Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Set my carbs today

So I got the D-tool today from Brent. (Thanks for the mint!) I set my carbs to 3 turns out. This seemed to be the sweet spot for the best idle. I also resurrected my old Carb Stix from 20 years ago with a new dose of mercury and some new tubing and synced my carbs. They were way off. There was at least 1.5" difference between the two mercury columns. I left the tank on and used a 1/4" drive ratchet with a 1/4" socket and a Philips screwdriver bit taped into the socket so it wouldn't fall out. It worked great. The bike runs better. Smoother acceleration and better throttle response. NOW....it's time to call Peter Carleo and get my blue left pipe replaced. It is blueing right at the first bend so I suspect that the inner and outer wall are to close at this point. We'll see what he says. Thanks to Pat and all here that helped!!

glad your happy with your bike now. let us know what happens about the warrenty

Frank

Will do. I am glad I found something wrong. I think it's still a pipe issue though. I hope Peter works with me on it. So is Semichrome the best stuff to remove the blue?

NL,what did you turn to sync the carbs? Al

Simichrome has been around for years and years... It is a polish containing 8-10 micron abrasive. There are a few more agressive polishes available, but I have always used Simichrome.... maybe more work, but I'm not afraid of damaging the finish.

If your pipes have actually gone "blue", a power tool is called for. Either remove the pipe and use a bench grinder with a buffing wheel, or get a small air grinder with a buffing wheel and do it on the bike. It has been my experience that once the pipe changes color, you can get most of the discoloration off, but it will come back again.

To do this by hand with Simichrome and a rag, once it has "blued" would take hours and gallons of sweat...

Simichrome is probably the best metal/plastic polish around. I use it on everything, even used it to clear up some plastic headlight covers that had gone yellow on my old truck.

Caswell offers a $20 kit that contains all the bits you need to remove the blue from your pipes. I have this kit and it works very nicely:


Here's the direct link:
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/bluejob.html

Thanks Grump. I have plenty of power tools for buffing. I'll make sure I hit it with them.

There is an adjustment screw in between the carbs that sets the balance. I used a 1/4" ratchet and Philips bit in a 1/4" socket. You have to tape the bit in because the screw faces up...meaning the bit will fall out of the socket if it is not secured in the socket somehow.

This is GREAT for blueing/yellowing exhaust pipes
Link:
http://www.blue-job.com/

Stuff is like magic...
(found in most local "Harley shops") About $10.00
Tip: I have found that after using the product few times, my pipes stay silver longer. The key is letting it sit wet, then buffing when it's dry. like U would a car wax.
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It takes some work, but this will take off melted shoe marks, melted plastic & get our dis-colored stainless headers looking good.
*Your exhaust WILL look silver (chrome) when done & the "blueing" will not re-appear. However, over time they will ALWAYS turn sort of off-gold because they are stainless & have been heated once.

Other Option: Take to a professional local metal pollishing place did mine once. (about$60.00)
Note: they will still turn gold after pollishing. esp. if they over heat in the process!
Once again...Blue job will remove the gold in this case as well.
I use this before showing my bike.

Member,
G@ry J@mes
AIS SUCK!