Pulled the carbs from my 86vfr700, now sitting on my worktable. Everything looks pretty clean, no leaky o-rings or torn rubber diaphrams. Bike has about 30k on the clock, so I guess some parts are ready to be replaced. Any hints what I should look for (ie. worn parts) ? Can I get by with a visual inspection or do I need to bring a micrometer to the party ? thanks
Things usually get clogged before anything wears out. If float valves weren't leaking, swab some scotchbrite or #1000 around inside to clean the needle seat of corrosion or dirt and reuse needles. I've begun using wet Q-tips coated with kitchen cleanser spun around in the needle seats to remove deposits. No micrometer, but you'll need to check the float level within + and - 1mm or better. Making a gauge is best for consistent settings, but other tools work too. Shoot some lube down the throttle shafts.
Thanks squirrel. I noticed the float valves have an internal spring, last carb cleaning I had a spring stuck, it took some persuasion to unstick. The float height is a PITA to set. Using a tread depth gauge is a clever idea. Alas, I'll have to wait a while before I can get an AARP card...