Another question about carbs

[gdeangel]

Just got an '88 454 with 5K miles. Guy who sold it to me had it just sitting in his garage for 6 years. When I went to see it, the fuel system was so mucked up that it basically wouldn't start, ran super rich, and idled very fast when it finally did start, etc. However it did rev very smoothly up to 10K RPM without a hiccup once it was started.

I sprayed some seafoam in the carb intake, through the air box (couldn't figure out how to get access to the throttle plate), burned it out, and leaned the mix with the pilot air screw (after reading the page on this site about carbs). Now it seems to be starting reliably, not dying the instant the choke is opened, and idling smoothly at a nice 1200 RPM, BUT now the engine falters when its revved, and it won't rev past 6K RPM.

I'm thinking there's nothing to it but to clean the carbs - probably main jet and jet needle clogged is what I'm thinking (again, from great explanation on this site).

I've got a shop manual that explains how to clean the carb, but it doesn't walk you through how to get them off the bike. They are really wedged in there. Same thing for the air intake box, straddling the frame post, I have no idea how to get it out to be able to back off the carburetors. Can someone please help me with a step by step of how to get the carb's off without breaking anything!

Thanks in advance.

[Blaine]

I would first suggest that you put some Sea Foam in the fuel,as spraying it in the carb will not clean any of the inner jets of the carb.Spraying it in the carbs does more to clean the combustion chamber & valves.You need to remove the carbs before you can remove the air box.To remove the carbs,loosen the clamps on the boots,and pry the boots back,at the air box side.(a little heat from a hair dryer will help) The boots will literally fold inside themselves.Than the carbs pull straight off the front boots.(you will need to wiggle the carbs up & down to get them out of the boots).

[gdeangel]

Sept 10, 2011 21:03:21 GMT -6 Blaine said:

I would first suggest that you put some Sea Foam in the fuel...

Thanks that's very helpful.

Should I mix Sea Foam directly with the fuel in the tank, or should I try to pour it into one of the vacuum hoses, as per some of the sea foam video's I've come across?

[eaglerider]

Pour it into the tank....about 2 to 3 ounces per a full tank should be enough.

[qwerser]

Really make sure you clean out the jets and look under the float seat as well, that where I found most of the gunk at yesterday, but if you find out the rpm problem please share, cause I have the same problem. the carbs are sterile, but it doesn't want to go past 4000