I really hope RickCoMatic gets in on this one.

First off... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8O

There is so much information running through this forum that in an hour's worth of research I came up with so many ideas that I confused myself and forgot what I was originally looking for.

Anyway, I've gotten to the point where I'm starting to fine tune and really tweak the carbs I'm working on and in my research I came across a few ideas that I would like a final word on.

1) Plug Chop: What is the best way to do this and what should my plugs look like when it is nearly correct? (some pictures would be nice)

2) I'm guessing that the "Butterflys" are the metal circles that open and close in the carbs. Correct? And if I'm right in that you should get the bike to idle by adjusting the 4 pilot screws before messing with the idle adjustment rod, correct?

3) How do you adjust carb float height?

4) To rich means the plugs are black and sooty, right?

5) Which way do I turn the pilot screws to make it more lean?

6) I've read a little on Colortune Plugs. Where do I get them and what kind? (if there are different kinds)

I'll get some sleep and keep doing research. For now though that seems to be everything.

Just so you know, especially RickCoMatic, the information on carbs I pulled in the last two hours has increased my knowledge ten-fold. This truly is a forum worthy of awards!

 

I can help you with some of those:

1: Matter of opinion, we'll let someone who swears by them answer.

2: Correct (about the butterflies) but wrong about the sequence, kinda. You need to BENCH SYNC the carbs first, adjusting the idle stop screws to each other and to #3. Then they go back on the bike for vacuum balancing. THEN, once vacuum balanced, you can fine tune the MIXTURE via the pilot screws. That's where a colortune and plug chops/readings come in.

3. Mechanically first; then either on the bike or bench-mounted they need to be FLUID checked.

4. Right.

5. IN, or CW.

6. A colortune is A single device you move from cylinder to cylinder. I think the only difference is in the sizes.

 

I dont know if it helps but I use the mnemonic "Lean INto it" to remember which way to turn the screws.....and yes looooong ago I used "Righty tighty, lefty loosy"....

:grin:

 

Sadly that is going to help me a lot. :lol:

 

fitz, how do I go about doing a bench sync. I've never done one and I don't have a vacuum balance. Where can I attain one of those and what kind would you suggest?

 

here is the link for the forum post about bench syncing your carbs, I have used it and it works great. This will get your carbs really close, then just vacuum sync them on the bike when done.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=6366.html

 

I use the vacuum gauge from harbor freight - very inexpensive. Half century (I think will have to search) made a bottle rig that he gets good results from

 

There you go. Except I believe Don used a paper clip as a clearance gauge; our own carb guru Rick suggests a strip of business card. I used a strip of cardboard cut from the flap of a part box.

Member HalfCentury built a 2-bottle vacuum "differential" system which appears to work even better than a real vacuum rig. (Look in his gallery.) I used a set of borrowed "CarbStix" when I did mine (before I discovered XJBikes.) I had planned to buy a vacuum rig of my own (my borrowable CarbStix moved far away) but Half swears by the dual-bottle setup and I think I'm gonna try that before I drop the $100+.

 

On the cheap sync
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2132.html

Do you have a YICS on the 700???

 

Look in my gallery for the carb bottle synch gizmo

I own a pair of vacuum gauges as well and the bottles are way more useful.

 

Bench Sync is adjusting the Throttle Plates (ButterFlys) to ALL be adjusted to MOVE in synchronized motion.
I cut 1/4 inch strips of 3X5 or Business Card and use the strips as Feeler Gauge Strips under the ButterFly.
Set #-3 using the Idle Adjustment Rod to a nice snug feel on a Feeler Strip.
With #-3 as the Base. Set the remaining 3 Carbs to Match the Feel.
++++++

Plug Chops are for Fine Tuning.
After the Bike is Tuned-up to run very well; employ Plug Chopping to Dial-IN Perfection.
A Plug Chop is an examination of the Spark Plugs Coloration after the Bike has been rus at Wide Open Throttles and Shut-down, coasting to a stop.
The Plugs will indicate how the Mixture is set by examining the Color of each Plugs Ceramic surrounding the Center Electrode.

Once the Pilot Mixture Screws are Tuned to allow the Bike to Idle smoothly with sufficient supplementary Richness for Off-Idle Throttle Response ... The Plug Chop examination will determine if the Mixture is too Lean or too Rich by the residue of Combustion left on the Center Ceramic.
The Supplementary Richness can be Fine Tuned for a LIGHT to DARK Condition within 2 or 3 Degrees of Pilot Mixture Screw Enrichment of Leaning-out ... Resulting in either: Swift Acceleration with Extreme Engine Braking -to- Smooth Application of Power with Engine Coasting ... within the slightest adjustment to the Mixture.