Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Carburetor Float Needle Valve Replacement

[@Robbo337]

This is really easy to watch; everything is super clear, nicely paced and user friendly; you're a natural teacher, brilliant!

[@richnbeth]

Wow, thanks J. I really appreciate that my friend.

[@fredallen5354]

Enrique. just wanted to say "thank you" for your time, expertise and effort you put into this video. I had an unexplained fuel leak after my pristine 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 800B bike fell over. My independent motorcycle mechanic flaked out on me after holding the bike for three weeks. I am a former real estate guy and now a financial trader. I was a trained helicopter crew chief on gunships in the Vietnam war, so I have some mechanical aptitude. By carefully following your video, I was able to pull the carburetor, clean, replace the float valve and inspect the jets, diaphragm and needle valve. The carb did have loose gunk in the bowl, which probably lodged in the float valve. The valve did have a very minor wear ring, so I replaced it. During the process, I discovered the petcock valve also had a leak. That was the easiest thing to replace. Reassembly was no picnic, but your video made it possible. I live fifty miles from a major town where there are repair shops. Loading the 500 + pound bike to haul was not an option. Again "Thanks". You saved the day. I "Liked" and subscribed to your channel. You should upload a mini concert of your wife playing the piano. You mentioned she was giving lessons upstairs and the background music might be heard in the video. I was unable to hear it. I would enjoy hearing a concerto.

[@richnbeth]

I'm so glad the video was helpful my friend! I wish you many safe miles on your bike, and thank you for your service!! I will tell my wife what you said, she will get a kick out of that. Take care!!

[@scottduede8134]

This is pretty much exactly what I've got to do on a '97 Vulcan 800. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome you are, dude. You're the man!

[@tmccarty633]

As many have already commented, great video on the detailed explanation on how to take the carb off! I had just finished removing mine off my 1998 Vulcan 800 and then saw your video. You didn't miss a beat.

[@richnbeth]

Thanks my friend, I'm glad it helped!

[@retromotors383]

I've done this job before but it's been a while, so I followed you through the steps as a reminder. Let me offer my congratulations on a very well done instructional video. You are logical, methodical and best of all can actually form coherent sentences. (That's getting to be pretty much a lost art!) Thanks for your efforts.

[@richnbeth]

Thanks a lot my friend, i appreciate that awesome feedback!

[@soundspoon]

Thanks man. This helped me a lot removing the carb! My process was a little different because my bikes previous owner installed an aftermarket intake system. Once that was off, it was identical to your video. Those two torx bit bolts on the clamp were very annoying to get off with a small L shaped torx bit hand wrench. You are lucky to have that long bit!!!

[@soundspoon]

Completed the job, float needle had a small ring worn around the tip. Massaged it with some motor oil for a minute and re-reassembled everything. Sanded down the float pin a little bit as well as it sat very tight in the hinge. Bike has been running great ever since. Main issue was that fuel stared pouring out of the carb when I opened the fuel line. Float must have been stuck. All good now.

[@stevevanpuyenbroeck7641]

Thanks for the video me and my buddy just did this carb repair this weekend bikes running great couldn’t thank you enough

[@richnbeth]

That's great... I"m glad the video helped!

[@CaietdelaMate]

Bless you! Best wishes and thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart and all the way from Romania!

[@paulbaker3144]

Nice clear description on this video. And done carefully. I don’t think he mentioned that a previous carb rebuild might have bent the float tab if not done carefully. There are ways to check the float level on some carbs. I only did that a couple times 35 years ago on Datsuns and it was tricky the first time. Not sure how to do it on a Kawasaki.

[@JustPlainCommonSense]

This is an awesome tutorial. I've placed in a Vulcan playlist so I can reference it should I need it in the future. Thanks!

[@richnbeth]

That's great, I'm glad to hear that it was useful.

[@tat2dave69]

Great thanks you will be along side me tomorrow whilst I'm doing mine as I broke down tonight petrol everywhere

[@cartercoleman486]

Great breakdown and info is on point. Just slow enough to be intelligent without being boring

[@richnbeth]

Thanks Carter!

[@deborahchesser7375]

Clip a small a piece of drain hose that comes with the battery and put it behind the nut on the batt post, that way the nuts won’t fall out.

[@chriselliott758]

Thanks for making the video. Good delivery and pace. I am recommissioning a VN800 for a friend. Its was stripped completely over 2 years ago for a refurb. I got the job of putting it back together like a Chinese puzzle. It would be helpful follow through on the various and (multiple) pipes that are attached to the bike as VN800's have a reputation for vacuum leaks, the carb securing design particularly must have been signed off on a Friday afternoon. (Poor design/Access) The single pipe under the tank I guess is the filler recess over flow pipe and it goes down behind the engine after passing through the choke lever bracket. The three pipes on the back of air filter 1, 2 & 3. One of them from the scavenging unit is obvious as its the 4th pipe as a unit (moisture) drain outlet. But what of the others? What are they and where do they go/connect/vent? Also the green taped pipe that comes off the large outlet(inlet) next to the choke lever. What is the other end connected to in this case?

[@lancejackson864]

This is by far one if the greatest videos I have ever watched!!! Thanks big time, and I fully respect your patience man. Lol

[@richnbeth]

Thanks brother, I'm glad it was helpful.

[@tommyjackson6216]

Great job on video very clear information recommend stable aditive in gasoline to help with storage. Our gas is not the same

[@1goddarddr]

I finally got doesn't leak anymore thanks how is having a problem understandings how the float needle attached to the tongue buy the wire that is part of the float needle made sure good seat thanks for your video 1995 Vulcan 800

[@dbergant1]

Good job, buddy clear and easy to follow. Appreciate it!

[@richnbeth]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback!

[@upraveen123]

Hello Enrique...i saw the entire video and wow very straight forward and easy advise. I have quick question...My 2003 Kawasaki vulcan 800 does not want to start and I can smell gas..do you think the needle is the problem?

[@richnbeth]

Thanks Prav! I appreciate the comment my friend. I'm sorry to hear your bike isn't starting, I know it's frustrating. I've had two needles get stuck on different motorcycles (this Vulcan and a Softail). In both cases gasoline would leak into the air filter housing and if I didn't shut the fuel valve off it would drain the tank. So if you aren't seeing gasoline in the air filter box it probably isn't the needle sticking. Did this problem come on all of a sudden, or did the bike get harder to start over time?

[@upraveen123]

@@richnbeth I got this motorcycle off my friend who had kept it in the garage without using for more than 5 years. Its mint so just exploring the possibilities

[@bryanspade8135]

Thanks for this video! I pulled my carburetor out today and when I took out the float, the needle didn't come with it. After I managed to get the clip unhooked from the tongue, I tried pulling on the needle with some pliers but it wouldn't budge. Any suggestions?

[@jasonhenderson3923]

Great video! Thank you....I will let you know how it goes.

[@richnbeth]

Thanks I hope it helped!

[@kutmirikatma]

I have same problem with my VN800, it runs Ok but when i stop the bike after while it starts leaking from carburetoer , i ordered new float and needle valve and had it replaced last week, i could not notice any thing till this morning when i when to my garage i noticed that smells gas i opened the air box and noticed that it's a bit wet , i don't know what is wrong i had the tank cleaned changed the hose as well i also installed a fuel filter just in case, it's not leaking like before, but then again it should not with new floats and new needle, i really don't know what else can i do to have it fix, it's interesting because when i tillt the bike on the right the gas comes out of the carburetor without stopping, i had bikes since 1987 and i always maintained them myself , but these one is really getting me tired.

[@richnbeth]

Yeah it's a shame... they're really good bikes but apparently sometimes that float can be a real pain. I hope you don't have any more problems with it!

[@haydnhunt5477]

if the peacocks switched to prime it'll keep letting gas drain from the engine straight into the carb then to the breather

[@edeco50]

@@richnbeth and allso if petcock is bad it will lick gas

[@Crowbargreg]

Seat could be worn need a new carb.

[@aaroncastro7341]

Before you remove the gas tank did you drain it gonna be removing mine to do some wiring on it

[@1goddarddr]

How do you access the air fuel when the carburetor is still on the bike

[@bwilly67]

Great video! Very helpful! The hoses at the 14:20 min mark look like they are in pretty bad shape - cracked, etc. (as they are on mine). Did you ever consider replacing them? I have oil leaking out all around these tubes and I'm wondering if thats part of why it feels like it's spitting through the air box when I accelerate from idle.

[@richnbeth]

+B Willy Thanks for the comment! Yes those hoses were definitely in need of replacement but I never actually took that project on. I tend to trade bikes fairly often and I currently have a different motorcycle. Safe riding!

[@clintonparsons6559]

The oil in your breather is from your crankcase vent and happens to everybody..... I ran mine to a small aftermarket filter and made a inline expansion chamber and it works great

[@Patriot-up2td]

Huge help. Thanks!

[@marshallmill5597]

My bike is missing hose 2 and 4... Can you show me where they go so I can get riding

[@miketidwell9546]

No matter how clean you get it the next grain of sand in the gas can hold the rubber tip jet open enough to overflow or flood it. My theory is that since the jet is so large it only has to drop a half millimeter to let enough gas in to run ok. If it were more narrow it would drop further and let larger particles through it to the bottom of the float bowl. My fix is to open the valve cock to prime, then open the screw on the bottom of the float bowl DRAIN so the float drops all the way and lets new gas wash the top of the rubber jet tip. Catch this drained gas and see the grains of sand you get. The next step is to buy an inline clear plastic filter at an auto supply store and filter all the gas going through to the carb.

[@richnbeth]

Thanks Mike, that's great advice man!

[@paulbaker3144]

Yep, done that a hundred times on carbs, lawn mowers, and generators, and rice burners I started with. It can work as long as nothing else is plugged up or leaking. If nothing comes out the drain the needle is stuck. You can take the spray tube that comes with carb cleaner and insert it into the drain hole of the float bowl and blast out the bowl and hopefully dislodge the needle. But if it’s stuck the carb might be plugged up and need a rebuild. My VN800B is a 2003. Odd that it has a carb. Previous owner changed some things and I’m not sure what exactly yet. It runs a bit rough and rich so I’m taking the air cleaner off tomorrow to see if gas is seeping out. Or maybe he put a cam in it? Unlikely. This mechanic works carefully and does a good job.

[@1goddarddr]

How do. I attached the float needle

[@joelmendez5072]

This Kawasaky. Is great ,,do u still have for sale. Thanks

[@jdde013]

What is the hose marked "1" in the first picture? I noticed mine does not have this hose connected and the plastic tip on the filter housing looks damaged/cut.

[@richnbeth]

Hi Michael, I wish I could help you brother, but haven't had that bike for a long time now and I honestly don't remember.

[@krukimoto6296]

What is the float height for this carb

[@petrosntasios7124]

Is it the same with a vulcan 400 1999 ?

[@beardedbatman225]

Great video

[@richnbeth]

Thank you sir!

[@trivashgaming7750]

What does it mean if gas comes out even when my petcock is set to on?

[@lewisfirth6502]

See how the carb slid off even though you tightened it, mine was so loose the bike wouldnt run ,anyway what I want to say is rather than go through the big stripdown of the carb try using carbcleaning stuff call Seafoam, it worked for me just follow the tutorial on Y.T. I'm fom Uk and had to order it off Amazon from USA, its an easy first option .

[@billvinord9282]

Actually, mine wasn't leaking untill I started USEing Seafoam! I replaced the float needle, ran it for 50 mile, parked it for a week. No leak! Took it for another ride and parked it for another week and it leaked like it did before! I put a shutoff on the fuel line. I turn it off after every ride now. I prime the bike before start up now.

[@edeco50]

@@billvinord9282 your petcock needs replace. I had a bad lick replace petcock toke care of lick

[@deborahchesser7375]

It’s best to replace the seat as well when replacing the needle.

[@man-vf1qm]

Someone please help I have a random yellow cable same sticker ass the green one pleas help where does it go

[@MrLoftydub]

The pipe to the top left of the carb with the green band on seems to be missing from my bike. Where does it route to please

[@richnbeth]

Hello, that is a vacuum hose and may be located differently on your carb, if it isn't identical to mine. I've also seen some instances where folks will install a gravity fed fuel valve (petcock) on their fuel tank, rather than a vacuum activated fuel valve, and just plug the vacuum hose entirely. Best of luck!

[@jasonboone7472]

Where are you located? Did you get $2200?

[@ps5adventure581]

what does hoes #1 (smallest hose) lead too?

[@TheSimplyPolitical]

mine is missing that hose. hope some can post what it is.

[@richnbeth]

Hi Jacob, I had already sold the bike by the time I saw this question so the truth is I don't remember what that hose went to. Sorry man.

[@markeverson5849]

I was just going to say the old bikes were pretty easy to work on Old triumphs and stuff you can pull the carburetor right off and then I seen somebody else's come at all that's so easy it's ridiculous! I don't think so😮 he had to pull half the motorcycle apart to get to the carburetor that's the modern world we live in and hear that's already an older bike

[@richnbeth]

Truth, my friend. Truth.

[@trivashgaming7750]

I actually just learned the guy who had my bike before me vented both the carb AND tank improperly. Could explain why my bike is running like SH!¥…..

[@aaronrabago1879]

I'm buy the vuncan

[@MikeCoe-qg9ho]

Ok

[@rpc6828]

did you sell it yet???

[@richnbeth]

Yes sir, I'm riding a Softail these days.

[@freddieranis2507]

Noki