By now you all should be sick of my vm carb problems. I know I am. The latest problem is that I am blowing black smoke at ilde. Could be a rich mixture or burning oil. I dropped to a 22.5 pilot and I took her for another run. Turned her off at my destination. Started her back up a few minutes later and the idle went up super duper high that I had to shut her down. After trying a few times and playing with the  idle screw she would not start again. She did once and idled a little high, played with air amd idle, throttled and she died. The question now is. With all the problems I have been having and the money I have put into her at the shop. Should I just buy a new VM carb and start over, or keep trying on this one?

Possibly and air leak around the boots in and out maybe sucking too much air, or a jet stuck?

speedingman wrote on 04/30/09 at 16:40:59:



yeah the boot does not connect quite well at the box. Shop dude said that I need to get a new carb boot that extends all the way to the box and connects perfectly.

odvelasc wrote on 04/30/09 at 17:58:57:


You are going in the right direction, however you should also check the needle and needle jet part numbers to see what they are.  Those can make a huge difference in the fuel flow and can make it unusable for the Savage if they are not the correct ones for our bikes needs.

The parts for a standard 36mm VM:

needle  #6FJ6
neeedle jet #159 Q-5
air jet #BS30/97 2.0  (tiny one in the filter intake side...in the bell)

38mm VM

needle #6DP1
needle jet #166 Q-2
air jet #BS30/97 0.5

It is cheaper to get the correct jets/needles than buy a new carb.  A VM carb is a simple design and parts are a cheap as you can get where various carbs are concerned.  There are more parts available for the VM's than any other carb in the world.  It is and has been THE MOST USED performance carburetor in the world for over 40 years.

Sooo, I throw on the stock petcock in the meantime because of the flodding problems. Everything seems pretty good now. Got her somewhat tuned with the 15 pilot jet. Still a bit of black smoke out the back end when a fellow savage rider comes over and starts admiring. Suggests that my idle is still too rich (the obvious lol) Well he suggested dropping to a 12.5 pilot (which I did not know I could get) and perhaps a less restrictive muffler (mine is soooo loud already lol). I am dropping in the 12.5 and see how it goes. So far the idle is not bad, hangs up a bit but comes back good. The black smoke at idle reduced as I rode along. Will definitely enrichen the dial jet a bit. Was getting some minor pops lol.  If the 12.5 does not work than a K&N or cheaper version it is. Chance encounter with Metri gave me a bit more hope. Thanks for the info Metri.

Yep, Lonn is rather insistent about not going smaller than a #15 pilot.  It still too rich then drilling the hole larger in the top of the needle jet is the way to lean the low range mix.  On my own carb I would use a tiny needle point diamond mini-file instead of a drill bit in order to enlarge the hole for doing the last part of the fine tune.  It was quick and easy and worked out quite well.

I am sorry but I have not followed your full trail in detail.  If you are having rich issues on the low end have you ruled out

1. a leaking float valve/seat?
2. float with a gas in it
3. float set too high (low when carb tipped over)

Your comment about the raptor petcock leaving gas on the floor in the off position would indicate you don't have a great seal on your float valve/seat.

LANCER wrote on 05/01/09 at 18:20:15:


I am wondering why he insists on not going below a 15? What do you think the issues may be?