Leaky throttle shaft

[Rushford_Ripper]

This is an issue that I have not had to deal with before. I know the bushings are replaceable but the plate screws scare me the most as I have heard of them vibrating loose after replacement and such. Should I just buy a new carb? Leaks on both sides of the shaft. Safe to run as is? I don’t notice a lot of fuel anywhere riding, just after I clear it out on the trailer. Carb is a wetjet 46.

 

[Roseand]

Some leakage is totally normal. How does it idle? Is the throttle plate worn? If it's running good don't worry about it.
Don't worry about the screws. If it comes to that, you put a block of wood to support the shaft, and wack the end of the screw to mushroom it. Or using a spring powered center punch works for marring the threads too. I wack the screw and use green wicking loctite(recommended by Novi)

 

[Rushford_Ripper]

Idles/runs fine, never checked the throttle plate

 

[WFO Speedracer]

You can also use a regular pair of linesman pliers and make two handles out of a pipe that will slip over them , it gives you the extra leverage needed to distort the screws, that one is straight from a Kawasaki service bulletin.

 

[Rushford_Ripper]

You can also use a regular pair of linesman pliers and make two handles out of a pipe that will slip over them , it gives you the extra leverage needed to distort the screws, that one is straight from a Kawasaki service bulletin.

You think it should be repaired?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

It's a fairly easy repair, to me the key is to grind off screw even with the shaft before removing the screws so the deformed threads don't bugger up the threads in the shaft, a Dremel works well for this.

 

[Roseand]

You think it should be repaired?

See if there's any slop in the bushings...

 

[Rushford_Ripper]

I just checked it, grabbed the throttle wheel, turned it to remove the cable tension and she wiggles up and down.

 

[Roseand]

It's an easy repair, don't sweat it. Make sure to dremel the screws flush with the shaft before trying to pull them out.

 

[Rushford_Ripper]

Thank you

 

[Roseand]

Thank you

When you go to reinstall the throttle plate: leave the screws loose, and move the throttle shaft back and forth until the plate "seats" itself. Then tighten her down. I personally like to do that, then take out one screw at a time and loctite them.

 

[Rushford_Ripper]

I knew loctite was a must, good call on the seating.