What have you done with your bike today?

[Brockett]

XJ600- stripping and cleaning the carbs Oh! What fun. Golly were they gunked up or what? The pilot jets were so blocked that I could not see any light through them when held up to a torch. My local car parts place sell 500ml carb cleaner for £4.99 so it's not all bad. Then back in the garage and taking care to only slightly dismantle one carb at a time I was making good progress until the last one.
There is a plug at the base of the needle jet tube and when I undid it, it fell off because someone  had broken it. Probably because it is hollow and a little hamfistedness can do much damage . Whoever did it had managed to screw it back in by one turn and after removing the washer. Fortunately there is none of it lost inside the needle jet tube so at least the is no impediment to fitting a replacement. 
"Fowlers"  can supply it and it's long lost washer.  While I was there I ordered four teeny tiny 'O' rings that sit inside the main jets.  Hopefully they'll be delivered by Friday as they are coming first class post Royal Mail.
This is how small it is now. It should be about three mm longer in the thread:-

[Brockett]

A question : All of the Air screws were one and one half turn out. The manual says they should be three turns out. So the question is this: what is a 'turn'? I think a turn is a rotation of 360 degrees.
For this reason I think the air screws were incorrectly set at three 180 degree turns.
As sure as I am that I am right I throw it open here for the views of others.

[Upt North]

I've always understood one turn = 360 degrees.
But everyday is a school day.

[Rusty Nuts]

I agree. 1 turn is always 360 degrees.

[kwackboy]

A turn is 360 deg ..

Generally,  most carburettor air screws should be set to around 1.5 - 2 turns out, 3 turns seems a lot but you'll know if it's too much , the bikes Idle will be high as it adds air to the pilot circuit.

 

[Brockett]

  At least on that issue old age self doubt is put to rest.

[Brockett]

The parts I ordered at 1550 yesterday arrived at 0830 this morning. So well done "Fowlers". Bristol to Harwich in 16 hours

[kwackboy]

Blimey .. for fowlers, that's quick.   

[Brockett]

And Royal Mail. 

[Brockett]

Spent a few hours yesterday evening fitting the newly arrived parts and reassembling the carbs and fitting to the bike.
But too much haste and no thought .... the fuel filter is blocked. With RUST. I managed to get a small torch into the tank and it looks like a piece of sunken ship.
I shall give that POR 15 a go.  I have sent off for their complete kit. I was going to just dump in a few gallons of white vinegar but in the end I do believe we only get what we pay for and short cuts can lead to long detours.
Now then what do I do with two gallons of rust contaminated petrol??  ( and no Mr D you're not having it)

[Rixington43]

Filter it through coffee filters and then bung it in the lawnmower ;)

[mr_diver]

 

[Brockett]

Hello Rixi you trying to kill me .or just set fire to my electric mower.

[Rixington43]

 

[Brockett]

Spent a few hours this afternoon balancing the XJ's carbs with a Morgan Carb Tune.
As it is a dual guage I had to balance No. 1 with No. 2  and then No.3 with No.4 and finally No.1 with No.4. It could have been a whole lot easier if the centre balance screw was a little more get-at-able. But eventually another job done ( tick).
With regard to tank cleaning I see some on youtube use white vinegar at 5% acidity. A quick visit to all the likely local shops and .... no one sells it in 4 or 5 litre bottles. I think AMAZON can help here though so no reason to give up just yet.

[endintears]

@Brockett Tank cleaning.
Allen Millyard recommends a solution of molasses.
I kid you not, Google it.

Caustic Soda maybe?

[Barbel Mick]

Before you clean it with any liquids I suggest that you get 3/4 feet of small link chain & put a small nut & bolt evey 5/6inches along it. Then, insert the whole thing into the tank & shake the f*** out of it. This will hopefully get rid of any loose pieces of rust that a liquid might not.
When you think you've done it enough remove the chain, wash the tank out, water is OK so long as you let it dry out well, then you can use your chosen final clean & seal method. 

[Brockett]

Good advice Mick. I have a nice collection of small thin square nuts for the shake rattle and rolling malarky.

[Barbel Mick]

I noticed he puts the nails, nuts/bolts in with the vinegar & I presume he shook it with it all in? I think if you try that then the 'metal' inside won't move about as much & won't have the full scraping/knocking effect while in the liquid & the tank will be bloody heavy to shake as well!
When I did it with a tank I put the 'metal' in a dry tank & shook it, took it out & then did the cleaning. I used the chain method as it made it easier to get the bits out, you just need a bit of bent wire to hook the chain then it all comes out together. 

[Brockett]

Good point Mick although I already thought I don't have the arms for swishing a tankful. I have just poured half a litre of white vinegar in with a load of old nuts and bolts going in tomorrow and then I'll give it good ol' shake. Couldn't do that with a tank full ( I may not be able to lift it). The POR 15 kit arrived today and I should be picking up the vinegar tomorrow. 
It'll be a three day project and another week or so before it is cured enough to use.