Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Idle adjustment

Has anyone ever unscrewed their idle adjustment screw to the point that it came completely out? If so, how did you get back in? Because I've been trying all night and cant seem to ge the threads to line up. I've got the tank off so i can get a good look at it but I just cant seem to get it threaded. I'm frusterated!

Sometimes it takes "safecracker" fingers to feel your way into threads . It's an aquired feel , you'll just have to work at it and not get in a hurry and force the threads ( DON'T ) . Do a visual to make sure the threads are good on the male end and not "boogered up" as we say in the South .

You can always remove the carbs first.

Bad as that sounds...it is the best way to get that varmit back in its place. I did it the first day I had my bike a few years ago. Not to bad a deal, ya need to know how to jerk the carbies anyhoo. Chalk it up to "product research".

My next question is. Can I drive it about three mile to our new place? Or will that hurt anything? Even with the adj turned all the way out it still idles about 1200 rpm.

Well that ain't right! What'd you do to it?

That sounds like a slide is stuck or a cable is frayed and binding. The bike should just stall with the idle all the way down.

I took the carbs off this afternoon and much to my suprise I found that the inner diameter threads on the carb are stripped out. I really dont think that i stripped them b/c I didnt put very much pressure on the threads when I was trying to rethread the Idle adjustment. I guess I'm gonna make a trip to the hardware store to get a tap and retap the hole. Still Frusterated!

Ouch. You might wanna consider having a machinist heli coil it. There's very little room for error in the plane of those particular threads, as they position the needle end. Then there's the softness of cast aluminum factor. If it comes to that, you might supply to the machinist or tool maker the heli coil(s), tap and drill, to save some money and time. It may not be a size they see every day, and their time is your money. I believe the taps for heli coils are a non-standard size.

I agree with having a machinist repair those threads. Don't want to chance damaging the seat. If you , or anyone else, stripped those out by bottoming the screw out then the seat is already damaged and you will need a new carb.

You do realize that there is a spring, and o-ring and a tiny flat washer that go up into that hole. I can't imagine the threads being stripped out but you've got the carbs off and in your hands, right? Good luck. Hope you get it straightened out soon.

Well I'm still waiting for the tap. Incase anyone wants to know the tap size its a 5mm x .05. I'm gonna send the tap and carbs down to baxter cycle down in Omaha, Ne. They are the closest triumph dealer that know of. If all else fails I know ebay has a few carbs for around the $200-250 range. Its a shame because the weather has been so nice latley and of course all my hardly buddies are giving me a hard time.

shove a tooth pick in there with some duct tape and ride!

No, in this case you have to wrap duct tape around the toothpick to the proper diameter so it sort of threads in. Course then you could J-B that in place to be sure!

(Don't try this at home!)

Well I've retapped the stripped threads and have everything back together. I even rerouted the throttle cables and I'm still idleing at about 1100rpm. I'm done messing with it I'm gonna make an appointment tomorrow with a local guy to see if they can fine tune some things. While its their I just as well have new White Walls put on

There are a spring, washer and O ring up there that have probably tipped so that you can't get the screw back in untill you pull the carbs and turn them over. Even then, you may have to fish them out and put them on the screw to get it all back together.