Needle valve: Keyster vs Suzuki?

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:19 am

For my '75 T-500 stock Mikuni carbs I can get a pair of Keyster rebuild kits (float needle valve set, bowl gasket, jets, etc.) for $34 shipped to my door from eBay or buy a single float needle valve set from my local Suzuki dealership for $50. Is the Suzuki float needle set worth that much more?

Arne · Post by **Arne** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:12 am

I recommend getting viton tipped float needles. Put them in and your carbs don't leak anymore, it's amazing.

I get mine from Sudco, but sometimes you have to get more than what you really need because they like to sell to dealers.

http://www.sudco.com/

Download the catalogue and then dig around in it, they'll be there somewhere by the kind of vm carburetor and float needle size you have.

You can also go through a distributor like HVC cycle or try to find some online.

Good luck! Arne

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:54 am

Boy am I glad I got those carbs apart. One of the floats was all bent up and forcing the needle valve to move in ways it was never intended to move. The needle valve seats were both similarly marked 25's, but they looked to be from different manufacturing lots as one of the stamps was very weak and one of the bevels, on the stamped end, was larger than the other. Both needles were not worn externally but the one serving the bent flat is loose internally (i.e., moves side to side).

Will need to purchase new gaskets and o-rings along with one new float and two new needle valve sets from...?

Arne · Post by **Arne** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:11 pm

I use keyster kits for my gaskets and rings, but tend to shy away from them for needles and jets.

I imagine a keyster float needle and seat is better than an old one.

I'd probably pick up a keyster carb kit, reuse the venturi slide jets and needle, and pick up a viton tipped carb float needle and seat.

Good luck! Arne

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 2:20 pm

The jet needles, main, and pilot jets looks good as do the tips on the needle valves. In general the carbs (other than the bent-up float and visually mismatched float needle valve sets) show no real wear.

I've just emailed Sudco to see if they have any float needle valve sets as I couldn't find any in their catalog for the Mikuni VM32SC carbs on my T500. Hopefully they do and possibly in Viton?

Otherwise I guess I'm stuck with the choice of buying the $50 ea. new Suzuki float needle valve sets or using whatever comes with the Keyster rebuild kit?

Thanks - Dane

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:04 pm

The keyster float valves, and gaskets are fine. Their jets are fair, but the slide needles SUCK!!!!

Lane

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:47 am

How can I tell if my carb possibly already has Keyster jet needles - I mean, is there any way to distinguish them from the Suzuki needles?

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:00 am

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:46 am

frappy wrote:How can I tell if my carb possibly already has Keyster jet needles - I mean, is there any way to distinguish them from the Suzuki needles?

Yes, the Keyster needles are brass, the Mikuni needles have a silver coating of some sort. Also the Mikuni needles will have the Mikuni logo next to the number. A mikuni number will be something like 5DL13, I just picked that out of the Sudco manual, it's not YOUR needle. Keyster numbers are shorter.

Lane

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:13 am

frappy wrote:
I've just emailed Sudco to see if they have any float needle valve sets as I couldn't find any in their catalog for the Mikuni VM32SC carbs on my T500. Hopefully they do and possibly in Viton?

Thanks - Dane

Any word?

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:19 pm

Yes they got back to me and no they ain't got 'em. Here's the word back from Sudco.

My question:
"What rebuild parts if any do you have for my 1975 Suzuki T500 motorcycle? It has twin Mikuni VM32SC carburetors. I downloaded and looked at your catalog but couldn't seem to find the needle valve sets. Do you sell them or any other parts for my carb? "

Their answer:
"The reason why we do not list it is because we can not get that exact one. The stock size is 2.5, the closest we can get is 3.0. I have sent out the 3.0 size a few times as a replacement for your bike and I never heard back issues. Sudco part number 002-192, Mikuni number VM34/39 3.0, they sell for $20.95 each."

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:27 am

The 3.0 would work fine for you.

Lane

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:01 am

Suzuki can't get the 2.5 anymore either. I ordered from them the replacement part number for my bike (13370-41500) and they received a 3.0... What's the difference between the two - does the 3.0 simply flow fuel more quickly than the 2.5?
Dane

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:18 am

Dane,

That's it. a 3.0 is basically a 3.0mm diameter hole which has the ability to flow more fuel than a 2.5mm hole. It should not be a problem though because the float and needle will shut off the flow.

As Lane said, it will be fine.

Wayne Meuir · Post by **Wayne Meuir** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:53 pm

I always use the float valve (needle & seat) from the keyster kits and the bowl gasket. Everything else goes in the trash. I have never had a problem with the Keyster float valves.

I was warned on my RZ350 by the RZ guys NOT to use the keyster float valve in my RZ, so I bought them from Yamaha: $51 EACH

Wayne