Float valve / needle seat will not come out

[stillsun]

This is on a Mikuni (Virago 535).... I've rebuilt many a carbs, but mainly on dirt bikes, this is on one of the Viragos and for the life of me the dang seat will not come out, I've pulled as hard as I can with needle nose, tried to locate a possible retaining screw, don't see one... any ideas?

This is a 96 Virago 535.

Thanks.

[Dave Hopkins]

First you buy a replacement before trying to remove the old one, then you select a tap that will cut threads in the center hole of the seat, run a tap into the hole so it cuts threads, keep turning and when the tap bottoms out it will push the seat up and out.

[William1]

Clever, Dave! though as sson as the tap bottomed, I'd be inclined to thread a bolt in it and pull or better still uses a small slide hammer.

[stillsun]

No tap small enough, the hole is pretty small.... no room to get a bolt/slide hammer, it's pretty awkward. I put some needle nose vise-grips on it and was able to get it to turn back and forth (although very stiff even at that)... but slightly deformed it in the process, this is really frustrating due to little to no room to work.

[wingman111]

I don't know the particulars of this carb but many carbs the "seat" is cast into the body of the carb and cannot be replaced.The needle is replaceable in these cases, if the seat is damaged you need a new carb.

[William1]

How about a sheet metal screw and a vise grip on the screw, sort of the same way you'd remove the EPA cap on a fuel screw.

[Dave Hopkins]

No tap small enough, the hole is pretty small.... no room to get a bolt/slide hammer, it's pretty awkward. I put some needle nose vise-grips on it and was able to get it to turn back and forth (although very stiff even at that)... but slightly deformed it in the process, this is really frustrating due to little to no room to work.

No tap small enough??? I have some pretty small taps