1979 carb kit

[Wally1ball]

Hi. I Am a newbie from the UK. I have a 1979 CB650 that doesn't run at the minute. I want to clean the carbs out and replace the jets/float valves ETC. The problem I seem to be having is getting a carb kit. I have looked on EBay and there is kits available, This is where my question is. The kits I have seen have a gasket for the top cover and there is 2 holes in the middle that are in line which each other but when I took my top cover off the 2 holes are offset. The carbs are PD51A but I can't seem to find a kit with the offset holes.My question is could I use the rest of the kit and just discard the top gaskets and hope the old ones are still usable. The bike has been stood for over 13 years, but turns over and fires when carb cleaner is sprayed into the airbox Sorry for the long post I have tried to be a brief as possible.

[GeorgeSweety]

Hi Wally, you can use a hole punch to put new holes in the top cover gaskets, that's what I did, cheap hole punches are available at Wilkos, I'm in the UK as well. I would avoid using any of the cheap carb kit metal parts as I don't think they are good quality.

[GeorgeSweety]

Where about's in the UK are you?

[Wally1ball]

Hi. I saw your other post regarding carb kits just after I posted mine. I think I will get one of the cheaper sets just so I can get the bike running and maybe replace them later. The bike was in bits when a mate of mine bought it, He put it all back together and actually rode it for a while, But then let it stand in his garage for 13 years. The reason for my query was I wasn't sure whether the carbs were original. I live in Warrington Cheshire. Cheers

[GeorgeSweety]

Hi, I'm in Derby, PD51A carbs sound right I also used the cheap carb kits from Thailand, they were cheap for a reason, only the carb top and float bowl gaskets were any good and that was after I used a hole punch on the top gaskets. The brass parts and float valve just didn't seem right and the pile of o-rings in the kits didn't fit anything in the carbs, its like they chucked a handful of random sized o-rings in just to make the packet look busy.
Why do you need to replace the jets and float needles unless they are damaged or worn out? If they are still usable with a damn good clean then re-use them and I agree with what you said, get it running first before spending anything on it. BTW, we love pictures

[Wally1ball]

When I took the carbs apart one of the first things I saw was that one of the screws looked rusty, I think it is the slow jet screw. I'm no genius but brass doesn't rust. So I thought if I changed them all It would get me started. I will try to post a photo on the other message board as soon as I work out how to do it.

[GeorgeSweety]

To post a pic click on Attachments below the "POST A REPLY" box, click Add Files, then select file from your Documents, then select Place Inline and Submit.

vac tube 002.JPG (3.4 MiB) Viewed 15470 times

[GeorgeSweety]

BTW, that was just a random pic, not PD51A carbs.

[Wally1ball]

Well I bit the bullet and ordered a carb set off EBay. I will let you know what happens when I fit them.