Carb Sync / Pilot Screw Question
 

Hey, so I'm going to be balancing the carbs, and I'm not sure whether I need to do a pilot screw adjustment as well. Is it recommended? If so, is there a specific order to do the adjustments?

It starts and runs okay, but room for improvement. Takes a few turns to start, and the idle is definitely a little bit choppy

The bike has sat for a couple years, but had been drained properly. I popped the float bowls open and they look pretty clean. Not concerned about clogging/gumming up

It's an '87, so the pilot screw adjusters are on the sides, but it still seems super tricky to get a screwdriver on them, and there's a lot of different tools on the market. Any recommendations? Can I just bend a screwdriver?

Any other tips for tuning these things up? Thanks

Is this your rebuild project? If so, IMO I would go through them. You went through a lot of effort to make sure the engine is spot on correct. The carbs are the easy part. Again, that's just my opinion. The special tools you would need are a good tach, sync gauge set and the fuel mixture tool. You could bend a screwdriver I suppose, though I've never done that. I have a Motion Pro tool for the job.
Besides running right, how old are the O-rings?

That sounds like good advice. I had trouble finding the pilot screws the first time but on closer inspection I have decent access (apparently later years were a real pain)

Does it matter if I sync them first, then do the pilot screw adjustment, or should I do it the other way around?

Good deal. Sync them 1st. You want them acting as one before you anything else. Look at the positive side, since you know your valve clearances are good, you're already past the 1st step of dialing in the carbs.

Sounds good. Thanks for the assist (I've never actually tuned one of these things before)

No worries, glad to help. It's not all that mystical of a process, especially if you have a stock or mostly stock setup. It's when you start adding performance exhaust and things like that when the black arts come into play.

Hamlin, what is the motion pro part number for the fuel mixture tool. I need to do mine.

Here you go. Part No. 08-0229.

You can also buy a little one that isn't as fancy. It's about the size of a crayon. I don't know the part number for that. I think I got mine with a jet kit I purchased

Excellent, thank you!

Is this the little one:

https://www.motosport.com/motion-pro-pilot-screw-adjust

I just want to make sure the bend isn't too long to fit in between the carbs. My screws are slotted, the D shaped OEM's were probably replaced long ago. If I didn't have to spend three times the money for the 08-0229 that would be preferable, although I would if I had to as I think there is one small space on my shelf for expensive tools that I will hardly ever use :)