Sometime in the past week or so I noticed in one of the topics a mention of 'Lifting the needle trick', referring to quite literally lifting the needle in the carb. Now I can't find the reference anywhere, but also I don't know the trick. I lifted my needle up to the highest setting, but am curiuos to know what this extra technique may be. Anyone?

Tech section index
look for white spacer mod

While we are talking about the carb. Has anybody come up with a replacement needle with multiple slots for the clip? It would make it a lot easier to fine tune. From what I have been able to glean a Mikuni standard slot width is .035" (.9mm). I'm sure there are needles out there but if the replacement is not a good match we could cause more trouble  than it is worth.

i had mine apart today and theres 3 positions for a cir-clip on the top of the needle, is this what your looking for??

norm92de wrote on 08/09/16 at 11:30:53:


The stock needle does not have any slots...the EPA does not want you changing anything!  The DYNAJET kit provides a needle with a moveable clip.....but their kits have different jet numbers....there is a table somewhere that compares the numbers.  There really isn't a lot of advantage to having the adjustable needle....you can accomplish the same thing a lot cheaper by just replacing the white spacer with a few #4 machine screw washers.......3 is a good starting point and it cures most of the lean surge just off idle - while some require 2 washers for a little bit richer mixture

Suzi changed the needle design at some point. The older ones are slotted.

Yep, that splains it!

Danero wrote on 08/21/16 at 04:09:01:


What groove was the clip in when you took it apart?

Did your bike have a surge at low throttle settings?  When accelerating slowly did the bike pull unevenly?  Raising the needle provides a richer fuel mix from about 1/8 throttle to about 1/2 throttle....and if your bike runs fine in that range you may not need to raise the needle.