If you can remove the tank with the petcock on, yes. I never could. I always had to drain the tank, remove the petcock THEN remove the tank.

-Set your petcock to run.
-Remove gas line from the carb. You'll spill some gas but not much. You shouldnt have to plug it. If it keeps flowing fuel you have  an issue with the diaphram in your petcock and you'll drain the tank whether you want to or not, so have a gas can nearby just in case. Have the garage door up.
-Remove the vac line from the petcock. Plug the vac line tightly.
-Remove the throttle cable
-Remove the tank if you can. It requires a fair deal of wiggling from those that can do it.
-Start the bike and let it run a few minutes until it dies.
-Loosen the hose clamps on either end of the carb.
-Remove the top of the carb (Probabaly gunna need vice grips on those screws. I recommend an impact driver)
-Turn the carb counterclockwise(as viewed standing behind the bike) You might have to push down on the carb to clear the frame as you turn it. It may scrape the frame but it will squeeze by.
- Remove the bottom of the carb.
- You now have access to the slide/needle on the top and the main/pilot jets on the bottom.

I once removed my tank with the stock petcock on.  I guess I didn't know how hard it was supposed to be.  But I wiggled and twisted it until it came off.

I then replaced the stock with a raptor petcock and have no more probelms with getting the tank off.  Granted, I do not take it off much, but I just turn the gas off and take the tank off.

Burn Pugh gave the most complete answer.  But sometimes I guess it just depends.  

Tiefighterpilot wrote on 05/17/10 at 22:36:03:


If you're careful you can do the whole job w/o spilling a drop. There is a drain screw on the bottom of the carb bowl. Loosen it and drain the gas out into a container (a paint can lid will work just fine). The fuel will come out of the bottom of the carb, not at the screw (it's a needle, not a plug) so be sure to put the container under the carb. You can also pull off the fuel line and run her till she dies but there will probably still be a little gas in the bottom of the bowl.

Personally, I would remove the whole carb and give it a cleaning while you're at it. If you remove the battery box it's a piece of cake to get it off.

Also, be VERY careful when you remove the bowl. The gasket will most likely stick to one side or the other or a little of both. You don't want to tear it as it seems to take at least a week to get parts for bike carbs. My GSXR has been down for 3 weeks now from waiting on parts for the carb rebuild I'm doing  

To rejet, you only really have to drop the bowl.
Of course it sounds like you've never have done any of this.
so this is a good oportunity to learn.
take the tank off can be fun, I've taken to glueing the rubbers on the tank and the frame posts.  lube the frame rubbers too.  it'll make it easy to get back on.  if you can get the tank off w/o removing the petcock, great, then whatever gas is in it can stay, just be carefull about tipping it.  hint less gas is lighter.
carb pulling is fun too.  remove the top of the battery box for a little more room.  remove the battery box if you need more.  lube the rubber before you put it back in.
And the dam screws are locktited, try with a screwdriver once, then go to the big gun (vice grips) and getRdone.  I've replaced mine with allen socket head screws.

I can remove my tank with the stock petcock on. Takes a little wiggling but not bad. Sounds like you're in the same boat I was when I rejetted (i.e. never done it B4!).
Go ahead and tear it down. You'll be happy that you can see what's going on and if the screws start to strip you'll be glad you can get to stuff...then buy or borrow an impact wrench (Harbor Freight 6 bucks). Definately worth it even if you only do this once!

The carb seems like it's gonna be hard to twist out of there but it DOES come out. Replace one jet at a time to see what happens...you can always go back and change it.

Once you've replaced the crappy screws with allen heads (get some for the diaphram screws on top of the carb too for spacer modding) you can swap out jets while the carb is on the bike (need a mirror!)

Thanks!  I am glad I asked.  I just want the easiest way to rejet so I can ride.

So when I drop the bowl, will I make a mess?  Any precaution I need to take?

Thanks in advance.