rebuild begins, carb question

[dave Esch]

Apoligies if this post drags on. I just got my engine gasket kit in the mail last week and went out to replace the valve cover gasket. To my dismay, even dropping the engine forward did not give me enough space to pull the valve cover out. SOOOoooooo, I guess I will just use ALL the gaskets in the kit and start pulling the motor apart. What I found interesting, and leading into my original question, I pulled the carbs apart to have a gander at their condition. They were beautiful inside. I found #105 jets with the needles set to the richest notch. Last year I had a fellow rider tell me he cannot ride behind me on the freeway because I was burning too rich and gassing him out. I set the needles two notches leaner. Where should they be? 76 750k. 4 pod filters and a 4 to 1 straight pipe. I also am now wondering if this is the cause of my poor starting, fouled plugs and lack of the power I should have. Sometimes I need to ride around the block at near full throttle before the bike fires on all 4 cylinders.

[sgtslag]

Get rid of the pod filters, install an OEM air box, and THEN tune your carbs.  The carbs on these bikes, at least the 79's and later, depend upon the vacuum setup created by the OEM air box -- pods will never create the correct, functional, air-flow necessary to make the carbs run properly.  Pods look neat, but they just don't work (see caveat, above, on years).

You can, however, use a K&N air filter (approx. $60?), if you want to increase the air flow.  I have one in mine, but I would probably go with an oiled, UNI foam filter, instead, if I could do it over again -- less money?  Cheers!