85 VF500F Carb Pilot Screw Help

Well, I may have gone and done a big no-no. For some reason, my mind was thinking that I needed to set all of the pilot screws to two full turns out and now the bike doesn't want to run. Guess I was thinking they were just like the fuel/air mixture screws on my 73 350. Not sure if this is that actual problem. I also added a fuel filter just prior to adjusting the pilot jets. Could also be a dirty fuel problem as well. Just one of many possibilities I'm thinking of.

Am I screwed now, or is it a pretty easy fix? I really want to get the bike up and running.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Dija count the # of turns on the screws b4 you began adjusting ?? That would be a handy # for reference and a baseline setting for YOUR bike.

Open float bowl drain screws to see if your carbs are getting fuel.....

Any pinhole, crack or airleak on vaccum line won't pull diaphram open, so no fuel to carbs.

 

From what I remember, this was last weekend mind you, that I had to turn 3 of the 4 more than two turns. The other maybe half a turn, but that carb has been acting a little weird (was never sure it was running correct). If turning them out increases the mixture to rich, that would explain somethings that have been going on.

Brief history: Bought the bike in January (owner said the bike had only been sitting a few years - tags expired in 99, so I really don't know for sure). Tried starting it. No fuel to carbs at first, finally it started to kick over, but only on the back two cylinders. Thought I had a bad coil and/or spark unit, so I replaced both. Still wasn't the solution. A few people suggested the pulse generator. I finally tracked one down from a salvage yard. Installed it and still couldn't get spark on the front two cylinders. Replaced the plugs as well (all 4 were very black). Tried swapping the spark units and that was the final piece in the puzzle of the ignition. I took the carbs out and found out that 3 of the 4 were clogged up really bad. Cleaned everything really well and reinstalled. After a few moments of waiting to get fuel into the carbs, it kicked over on all 4. Soon discovered that I had a couple of oil leaks, one in the rear valve cover gasket and the other in the right crankcase cover gasket (from when I changed the pulse generator). Forgot to mention that the gas tank had some rust in there (hence the fuel filter I installed before I started playing with the pilot screws). I haven't gotten around to draining the old gas out and cleaning the tank. I've been starting the bike up every few days up until last Sunday. I thought I had the bike running after I adjusted the pilot screws, but can't remember exactly.

So that's where I'm at now. I plan to run through everything again over the weekend.

 

I have a feeling that they could be clogged again. There was a weeks time in between when I cleaned them and installed the fuel filter and had the bike running a lot. I'll be able to give more detail over the weekend once I get the oil leaks fixed and clean the carbs again (I'll pay attention to the enrichment circuit as well).

 

If rust is in your tank it's in your carbs too----especially likely to block the fine mesh filter screens located just above float needle seats.

You can clean out a rusty tank but it will contiunue to shed flakes until it's coated properly.

 

Your in good hands. Both are correct and Tink's advise to be sure it is correct is the best.