Cleaning pilot jets

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MikeM

MikeM

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I know this has been discussed many times, a little nervous about doing this with the drill bits I have. They look pretty delicate. I bought a B string last night and am much more confident about putting that into the jet. I dont want to break off the small drill bit in the jet. Is this a legit concern? Whats the proper way to do this?
Any difference between the guitar string or the drill bit?
71 750 with Amals.
Thanks
 
I have found that a drill bit works better because it is more rigid than wire, and the flutes at the bit tip ream the bad deposits better than poking with a blunt tip wire.
As you push straight in to the idle air hole you should not be in danger of snapping the bit.
Good luck with it.
 
what size drill bit is recommended, I have new Premiers that I need to check/clean ?

are we talking about unscrewing the air mixture screw and sticking it in there to dislodge stuff?
 
1up3down said:
I have new Premiers that I need to check/clean ?

are we talking about unscrewing the air mixture screw and sticking it in there to dislodge stuff?
Click to expand...

Premiers have removable pilot jets. :?
 
1up3down said:
what size drill bit is recommended, I have new Premiers that I need to check/clean ?

are we talking about unscrewing the air mixture screw and sticking it in there to dislodge stuff?
Click to expand...

The drill bit/guitar wire thing is not really necessary with premiers, IMO, as the pilot is removable.
 
The drill bit/guitar wire thing is not really necessary with premiers, IMO, as the pilot is removable.
Click to expand...

ok I don't mind proving my ignorance, so where is the pilot jet?

take off the bottom of the carb and it is threaded in facing up somewhere?

and with Premiers does this get plugged also and need to be unscrewed and blown out or something?
 
1up3down said:
so where is the pilot jet?

take off the bottom of the carb and it is threaded in facing up somewhere?

and with Premiers does this get plugged also and need to be unscrewed and blown out or something?
Click to expand...



Cleaning pilot jets


Cleaning pilot jets
 
Damn it LES!

You are fast and great, sir!

so I should simply unscrew my mixture screws all the way out, both of them, and then from your diagram just blow some compressed into the holes to insure nothing is plugging ?
 
1up3down said:
so I should simply unscrew my mixture screws all the way out, both of them, and then from your diagram just blow some compressed into the holes to insure nothing is plugging ?
Click to expand...

That might work but jet has been made removable so it can be unscrewed and cleaned.
 
I sell a lot of Mikunis, when someone asks for a rebuild kit or describes symptoms of a clogged idle jet, its' easier for both of us to simply replace the jet ($3.50 each),

I have had little to no luck with carb cleaner (Gumout) or any of the various brake cleaners on idle jets. Is there another solvent that produces cleaning results?
 
RoadScholar said:
I sell a lot of Mikunis, when someone asks for a rebuild kit or describes symptoms of a clogged idle jet, its' easier for both of us to simply replace the jet ($3.50 each),

I have had little to no luck with carb cleaner (Gumout) or any of the various brake cleaners on idle jets. Is there another solvent that produces cleaning results?
Click to expand...

Carb cleaners and guitar strings don't cut it. It is a hard mineral deposit. Use a #78 drill bit glued into some sort of holder. I use basketball air fill needles. Make several.
 
I won't say this again, but avgas will leave no deposits in the jet. I haven't had a problem with that in 10 years. But you pay for it.
 
1up3down said:
Damn it LES!

You are fast and great, sir!

so I should simply unscrew my mixture screws all the way out, both of them, and then from your diagram just blow some compressed into the holes to insure nothing is plugging ?
Click to expand...


Leave the mixture screws alone.

Unscrew the removable jets; examine them and if they're blocked, clean them.
 
I agree with batrider that most cab cleaners won't cut through hard deposits but this is the strongest spray stuff I could find at my local NAPA. There is no substitute for mechanically cleaning the jets and passages.
http://petroleumservicecompany.com/berk ... swodIKQEMg

It used to be stronger but the EPA forced them to change their recipe. Keep it away from painted surfaces. I also use Seafoam for a quick fix in lawn mowers, small engines and my Goldwing at the beginning of the season to help clean up any varnish that might have formed over the winter. I'm not a believer in chemical fixes but both of these products work well.
Pete
 
batrider said:
RoadScholar said:
I sell a lot of Mikunis, when someone asks for a rebuild kit or describes symptoms of a clogged idle jet, its' easier for both of us to simply replace the jet ($3.50 each),

I have had little to no luck with carb cleaner (Gumout) or any of the various brake cleaners on idle jets. Is there another solvent that produces cleaning results?
Click to expand...

Carb cleaners and guitar strings don't cut it. It is a hard mineral deposit. Use a #78 drill bit glued into some sort of holder. I use basketball air fill needles. Make several.
Click to expand...

Soak in paint thinners and use a 125 p.s.i. compressor to blow those small holes out. If it is completely blocked, then a smaller drill than the hole in the jet may be carefully used.
 
Mr. Rick said:
Eight bucks, free shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/17pc-FINE-TINY- ... SwsB9WDjYy
Click to expand...


I couldn't resist spending the 8 bucks, so I bought this...

At one point I went through my bike trying to solve some poor running issues. I spent many hours substitute testing the entire ignition system one component at a time because I had poked out the idle jets (OR so I thought....) Eventually I went back to the idle jets and actually drilled out the back of the carburator to inspect the jet, as per the bushman's website proceedure. One jet was totally clogged even though I thought I cleared it previously with a guitar string.... Guitar strings work sometimes, but this little kit seems like a better choice.

8 bucks would have saved me over a day's worth of fiddling around....
 
DogT said:
I won't say this again, but avgas will leave no deposits in the jet. I haven't had a problem with that in 10 years. But you pay for it.
Click to expand...

It's probably good that you're not saying it again. It's illegal in Virginia to use av-gas on which road tax has not been paid in a motor vehicle on Virginia roads.

You could probably get away with it until someone dimes you out ....

Lannis
 
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