No fuel/air ratio screw! By curiousgeorge (Read 1,841 times)

[curiousgeorge]

Hey guys, i just have a silver cap where my fuel/air ratio screw should be on my carb. Is this normal? I want to adjust my fuel air ratio because i am only getting 36mpg on my scooter right now to see if that helps with the terrible mileage. I can't adjust the fuel air ratio if there is no screw.

[Bashan]

The EPA makes them seal a lot of them now. Here's a video of a guy that exposed his. I'd be a LOT more careful than he was, especially with the metal shavings! But you'll get the idea.

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks, i appreciate it! Now in general is it important to be able to change the fuel/air ratio, cause i am not sure i trust myself doing that.

[Alleyoop]

On the sealed ones they are usually SET TO LEAN so I do not believe that is your problem to tell you the truth. Usually on your sealed carb you have to RICHEN them up because the motor is running to lean. They set them LEAN to pass emissions(EPA) rules and plug them up so customers cannot readjust them. But they do not understand that here in the US temps very quite a bit from state to state and the carbs need to be adjusted due to the TEMPS and air densities.
Alleyoop

[curiousgeorge]

Well do you think it is worth while to drill it out because the cold weather is just around the corner and it might be useful to be able to adjust it. I am just worried about damaging it is all.

[Alleyoop]

And you are correct, colder weather is coming and you will have to richen it up anyways. So just take your time drilling it out. Do not go to deep 1/8 of an inch the most so put a piece of tape on the drill bit 1/8 from the tip and just drill up to the tape. Then get a small Screw and screw it in and see of you can wiggle the plug out. If you mess it up you can get an aftermarket carb that does not have the screw plugged up. A lot of the folks do that and then they mess with the one that needs to be drilled out. They are cheap run you about $30.00 buck for a new carb.
Alleyoop

[curiousgeorge]

Alleyoop in the video at around 2:10 it seems the guy puts an extra spring on his screw.......what is this and is it needed. Also do happen to know what would be a good carb that would fit my jonway agility 50cc?

[Alleyoop]

Yes the spring is to keep the Screw from Vibrating from where you set it.
Here is what goes into the Fuel Ratio Screw hole and in that order.
Alleyoop

[curiousgeorge]

will i need to acquire these things separately and put them in myself, or are those things already there? cause i don't want to fully remove the screw if i don't have to, i just want to adjust it is all.

[Alleyoop]

Very easy to check,
After you take the plug out Get a small screwdriver and turn it CLOCKWISE and COUNT THE NUMBER OF TURNS it takes until it STOPS do not force it just until it stop. Mark that down so you don't forget. Then unscrew it all the way out and see what is not in there. Now the washer and O-ring may need to be pried out, what I do is take the screw out and Hit the Carb in my hand to catch the washer and O-ring. Sometimes you have to get a small piece of wire to pry them out.

But if you need those parts here is where to get them scroll down you will see the spring washer and o-ring:
Alleyoop
www.harley-performance.com/cv-performance-parts.html

[curiousgeorge]

thanks alleyoop! you have been a big help! just one more question. if it doesn't have that spring or washer or o ring, will the it still work? i mean will i still be able to adjust the air/fuel ratio and run my scooter without those little things?

[Alleyoop]

If you don't have the washer and O-ring it will suck in air through there and you will have problems adjusting the mixture. Now you may get away without the Spring but you will need to put some silicone on the screw so it does not vibrate left or right on you and change the setting.
Alleyoop

[curiousgeorge]

Ok, good to know! I am guessing then that it would be a good idea to just get an o ring, washer and spring first so that way i am ready when i remove the sealed cap. If i remove the cap and i am missing these things it won't run properly so that would not be good.

[Alleyoop]

Yes, either buy those parts or just buy another carb, it will cost you another $20.00 to get a new carb.

Now here is something to think about IF your scoot is a 2011 then there MAY NOT BE A SCREW BEHIND the PLUG that you can unscrew out and adjust. On the newer Scoots even the Screw behind the Plug DOES NOT HAVE A SLOT to be able to turn it.

So to play it save all the way around so you will have a working scoot I would bite the bullet and spend another $20.00 and for a new carb. The spring,washer and O-ring is $9.00 bucks that is a lot for those little parts. The new carb will have everything you want and all new. You then will have spare parts if needed in the future.
Alleyoop

[gatekeeper]

I just drilled three of those carbs that I got free from a rental place. He replaces the carbs on all the new scooters he gets in. All three had all of the parts (screw, spring, washer and o-ring) that they should. The factory had set one screw to 2 turns out and the other two were set to 1 3/4 turns out.