Does anyone have a phone number for Cliff Ruggles' shop? I have sent him emails but there is a problem with either his or my email.

Q, I sent Glenn an email but haven't gotten anything back yet. I did some research and read that Cliff does have carbs done that he sells. Maybe I can get one of those and get my money back for the other one I bought elsewhere.

Dan

Search the Performance Years tech forum for info on Cliff, may save you some time.

Steve

Yeah, I've posted and searched over there also.

last thing i read over at PY was he was backed up for weeks before he even opened the doors. he might still be playing catch up, and trying not to take in more biz till he gets caught up.

I have visited his web site before, but cannot recall the address. Try searching Google. I have heard good things about Cliffs work from POCI members.

I finally got in touch with Cliff. I'll let everyone know how the carb turns out.

Dan what happened with the old carb? Did you have to send it to Cliff or did he have one ready to sell to you? Pete

I sent the old carb back to Phil. He took a look at it and said that for my car the power piston spring was too strong?? and that the jets were too large. He said he was making those adjustments and was ready to send it back to me yesterday. So, I had him send it directly to Cliff (just to double check/ check it over) who said that since the carb had already been fully restored that it should, theoretically, just be an adjustment issue. Cliff said that he could turn around an adjustment in a day unless he found something major wrong with the carb.

Cliff should get it Monday and I'll let you know what he says. Hopefully I'll have the carb back by the end of the week...and hopefully it'll be ready to rock. We'll see.

if you have a low vacuum engine you need a weak power piston spring, or it can hold the metering rods open, causing poor running due to a rich mixture, or so i have read.

(that is why at one time i stated that a vacuum leak could cause a rich mixture, and was severely thrashed. i usually stay out of carb talk, but i saw the two question marks and thought i might speak)

Let us know how it turns out. I have a similar carb problem. I just bought a 69 carb and am going to let Cliff do a rebuild. I want to cut my loss with the other rebuilt carb. What a PITA it has caused me. Pete

Scott -

You are right. A low vacuum requires a weak spring. As the vacuum diminishes (like when you floor the pedal) the power piston is supposed to open up and let more gas in. If the spring is too strong, the power piton is "up" too soon (or always), letting in too much fuel.

But the fuel only flows through the power enrichment circuit while the engine is running. What Daniel was describing sounds like a bowl leak.

Q

i havent really been following Q. i steer clear of the carb talk except to skim and learn. i was just remembering someone's carb running rich and i mentioned the power valve and a possible vacuum leak. it was a long time ago. i have learned a lot since then from all you guys. i guess this is the one which pukes fuel all over and you suggested the hammer, and Ammervo told us about the Jesus clip?

i took a hammer to my 750 kaw after getting cheap gas. the hammer combined with some amoco gas and redline in 1st and 2nd for a couple miles took care of it. i think the hammer just made me feel better. that was a good bike. now it's a pretzel. it was still running though, i'm told.

I got the carb back from Cliff yesterday. He changed the float to a brass float, changed the jets, changed the power piston spring, changed the size of the idle tube and a few other calibration things. He said the way the carb was set up it would be way too rich at idle and too lean on full throttle...which is what I was seeing.

The heads are still being fully ported...port match, bowl work, etc. along with the replacement of every single valve guide (totally worn out). They should be back from the machine shop tomorrow.

The valve guide problems and the carb setup explain the startup smoke and rich running of the engine.

Hopefully when it all comes back together it'll be a smooth running powerhouse.

Glad you got the carb. figured out!
soon.....varooom...