identifing aftermarket needles

Has anyone actually seen the 2VF and 2VD on the diaphragm needles?? This is a 1984 interceptor calif model. My needles are marked 6BE on all 4. The bike is getting WAY to much gas. Starts up fair, NO CHOKE will flood it, then after 15 seconds it starts smoking and loading up bad then dies. Changed oil yesterday to get an idea how much gas might be getting dumped, to my surprise it was FULL of gas. Set floats twice know. Had all 4 floats floating in a container of gas. I can't help to think that that much gas going down the throttle bores has to be caused by a float issue, when I take carbs off there is always gas dripping by the closed throttle plates. This will be the 4th time i have removed
carbs, same problem every time. Frustration and confusion has set in. Of course this is my first bike and bought it not running. Only carbs i have rebuilt have been lawn mower and Volkswagen carbs. Looks like I have a lot to learn!
Oh yea, someone has been into these carbs before I got it, found 2 pilot screw washers missing. What would a bad pilot screw look like? Any and all help would be most appreciated!!!

Mac

 

Somethings wrong with the float needles, NOT the vaccum slide needles.

There is too much fuel in the float bowls, so you need to check the specifications for carb float height and reset them carefully. Get a q-tip and some carb cleaner and swab around the float needle seats.

You have all brass or part rubber needles?? the needle tips could be ruined. New float needles aren't cheap, but u may need them.

look at factory service manual or Clymer or Haynes to see the exact method for measuring and setting.

A bad pilot screw might be missing (it happens) or blunted on the pointy end..... but not responsible for the flooding u describe.

You can check for fuel overflow problems without installing carbs on bike. Just hook up fuel source with carbs on bench.

 

Needles have rubber tips, manual says 6.2 mm float height. I believe I am understanding the instructions correctly. There is a 83 v45 being rebuilt beside me and his instructions for float height are identical to mine other than his 7.0 mm. Between the 2 of us we are interpreting the instructions the same. Not using Honda tool. Honda says 53.00 a carb for needle and seat combo. Had carbs ultrasonic cleaned also. Floats are 33.00 dollars each. Also just read a service bulletin from 2002 showing the diaphragm needles have been changed to 2VB just to add to the confusion.

Mac

 

are there any dents,depressed rings or grooves visible on the needle tips??

i think that you have verified that the floats float, so check the needle tips for imperfections.

 

When in doubt, replace the float needles.

If the rubber feels rock hard and there is a ring on the rubber that won't rub out - you need to replace them. Also, if the weight of the float causes the pin to recede into the float needle, you need to replace them.

Shop around, aftermarket float needles are much cheaper than OEM. Just make sure the size is exact.

And "Yes" - I did use the following words in the same sentence: rock hard, rubber, ring and rub.

Now clean up the coffee on your keyboard and get back to work!!!