Katana Owners Club U.K.

The starter motor on my GS650 Katana has recently started exhibiting ominous behaviour like it's about to fail in the none too distant future which will unfortunately require carburettor removal to gain access.
Once the carburettors have been disturbed by removal and placed back on the bike, do they need rebalancing with eg a set mercury gauges?
Or if they were nicely balanced before removal, is this unnecessary?
Thanks in advance.

Only way to know is put them back on and start the bike up. About 23 years ago I did a top end overhaul on a 550 which involved new rings, valve seals, valve lapping, re-shimming etc. I had balanced the carbs using borrowed gauges earlier that summer. They were put back on with nothing more than a bench check and it fired up first go and ran like a sewing machine (and I don't mean static on a bench)
I think if you're careful you'll get away with it.

When I've taken off carbs they have needed "some persuading" but maybe that's me... If you have a set of gauges, as the tank etc is off anyway I would check as it doesn't take long. I did get a cheap set of dial gauges for £40 online and years ago when I had my first 650 Katana i bought one of those screw driver running through a nut type tool things (I'm sure they have a name but I don't know what it is) to make life easy undoing the lock nut and adjusting.
If you have none of those tools and don't want to buy them at present and can't borrow any, then just start it up like Nicky says and see how it goes!

Thanks.

If you are just removing to sort starter motor , no worries , no need to do ought expect swear at them to get them to seat in the centre intake rubbers!
The balancing is via the the lock nuts and as you are not altering the vacuum pressure as in valves etc nothing will alter.

A hairdryer to loosen up the rubbers. Works a treat. Fit carbs to airbox intakes then push the airbox complete over the Head intakes . Can be done in minutes , swearing is optional. But helpful!

Silicone spray on the carb rubbers after the hairdryer treatment works a treat on every bike I’ve owned.

While we're on the subject of 650 carbs Fossie.............

Ah you want yours back then? Ok I shall proceed to get mine ultrasonically cleaned again , however just give me a shout and I'll get these off and to you.

fossie wrote:Ah you want yours back then? Ok I shall proceed to get mine ultrasonically cleaned again , however just give me a shout and I'll get these off and to you.

I can do ultrasonic cleaning if your stuck boss?