Took the carb apart on my recently purchased 2003 z400. It had been sitting for a few years, so I knew it would need a good once over.
No surprise, it was pretty gunked up, so I removed the jets and soaked and cleaned them.
I did not clean the pilot screw, honestly because I didn't see it. After looking at a manual online, I found that its behind a plug that you have to drill out.
The quad won't start and I know that pilot screw needs to be addressed. My question is, how important is it to put a plug back in there?
Also, if I get a rebuild kit, will it come with a new plug?
thanks!

 

Dont need the plug, drill through the plug, about 1/4 inch thick, get a metal screw and screw into the plug, pull plug out with vise grips you will find the air-fuel screw under neath, clean out the port and set the scrwe at 2 to 2.5 turns out.

 

awesome!
thanks!
and the turns out was going to be the next question

 

Pulled the carb and cleaned it, it had a lot of gunk in it. Later went back and pulled and cleaned the pilot needle, and put it back in, and set it to 2.5 turns out.
getting spark, but still no start.
Any thoughts?
shoud I buy the carb rebuild kit?

 

Is gas getting to the carb? The filter in the tank or the fuel petcock could be clogged. If that model has a fuel pump is it working?

 

yeah the bowl is filling up. I loosened the drain screw on the bottom and fuel comes out. I also dumped the gas and put in fresh before i put the tank back on

 

Does it have compression? Could a valve be stuck open since the machine was sitting for a few years as you said?

 

hadn't thought of that.
Is there a way to test compression with out a compression tester? A friend has one I can borrow, but it'll be a few days before I can get to him, and I've been sitting around thinking about what it could be.
I'll probably check the valves, I hope I don't have to end up pulling the motor apart

 

Hold you finger on the spark plug hole and spin the engine over. It should blow your finger off the hole. Not very accurate but it will tell if it has any compression at all.

 

I'll give that a shot, but where the plug goes is pretty deep