Motorcycle Carburetors & Components

If you have a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine, you definitely know that it requires a proper mix of air and fuel for combustion. To control the ratio of the fuel/air mixture entering the engine, your motorcycle is equipped with either carburetor or fuel injection system. If you have the first one, it is usually located close to the cylinders, with the throttle cable connected to it. Despite the small size of your carburetor and its deceptive simplicity, it is a complex part with dozens of parts which, if not set properly, may cause your engine to run inefficiently.

Motorcycle carburetors have been around since the production of the first bike with an internal combustion engine. As motorcycles became more and more powerful, carburetors have also evolved to meet their needs and address stricter pollution-emission limits. The evolution of carburetors has led to the appearance of its different types, including side-draft, tube-type, and float-type carburetors. Each of them has its pros and cons, depending on the bike, horsepower and the application it is designed for. Regardless of the type you own, we have you covered with all the necessary parts and accessories.

All motorcycle carburetors are designed to operate the same way. In its simplest design, it is a tube with an adjustable plate inside, which controls how much air flows through the carburetor. The tube is narrowed at some point creating vacuum, which draws in fuel through the hole, known as a jet, in the narrowing. The more airflow there is, the more vacuum is created and, thus, more fuel is sucked. The amount of air that passes through the carburetor is regulated by the driver who moves the adjustable plate inside the tube with the help of the throttle cable connected to the twist grip throttle.

The faster you drive, the more fuel your engine consumes. To deliver the right amount of fuel to the engine at high RPMs, your carburetor needs some fuel to be stored all the time while running. To ensure that, the carburetor has a special storage room, called a float chamber, which allows the specific amount of fuel to be stored in the carburetor. If you look inside the float chamber, you’ll see a float connected to a needle valve. Driven by your gas pump, fuel gets in the float chamber through the valve which is automatically closed once the level of fuel reaches the required level.

The carburetor is one of the most vital parts of your motorcycle. Due to a number of narrow channels, it is prone to collecting small particles of dirt which may cause its improper operation. To keep it performing at its best, you should clean the carburetor from time to time using a special cleaner. When maintaining the carburetor, it is always a good idea to inspect its components. If any of them has signs of wear or damage, replace it with a new part to save you a headache in the future. All necessary replacement carburetor parts can be found on our website.