I just bought a 98 f3. Turns out its running really rich. I first noticed the problem when it was dieing out on the highway. When i got it home i noticed that there was a gas smell coming out of the exhaust. i checked the oil and there was gas in there too, checked the plugs and they were fouled with gas. So i pulled the carbs and checked the float level and it seems to be pretty right on. checked the main jets and #1&4 are 142 #2&3 are 145. From what ive been reading this seems to be high. by the way i have stock air filter and yoshimura exhaust(i think slip-on but not sure but headers are all rusted so i think they are original) My question is what do you guys recomend for jets? should i go back to stock to get a baseline or do you think i could start with a 138, 140. I just dont want to spend a ton of money having to buy 2 jet kits. Also does anyone have any suggestions on where to get jets cheaply? Could these high jets caused all of these probs like gas in oil?

Thanks for the help guys.
Mike

 

Too big of a main wouldn't have put gas in your oil. You have/had a float sticking on you. Don't buy another kit, just the jets you want. Cheapest place I've found is www.jetsrus.com Get the offbrand, not the keihin. They are every bit as good as the OEM's. They run less than 3 bucks apiece for the round slotted ones stock CV's use.

 

ok ill check that site out for the jets. so you say i have a float stciking? What would cause that? should i get new floats just to be sure or what should i check and what parts would fix the problem of them sticking?
Thnaks Mike

 

Dirt/sediment from the tank or worn out float needles will cause gas to seep past and down the cylinder walls into your oil.I suggest checking your float height which should be 13.6 mm from the carb float bowl gasket surface to the top of the floats when the carbs are flipped upside down.I suspect the rubber tips on 1 or more of the float needle is worn and not sealing.Carb cleaner will also damage them.

 

Just a sidenote...Don't flip them all the way over when checking float height. Float tang should be resting against the spring loaded pin on top of the needle. If you turn them too far over they can depress the pin giving you false reading.

 

what should i look for on the needle to show wear? will there be visible signs of wear or should i just replace the needles to be sure.
thanks for the help.
Mike

 

Give them a really good cleaning first. This should help

http://www.rrzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6537

After you clean them and get them back together (if you have enough slack in fuel line) connect fuel line up to them before installing. Then unplug connector at fuel cutoff relay and run jumper wire from black to black/white wire. Then have someone turn key on while you hold carbs at angle they'd be at if installed and let pump fill bowls. It's alot easier and saves you hassle of installing them and finding out they still leak.
You can look through back of carbs and if float is still sticking fuel will rise up around needle and run down front of carbs. Alot of times it's just a dirty seat. Use a Qtip soaked in B-12 mentioned in above how-to and clean seat really good. Then blow out with airline to make sure no cotton fibers are left behind.

 

cool, thanks for the info and the tip for checking the fuel level. I noticed when i took apart the carbs tht there was a lot of sediment on and in the jet holder. so im pretty sure that had at least something if not everything to do with it. Thank you for your help. this forum is really great because of its members,

Mike Ecker