I’m in the process of cleaning the carbs on my 1979 V50 - bought an UltraSonic cleaner for the job. I got one carb done without too much trouble but now discovered on the other that the idle adjustment screw is sheared off or at least the head is - what’s left turns very freely but doesn’t come out! The bike prior to all my previously listed issues was running OK so I could presumably ignore it and hope for the best though I see there’s an exact same as mine on Ebay for £45. What to do,what to do?
Eddie, can you drill the screw out or would it rotate as soon as the drill bit connected (I was going to say bit but “as soon as the drill bit bit” sounded a bit silly!)
Best of luck Chris
+1 I would want to fix it, not leave it. Cannot assume anything.
Just a note re ultrasonic cleaner, there’s a popular myth (apparently) that an ultrasonic cleaner will clean a carburettor as if by magic, it doesn’t, if tiny galleries are blocked so that the cleaner fluid can’t get in, they’ll stay blocked. There are some YouTube videos by qualified mechanics showing having to sort out carbs for someone else that have been ‘professionally cleaned’, i.e. dunked in the UC and then ‘here you go mate all done. That will be X hundred pounds please.’
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Yes I didn’t assume that so put a blast of compressed air through all the orifices I could see.
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I don’t think a drill would do the job as the item still in the carb body turns very easily and I’m assuming the threads are stripped anyway - the used carb on offer looks like a good option.
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What a dope! I fooishly thought that the carbs were not handed! Then in my sleep it occurred to me that they must be otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to adjust them both! Basic castings are the same but the idling screw and throttle valve screw holes are blanked off on the left or right as appropriate. Iv’e been trying to remove one of these and now realise that its supposed to be there. Just well I didn’t start trying to drill it out!
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Well spotted Eddie!
We all have moments…now I’m nearly 70 I have them more often!
Doh! 
Well that was a simple fix.
Just when I could see the bike back together again - my air filters are due for delivery today - a new problem as reared its head! On one of the carbs the spindle holding the floats in place won’t stay put and even after a gentle tap I can still pull it out with my fingers. My fear is that the spindle itself is not worn so a new one wont make any difference. Any suggestions for a suitable fix?
But is it not the case that the float chamber, when it’s fitted, will prevent The pin sliding out? I’m sure all the Dellortos I had were like that. Memory (which is unreliable!) insists that one of my VHB’s had a loose pin, and it didn’t fall out, and could only be pulled out with the float chamber off.
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Once again Mike many thanks for your very prompt response. I’ve just been and measured everything and you are right - the pin can’t come out when the float bowl is in place. I thought I’d already tried that but what I did was simply offer up the pin on its own and didn’t include the casting as well so no wonder it was loose. Measure twice, cut once I’ll get it right one day but as I’m approaching 80 maybe I can be forgiven!
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I’d have a watch of this, someone who knows what he’s doing.
Many thanks for that - I’ve watched it through and learned a few useful tips from it and don’t think I’ve so far done anything I shouldn’t. However I now have another Issue which I’ve posted as a new item titled Pipercross air filters.
Look out for people telling you its impossible to set up small blocks on Pod type filters - Thats absolutely not true
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