Triumphrat

Furbags · 06-11-2006, 01:38 AM

I'm in the middle of the airbox elimination and thought that I'd spend an easy Saturday afternoon (seeing that it's a cold wintery day here in Sydney) re-jetting the carbs.

Do you think I could get any of those soft phillips-head screws to undo without stripping the heads round (without taking the carbs off)? In desperation, I turned to the trusty old Dremel (with umbilical attachment) and with an element of trepidation, began the worry-some task of cutting a slot into the heads of the 16 screws (both top & bottom) in the hopes that a 'slot screwdriver bit would do the job - too little of a cut and the heads would merely strip again, too much and I will cut them in half and also cut into the soft cast aluminium carb body! 1.5 hrs later and a bucket of sweat the screws were out - carbs OK.

Add to the fun was the ever present smell of fuel, as I couldn't get the carbs to drain. As it turned out, the bottom bowls were thick with a reddish clay like paste which completely blocked the drains (even when I attempted to clear with a small screwdriver). My worry was that the small sparks from the cutting wheel on the dremel would turned my bike into a spectacular fireworks display.

The fact that this was all taking place in the middle of my loungeroom made for a little higher level of anxiety than normal (as you can tell, my girlfriend allows me to live a bachelor lifestyle)

My Thruxton has just over 5000kms and it was at the 3000km mark that I removed that small hidden gauze filter and spliced in a proper clear plastic in-line one. So the debris in the carbs must have accumulated in those first few thousand K's?

I feel so much better now that I know the carb bowls are clean and that those @#$% screws have been replaced with SS allen heads.

FattRat · 06-11-2006, 09:24 AM

Danm!

I got so tense reading your story, I had to speed read to the end...... thank GOD it had a pleasant ending.

whew!

Sheepdog · 06-11-2006, 09:33 AM

You know, I have never had a bit of trouble with the phillips head screws securing my float bowls. I must have the perfect screwdriver, or something. Eventually, I suppose I'll install those allen head screws that I have sitting around. Until then, I'll soldier on with the originals.

06-11-2006, 09:56 AM

I am curious as to where the "hidden" gauze filter is located at.

I would like to replace it with a proper inline filter.

Thanks,
Mac

dazco · 06-11-2006, 10:58 AM

This just goes to show that when someone buys a new twin the first thing they should do is replace those with allen screws. Even if they aren't planning to mess with the carbs for a long time or even never planning on it, it should be done right away before they have a chance to really stick. And the older the bike gets the more they will !

LT · 06-11-2006, 11:09 AM

I used a phillips bit in a little ratcheting bit holder. Re-jetted without removing carbs and didn't strip screw heads. Bit must be seated and held in screw head firmly while turning. Trimac- filter is between carbs. Do a search for the thread. Excellent photos, can't remember who posted.

357Bob · 06-11-2006, 04:31 PM

I keep hearing about the allen screws for the fuel bowls. Where do you get them? Or do you just get them from your local hardware store?
I drained my carbs last week just because. One of the drain screws sticks out about 3 threads & the other one is flush. So I checked them & drained at the same time. The gas was clean at 3100 miles.

agro · 06-11-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

rust
On 2006-06-10 23:38, Furbags wrote:

.........As it turned out, the bottom bowls were thick with a reddish clay like paste which completely blocked the drains.......

This reddish clay is rust!!!! I had the same problem. Suggest you drain your fuel tank, remove the fuel tap and clean the filter screens and blow out your tank with compressed air.
Another suggestion, to minimize fuel tank rusting, keep your tank full at all times, especially when parked up overnight.

Cheers.........Agro

ravnhaus · 06-11-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

On 2006-06-11 14:31, 357Bob wrote:
I keep hearing about the allen screws for the fuel bowls. Where do you get them? Or do you just get them from your local hardware store?

carb screw kit

merlin · 06-11-2006, 10:03 PM

There was quite a to-do on the 'other' forum about the down side of installing inline fuel filter. If I remember correctly the issue was that if you run out of fuel on the "on" setting of the fuel valve and then switch to 'reserve' the in line filter takes quite a while to fill before supplying fuel to the carbs. Meanwhile, back on the superslab with traffic doing 80 you are decelaraing, engine out, patiently waiting.... NOT...
this is not from my experience, just repeating what read. Maybe someone should test...