Carburator sight lens/windows

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LC Cnd
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Carburator sight lens/windows

#1 Post by LC Cnd » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:20 am

Have a couple sets of Mikuni carbs and note the sight window(s), to view the thottle slide dimples for carb balancing, are so yellowed I can't see the dimples. Both carb sets are like this and I would like to clear them up without causing damaging. Suspect it may be the same process as taking the yellowing off car headlights. Was suggested to use Auto-solve metal cleaner. Is there a better method?

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JonW
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#2 Post by JonW » Wed Sep 28, 2016 5:50 am

Ive never done it, but an ear bud in a drill might be the go for this?
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#3 Post by ststrider » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:10 am

if you have a rotary tool like a dremel one of the felt bits with some rubbing compund or polish or even maybe autosol would work. just be careful not to overheat the plastic as it can turn cloudy.

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L.B
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#4 Post by L.B » Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:44 am

There is the "microbrush" option too.
Tiny soft bristle brushes in different sizes.i usually use the 4mm ones. Also some brands are able to bend the ends & hold position. Also can be used to clean carb passages etc & cheap enough to throw away when done.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#5 Post by Arrow » Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:24 am

Mine were both missing so I made some new ones from celulose acetate sheet.

LC Cnd
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#6 Post by LC Cnd » Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:42 am

Arrow how hard was it to core the celulose acetate sheet and what did you use to seal it? Have a dremel, hmm.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#7 Post by Arrow » Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:18 pm

I found a small piece in the loft, don't know where it came from, I was pretty certain it was cellulose acetate. Try eBay. The bike ran just the same without them fitted. I just made them a tight fit, its a chore getting the right size by sanding the circumference of something that's about 8mm diameter, but these jobs need to be done sometimes and no one would ever know they were not original.

Other materials may be available. I just left a small sample in a jar of petrol for a week to test it was fit for the job.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#8 Post by LC Cnd » Wed Sep 28, 2016 9:47 pm

Suspect that you pressed the new windows from the inside of the carb, no?

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#9 Post by Arrow » Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:56 am

No, there is a shoulder. They are fitted from the outside.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#10 Post by RuZty » Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:44 am

You could also try to source one of those small round rubber tips the dentist uses to polish your teeth. Option 2 would be to make friends with a dental hygienist.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#11 Post by Bare » Thu Sep 29, 2016 1:34 pm

A dremel with a polishing wheel using polishing compound Helps.. gets rid of about half of the cloudy. Can see thru enough though.
Rest is in the plastic itself.
Save your Coin and buy a pair of PWKS. A Major improvement.

LC Cnd
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#12 Post by LC Cnd » Sun Oct 02, 2016 1:53 pm

Are you talking about the British Standard Amal 626 carb replacements? Found my dremel today but thought I'd ask. Saw some fm China (cheap Ebay but you get...) - bit leary. Who in BC sell them resonably? Also, do float armature tabs have a dimples to keep the needle valve centred or is what's picuture wear n' tear after 30 plus years?
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LC Cnd
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#13 Post by LC Cnd » Sun Oct 02, 2016 11:21 pm

Dremel was useless - polished the outside metal ring that holds the sight hole only. Made the sight hole cloudy'er. Arrow what was the thickness of the celulose acetate sheet or the new window you created?

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Arrow
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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#14 Post by Arrow » Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:11 am

I just used the stuff I found that was thinner than standard. It doesn't really matter. 1mm thick would be a good size to use.

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Re: Carburator sight lens/windows

#15 Post by Bare » Thu Oct 06, 2016 12:18 pm

That float arm is old/worn. Likely the entire Mikunis are as well.
Seriously unlikely That Bike had 30k miles :-)

Google for:
OEM Kawasaki Keihin Carburetor PWK spare parts for a KX100 KX85 KX 100 85 2001 2002 2003-2013
OR go to SUDCO.com
Used to be ~90$ each. not that long ago. Much more now, modene times apparently.
Clones are typically Garbage, despite cosmetics, don't waste any money/hope buying those

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