OK, so some technical difficulty today. Started to snow(as I was heading for the dunes!) so I decided to throw my pipe on and remove airbox lid and rejet since I had nothing else to do. As I go to remove the float bowl screws, I remembered reading about them being brass and very easy to strip. Well, I managed to strip all four of them[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] Now I need some advice, because I tried everything I could think of, to no avail. Tried slotting one for a flat tip screwdriver, didn't work. Bought some screw extractor tool, you you know one of those things you thread in reversed and once it grabs it pulls the screw out, no luck there. Was going to drill them out, but broke my bit and I really suck at that anyway(darn unsteady hands) so I only want to use this option if nothing else is possible. One thing I heard about was an Impact Screwdriver, I have never seen or heard of one of these, I thought it was like an impact gun, but I guess not, any input on that one? If any of you have any suggestions for me, please chime in. Thanks alot, I appreciate it.

Oh, and I did get 4 allen head screw to put in there once I get these ones out!!!!

 

The best way is to drill the heads off and then you can just unscrew the rest by hand after you take the bowl off. Works great, I have done it a ton of times on many carbs. The only other thing that has worked well for me is find a pair of vise-grips that are small enough to get a good grip on the head and still have room to turn a little and work them loose this way. But, even though you don't want to, the drill is probably your best bet. Good luck!

 

I have had good luck clamping a set of vise grips on the heads and spinning them that way to get them started. Just out of curiosity, why did you have to remove the float bowl? Usually you can get to the pilot and main byremoving the 17mm screw/cap on the bowl. Access to the needle should be through the top of the carb.

 

Well, unless I am blind and did not see it(which has happened before) this carb does not have a screw or cap on the bowl. I did try some vise grips too, just chewed the screws up though. Thanks for the input though fella's.

 

sounds like he thinks you have a yfz carb. there is no nut on a z400 carb. i did the vise grip thing, i put them on as tight as i could and pushed down and turned slowly. all i have to say is allen screws,i'd change jets 2 or three time and replace the allens. i hate stripped screws!!!!
sounds like you may need to try the dail-jet, ive heard it works good for people that ride in diffrent elevation.

 

Yeah, I want a Dial-A-Jet, since I do ride alot of different elevations. I'm going to try some vice grips again tommorow, been doing some light reading and realized I took the wrong route for gaining better access to my carb, so it should be easier this time, hopefully it works! It amazes me how much more different working on this is compared to my Honda. That was my favorite about the trike, very easy to work on.

 

This happened to me on my Z400. I chewed the dang things up trying to get them out, had one stuck and it was mutilated. Took the carb to my local Yammy shop and Todd a great mechanic and friend. He got a tiny little chisel, got it positioned on the screw so that a tap would bust the screw counter-clockwise, and with one nice little tap of a small ball peen hammer, pop! That sucker was loose. Unscrewed it the rest of the way by hand, tossed it in the trash, went on with life. I almost kissed him.

 

I am also a fan of the vice grips but if that doesn't work I would take the heads off so you can get the bowl off then unscrew them like mentioned prior to this. Good luck!

 

No, I don't think he has a YFZ carb. Most of the carbs I have had have an access screw so you don't have to remove the float bowl. Live and learn I guess. Anyway, did you ever get it apart?

 

i put a yfz carb on my kfx-400(z) and i love how easy you can change the jet and needle.i wish they all were like that. my votes for efi on all quads!!!!