problem shimming needles

[06VMAXIMUS]

Got the marks pipes installed, and pulled the slides to shim the needles but I am having a problem. Everything fits fine until I put the small spring and keeper screw in place. When I tighten the keeper screw, it makes the needle tight and therefore makes the slide tight when I install it in the carb. If I loosen the keeper screw a little, it frees up the needle and allows everything to slide as it should. I don't know if anyone else has run into this when shimming the needles, but some help would be appreciated. I don't know if I should "clip" a little off of the small spring, or shave a little off of the plastic keeper screw. Help? Bob

 

[Rhoy Carter]

Shave a little off the keeper screw

 

[one2dmax]

Did you get the nipple of the plastic spacer sitting down into it's tiny hole??
Sean

 

[KJShover]

Did you get the nipple of the plastic spacer sitting down into it's tiny hole??
Sean

+1, they'll move on ya and not seat right if your not carefull.

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

Yes, the plastic nipple was seated correctly. There just isn't enough room for the extra .040 worth of shims. I ended up placing a .040 shim under the plastic retaining cap. This put me back to the factory "slack" that the needle has to prevent binding. This should be done by anyone who has shimmed their needles IMO. If the needle is tight in the slide, it will cause the slide to bind and not function correctly. I also found that if you use a plastic tube (from a can of spray penetrant), placed through the slide, it acts as a guide to install the washers and needles into position. Got the bike back together, and it seems to run great, but I still need to check my float levels and other settings.

 

[maleko89]

That's a thick shim. 1/2 clip shims are about .013 inches.

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

That's a thick shim. 1/2 clip shims are about .013 inches.

Its actually 2 shims stacked together, from radio shack. From what I read, that's what everyone here is running with the Marks pipes. Runs good.

 

[1967vmax]

If it was me id try the next size jet,and remove at least 1 of the shims Pauls kit is .5 shim an .75 shim .

 

[bro.betterley]

My radio shack shims are about .022, so im shimmed to .044 and my needles are tight. but dont bind when installed?

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

My radio shack shims are about .022, so im shimmed to .044 and my needles are tight. but dont bind when installed?

Make sure you can "wiggle" the needle side to side and in and out with the keeper screw installed. Mine were tight and even though I could get the slide to go into the carb, I could feel a very slight drag.....this is no good, it has to be extremely free in order to work properly.

 

[bro.betterley]

so how exactly did you get them to be slack again?

 

[adamax]

Hi, I've been there before :biglaugh:. It happened when I added one shim to an already existing one. You may keep both shims if you want, but make sure that you are lightly wiggling the shim WHILE you are tightening the plastic screw. The needle must be free after tigtening the plastic screw. Needless to say as mentioned earlier, the plastic pin must be correctly in place. Good luck.

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

so how exactly did you get them to be slack again?

Added a .040 shim under the head of the plastic retaining screw (the screw with the slot for a flat head screwdriver). This put the "play" amount back to stock.

 

[bro.betterley]

and how did this raise the needle any?

 

[dannymax]

and how did this raise the needle any?

It didn't bro....the .040" shim he put between the c-clip and plastic spacer raised the needle but caused it to pinch under the plastic keeper screw. This add'l. .040" was placed under the keeper screw to unpinch the needle

 

[bro.betterley]

i get it now just a little slow, i just took 20 thousands of the bottom surface of the keeper screw

 

[06VMAXIMUS]

i just took 20 thousands of the bottom surface of the keeper screw

I was tempted to do the same but was a little concerned about getting the plastic threads to engage again....especially when they are way down in the slide where you can't see if they are "starting" correctly.