Anyone good with carburetors? 87 Samurai

[DETN8R]

So I got this samurai a couple months ago.
Replaced the Oxygen Sensor, Thermostat, Fuel Filter, Air Filter, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Cables, Distributor and changed the oil. Checked the Timing and it was good as well.

I rebuilt the carburetor the other day and got it installed and started up the samurai just fine. I noticed the fuel level in the sight glass on the carburetor was off (can't remember if it was low or high) so I readjusted the float level per the zukboys FSM which says 8mm from the air horn. So now my fuel level looks dead on in the middle of the sight glass but now I have no power and I have to floor the gas peddle when I'm starting this thing to get it run and it only gets up to 2-3k RPM.

Then I made a few observations tonight.
I followed this procedure tonight
http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content?topic=2270.0

because my cam follower didn't line up with the mark on the fast idle cam.
I verified that my choke opened completely once warmed up as well.

I got it running and made some adjustments to the idle adjusting screw.

I got it to idle where it was idling before. around 1500. I couldn't adjust it any lower (because we're at a higher altitude maybe?).

So I can start this thing now just fine.

But when I took it for a test drive, no power. I'm leaning towards my float may still be out of adjustment, despite being at the recommended 8mm distance specified in the Zukboys FSM.
I'm going to try to take this apart again tomorrow and clean out the jets and passages again then readjust the float.

Though if someone who knows about Carburetors has any advice I'd love to hear it.

[dieseldoc]

Vacume leak. If the Idle wont come down to the 750 range you have a vacume leak.
use a can of parts cleaner, straw on the sprayer, now spray around the bottom of carb and around all the hose conections. If it throttled up then that is where the leak is.

As for setting etc....I would call Myron at ZOR zuks off road.
He is in AZ. But he will email specs and give great advise over the phone.
I have called him many a time for issues and parts on the short notice time frame.
Or you can look into a webber swap. More power better flow but not emissions legal.
Again call Myron.
good luck

[BLOODBANE]

Yes call Myron (MY) at ZOR (phone number 928 567-3061). Super great guy. He also sells a kit called the MY-SIDE which uses a Harley Carb. If you have the original Hitatchi carb, they can be finicky things. Mine did what your describing, but I went with a 1.6 swap (F.I. engine), so never chased the problem down..

A lot of people run the Weber carb, but they can have their problems when climbing steep hills (supposedly fixable), and there is a Toyota Corrolla carb that works well with the Samurai.

[DETN8R]

Thanks. I'll try to give Myron a call on Monday.

So I have my float on the carburetor set at 20mm and I still see fuel in the sight glass above the centerline.
The needle valve and seat are new and I can verify that nothing is passing by blowing through it. Nothing has really seemed to change the level of fuel in the chamber and I ruined my new accelerator pump by reassembling this thing so many times.


I'll probably buy a new rebuild kit here soon to replace the plunger I destroyed. I've seen some kits on ebay that have new jets as well. All of the suzuki websites don't seem to offer kits with new jets.


I have the thing running and was able to go out and do some errands yesterday despite the high fuel level.


It starts right up now.


When driving it it seems to have not so much power until I hit about 3200rpm then I get a significant increase in power, in all gears.

[Haku]

I honestly don't have much to add beyond saying get rid of it. The carbs on the Samurai were the main reason I got rid of it and got a Toyota and it made me never want to own another carbureted car ever again. The stock carb is the worst of both worlds since it is a computer controlled and a carb. The thing always felt like a dog and it never really seemed to work all that well no matter what I did to it. IMHO the worst part about the Samurai.

I did go to Mikuni GSXR carbs for a while, and that REALLY woke the engine up and made it driveable. The downside is they need constant adjustment and took a while to get the right jetting (I used a wideband o2 sensor I have) but throttle response was awesome and you could rev it freely to 6k rpm no problem (nice for getting around in the mountains). Eventually that set of carbs wore themselves out (they were old to start off) and I never found another set that worked as well.

If I had kept it, i would have upgraded to an EFI system. You can source them off of the 1.3 Geo Metro's and new Samurai's and beyond some soldering of cables and installing an o2 sensor are relatively plug and play (or just take the whole wiring harness if you find a Samurai). I always thought it would be cool to go Megasquirt and use the EFI throttle body unit off a sport bike, but that is a lot more in depth and expensive.

[DETN8R]

Yeah, EFI would be a blessing right now. I start a new job on Monday and as soon as my paychecks start rolling in I'll seriously consider some options.

I feel like my problems are all float related it. I purchased a new float and accelerator pump from Dons Carburetor today I just installed them. I set the new float to the factory 8mm from the airhorn while it sat on its own weight. Runs horribly. Tomorrow I'll set it much higher, 20mm like the old one that ran today and see where that gets me.

[BLOODBANE]

The 1.6 16v swap is really an easy swap. I found a wrecked Sidekick, pulled the engine, engine wire harness, and power steering off, and parted the rest of the car out. Rebuilt the 1.6, had MY cut down the wire harness (he makes it almost a plug and play hook up to existing Samurai harness), bought the new adapter ring and motor mounts (you will also need a electric fuel pump. Again MY has this) and put it in. There is no way to get the power out of the 1.3 (65hp compared to 95hp. stock numbers), plus MPFI. For a little reference here is mine....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/BLOODBANE81230/Sami%20Build/DSC03300_zpsc60640d2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/BLOODBANE81230/Sami%20Build/IMG-20120516-00002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/BLOODBANE81230/Sami%20Build/20150409_165155_zpsqwejzxzg.jpg
6" SPOA, 6.5:1 transfer case with Twisted shifter, Trail Tough bumpers front and rear with swing away spare carrier, 1.6 16v, Dodge Neon seats, Grant steering wheel, Genisis alum radiator, and Sidekick power steering with high steer, 32x12.5x15 Pro Comp MTs on 15x8 street locks. They are really pretty simple vehicles to work on. I have done all the work on mine in my garage. Keep us informed on how yours goes....Mark

[DETN8R]

That's one nice rig.

At this point I'm pretty well fed up with this darn carburetor.
I think I'm just going to buy a refurbished/rebuilt/remanufactured carb to pass emissions then swap in a MY-Side Harley Carb kit.

[flashboiler]

No reason a properly tuned my-side won't pass emissions... KB who makes manifolds for GSXR's lives in Louisville and passes emmissions with better numbers than my 1.6 16V EFI motor. Swath on this board has a weber carb and passes emissions.

[dieseldoc]

The side drafts work nice but can be a mess to tune for the multi card set up.
a screaming egal side draft card is the way to go.
one carb and ithey work well are easy to tune and make pass the E test.

[DETN8R]

I took a look at one GSXR kit for the samurai and it seemed way to complicated it.

What about the visual inspection during emissions? They looked under the hood both times I took it. (It was funny seeing them try to figure out how to pop the hood).
I don't know. I get paid next Friday and I'm probably going to order the My-Side 1 kit with the Harley carburetor.

[DETN8R]

I picked up another carburetor from Joe. I got it installed and it ran OK. Just wanted to idle like at 3000rpm. Not sure what to do.

[Rick]

Yes call Myron (MY) at ZOR (phone number 928 567-3061). Super great guy. Give him a call....He is real good about helping out over the phone...


Just wanted to idle like at 3000rpm. Not sure what to do.

[flashboiler]

Sounds like a vacuum leak? I'd like to help but can't say I'm a sammy carb expert.

I'd try a unlit propane torch and wave around the base of the carb, the intake manifold and see if the engine idle speed changes... It will if you get propane into the leak.

[BLOODBANE]

Carb cleaner will do the same thing. Spray around all the vacuum lines, base plate, throttle linkages (butterfly). If RPMs increase you have found your leak.

The MYSIDE is great unit and Myron will walk you through everything you need to do to tune it.

[DETN8R]

Pretty sure some of that High Idle was a maladjusted throttle cable. It's idling just under 2000rpm now. I'm thinking I have a vacuum leak around the insulator plate. I'm going to order a new rebuilt carburetor from Petroworks here in the next few days. Then, hopefully a My-Side kit here in the next few weeks.

Getting closer, I think I solved the problem with my original carburetor. Bad O-Rings on the Mixture Control Solenoid Valve.

[flashboiler]

Detn8r I just got my Sammy running again after swapping toy axles on it. We should go wheeling sometime!

[dieseldoc]

I would just invest in the my side.
no need to toss good money away on an expensive PITA half electric carb.
they were problumatic from the factory.
myron is way cool and always a helpful resource.

Good luck hope to see the goat out on a trail some time.

[DETN8R]

I'm just worried about the trouble of passing emissions with the MY-Side. I'm pretty set on getting it though after emissions. Tentative plan is to get a rebuilt carburetor from petroworks. Get emissions. Then get the my-side.

[DETN8R]

Detn8r I just got my Sammy running again after swapping toy axles on it. We should go wheeling sometime!
I'm dying to get out Wheeling soon. Best days will probably be Sunday for me.

[Haku]

I'm just worried about the trouble of passing emissions with the MY-Side. I'm pretty set on getting it though after emissions. Tentative plan is to get a rebuilt carburetor from petroworks. Get emissions. Then get the my-side.

I gotta say...after my experience with the stock carb, I'm not convinced the stock carb will be any more likely to pass emissions then the MY-Side would to fail them. I'm no emissions expert though. It seems like with a properly tuned MY-Side setup that it could very well be cleaner running then the stock carb.

[dieseldoc]

I think the my side is emissions legal. Check with myron about that.

[DETN8R]

The website says off-road only. Though people have told me that they have passed emissions with it here in Colorado.

[flashboiler]

I'm dying to get out Wheeling soon. Best days will probably be Sunday for me.

weekends are best for me too.

[DETN8R]

I'll keep you guys posted.

[dieseldoc]

With the age of the truck it may not be an issue here.
I would hate to have to put the carb back on all the time for an emissions test.

[DETN8R]

Yeah. I finally passed emissions yesterday morning. Really wanting to get that my-side kit.

[dieseldoc]

Nice....good to hear you got it to run clean.... now get'r out and wheel!