New 454 owner, missing carb parts!

[rdfletch]

Hi there, name's Rod. Recently picked up an 85 454 on the super cheap, as a first bike/project. To my knowledge, it's been at least 9 years since it ran. However, it does seem to at least have been stored properly. I've so far had to get a key made, buy a battery, and change oil & filter. My last couple tasks to actually hear it run involve cleaning/coating the fuel tank, and putting the carbs back together. After looking at a youtube vid and reading a few things here and there, I've at this point determined I am missing a float needle(bought rebuild kits already), and found I am also missing one pilot jet, and the screws that hold the bowls on. 

The only thing I haven't really found a solution to is the pilot jet. I looked through Jets R Us, which wasn't too helpful. 

Everything else looks clean. Relevant info, I am planning on doing the PAIR removal, and pods. I'm considering doing the 22 cent mod, also. I thought about just buying a set of EX500 carbs, but I want to hear this thing run first. If anyone has thoughts on any of this, they'd be appreciated. 

All goes well, I've seen a few examples of these as bobbers, so that's the plan. Still needs tires, and I need to swap out the brake master. No doubt I'll run into a few other things, but the bike cost me $200, and I think I've spent another $150 on it so far, so I can't complain!

[knoizy]

Hi there, a couple of thoughts. Get the valves set correctly and hook up a temp fuel bottle to work on the carbs as you'll be lucky to get them right first time, maybe check out a DIY manometer, carb balancer. DON'T switch to pods until you've got the carbs running with the stock airbox and filters in place. I've not seen anyone get 454 pods tuned to their satisfaction without *lots* of trial and error and my favourite was the guy who had to clip a pair of socks over the pods to restrict the airflow! Good luck.

[Blaine]

Mar 21, 2018 14:59:33 GMT -6 knoizy said:

Hi there, a couple of thoughts. Get the valves set correctly and hook up a temp fuel bottle to work on the carbs as you'll be lucky to get them right first time, maybe check out a DIY manometer, carb balancer. DON'T switch to pods until you've got the carbs running with the stock airbox and filters in place. I've not seen anyone get 454 pods tuned to their satisfaction without *lots* of trial and error and my favourite was the guy who had to clip a pair of socks over the pods to restrict the airflow! Good luck.

After a lot of trial & error I did & posted all the results.