heads with copious amounts of anti-seize fluid
I started with the small 2-6mm extractor, winding it in until it started creaking and from experience the point at which these tend to snap. So I wound it back out and used the bigger 4-7 mm extractor. I used a bit of heat and eventually the screw gave up its hold and backed out.
Flushed with success I was a little more careless with the second one and managed to drill it slightly off centre. The result was that the head of the screw broke off from the tapered section
although it was simply a case of inverting the carb and tapping the broken part out.
I know that the far one looks undamaged but it is.
I was all set to buy the new parts from Mikes XS until I discovered that shipping to he UK was a staggering $40 (USPS Priority International)
. Call me churlish but when a small package can be sent to the UK for $6.55 (USPS First class) I start to question things. I have emailed Mikes to see if they will ship at the cheaper rate. However I'm sure I've asked this before from US firms and they will only ship priority international.
I've also checked CSMNL but their parts are significantly more expensive and even with cheaper shipping the end deal is more expensive than Mikes total of $62 so I might be stuck paying the expensive shipping charge.
In any event I'm hoping that being able to actually adjust them now will help the current running problems .
Cheers
Fent
So yesterday afternoon I plucked up the courage, mounted the carbs into my vice, fitted the 2.5mm bit into my drill, lined it up as centrally as I could and squeezed the trigger. Starting at very low speed until the drill bit into the head, I then drilled down exactly 5mm, managing to keep it dead central. I had previously soaked both screw heads with copious amounts of anti-seize fluid
I started with the small 2-6mm extractor, winding it in until it started creaking and from experience the point at which these tend to snap. So I wound it back out and used the bigger 4-7 mm extractor. I used a bit of heat and eventually the screw gave up its hold and backed out.
Flushed with success I was a little more careless with the second one and managed to drill it slightly off centre. The result was that the head of the screw broke off from the tapered section
although it was simply a case of inverting the carb and tapping the broken part out.
I know that the far one looks undamaged but it is.
I was all set to buy the new parts from Mikes XS until I discovered that shipping to he UK was a staggering $40 (USPS Priority International)
. Call me churlish but when a small package can be sent to the UK for $6.55 (USPS First class) I start to question things. I have emailed Mikes to see if they will ship at the cheaper rate. However I'm sure I've asked this before from US firms and they will only ship priority international.I've also checked CSMNL but their parts are significantly more expensive and even with cheaper shipping the end deal is more expensive than Mikes total of $62 so I might be stuck paying the expensive shipping charge.
In any event I'm hoping that being able to actually adjust them now will help the current running problems .
Cheers
Fent
