"Man, my speedo buzzed once. Last time I carry my cell-phone THERE on vibrate." OK, OK, I just wanted to get that in before anyone else.

I developed the dreaded speedo buzz at about a 1,000 miles. I fixed that by slitting a section of bicycle inner tube down the middle; the same length as the speedo housing opening. The curve of the tube lends itself perfectly to wrapping nice 'n snug around the metal lip of the tank that forms the housing. It was quick, simple, effective; and you wouldn't know it was there unless I pointed it out. In a variety of gears and speeds up to 80 mph, and no buzz. Sorry, I was gonna have pics, but my kids were gone, and they're the only ones that know how to do all that tech stuff. I'm lucky to successfully navigate this forum.
So the tank is off, and I'm looking at that carb........ I mean, well, I have had some hesitation at 40-45mph around town. It does have a slight pffffth on shut down. The tank is off.............
SO, armed with the tech section of this forum and my Clymers (not much help by the way), I dove in.

Full disclosure: I did not rejet or put on a different exhaust. I like my exhaust note. Yes, it sounds, at best, like a lawn mower or go-cart. Yes, it is heavy compared to other after market exhausts available. Yes I DO like the way the stock muffler looks. Yes, I probably am a little crazy.

Thanks to this forum, it went like clockwork. Well, except for the part where I forgot to put the spring back in before closing everything up, remounting the tank, and firing it back up only to wonder why it wouldn't stay running. You know the spring. The BIG, honking spring under the carb cover that jumps up at you when you finally get the cover crews twisted out.

It did go well though. This forum made all of that possible. Thank you. Without the technical knowledge available here, I would have never undertaken it. Everyone's posted advice and knowhow was right on the money.

Newbies, if it says take the screws out with needlenose vice grips, go out and get some needlenose vicegrips! These guys know what they're talkin' about. The screws in that carb are secured in such a way that it seems they were NOT meant to ever be removed. I not only destroyed the screws securing the cap on the carb, but also the tiny little screws holding the retaining plate on the neddle. They're 3mm by the way, and only ACE carried them.

I went with three 3mm washers, which by my caliper measuments, was almost exactly 2/3's the white spacer. This allowed me to save my white spacer in case I ever want/need to go back to stock. They fit perfectly, without the need for any modification. No sticking, no hanging up. Once again, ACE is the place.......

I also drilled out the brass plug for the idle adjust. In for a penny, in for a pound. Lancer's simple basic carb tuning was the bill to fill the ill for that project. I would be remiss if I also didn't recognize Savage Greg and Savage Wahine. They contribs to the tech section were critical to my success.

Thanks, in fact, to every member of the forum who posted about carbs. The questions helped sometimes almost as much as the answers. My bike runs great. 100 miles post mod, and I've no fart at shut down, no hesitation at 40-45mph around town, and performance is exactly where I want it. In fact, on my trial run after evrything was put back together, I took it out on the freeway and put it through its paces. 85mph was as fast as I got it up to, with throttle to spare (I've no need to go any faster than 75mph). It accelerates briskly. It sounds a little throatier (maybe it's just my imagination). At one point, in 5th gear, on a hill, at 70mph, I passed another car with plenty of throttle left; blowing past them at a quick clip. So far I'm very pleased; but then, I was just happy the thing would run after I put it all back together.  

All that said, I hope I NEVER have to open the carb up again. I'm pleased with the result, but as I've posted in this forum before; I like riding not wrenching. Hats off to you who do. I jsut want to ride. On the other hand, that seat could be more comfortable. I wonder if I took...............
Ride safe,
Jay

Thanks Sandy. Yeah, I was thinking of your post when I wrote that. "Make your words soft and sweet, for tommorrow you may have to eat them" also comes to mind. I can't believe the gestation period for this bug is so short! I definately get back with you when I start on the seat (wife rolls her eyes).
Ride safe,
Jay

Sandy,
Glad I could spark a pleasant memory. Still on the fence about the seat. Seems everyone with a mod (except for the sprung solo's) still has comfort issues with their seats. I used to ride a Goldwing. All day easy chair comfort. I just don't know about tearing up a perfectly good, but uncomfortable seat, just to have a tore up, uncomfortable seat. If I decide to take the plunge, though, you will definately be on my call list. Thanks.
Ride safe,
Jay

Absolutely right.  That took a lot of the fear out of it for me.  I worked on the seat from my parts bike, then swapped them when it was done.

Now that I know how to do it, I need to come up with something cool to do with the original seat.  I'm thinking a tan cover, maybe.

I really goofed on mine.  I got it to quit buzzing, but I was sloppy.  I used "Lexel" clear silicone under the speedo and got it all over the tank.  Gotta spend a little time with the old thumbnail one of these days.  I did figure out that a little grease on those springs underneath killed the noise.  I think I'll just lube it each time I have the tank off.  That happens often enough that I should stay ahead of the racket.

I like the inner tube idea, though.  When the dreaded 18 hour darkness sets in again, I'll be looking for some projects.  Might make that one of them.

If you can learn to tear apart a carburetor, you can learn to run a digital camera.  Just collar one of the little urchins and make him show you how to do it.  No excuses when the seat is done.