First time jetting a motorcycle.. ALL HELP WELCOME!

Let me start by saying this... I ALREADY KNOW I SHOULDNT HAVE TAKEN OFF MY STOCK AIRBOX... And I wish I would have known about this site long before I touched my bike.. But anyways.. I have a 1981 Yamaha Maxim 550.
I just shimed my valves, they are all within spec. The motor ran before I started the valves and such but was a pain in the butt to start. And wouldn't idle worth a crap. The bike has just under 27,000 on it.
I am running pods, and an open header exhaust. Like I said before... I know I shouldn't have taken off my stock airbox. And i would put it back on.. but it got tossed away by my father.
I must add, the information overload was exactly as titled... WOW. Haha!

Which leads to my question:
What should I buy for jets..?
-open headers
-4 individual pod filters
-roughly 1000 feet above sea level

I appreciate any help. I am only 18, and am deep into my first custom built motorcycle..

-Lipski

 

that is covered in the information over load as a good place to start

stock numbers
XJ550 Models:

Years & Models: 1981-83 XJ550 Maxim North American models
Carb Manufacturer: Mikuni
Carb Series: BS28
Carb Model ID: 5K500
Main FUEL Jet Size: #112.5
Pilot FUEL Jet Size: #35
Main AIR Jet Size: #70 (non-removable, in carb throat)
Pilot AIR Jet Size: #165
AIR COMPENSATOR Jet Size: not used.
Starter FUEL Jet Size: #35 (non-replaceable, in float bowl)
Main jet NEEDLE ID: #4GN
Main needle JET Size: #O-8 (the main needle JET is also known as the "power valve" or "emulsion tube").
Fuel Level in float bowls: 2mm +/- 1mm (.08" +/- .039")
Idle RPM's: 1,200 rpms

Although not part of your carbs, your valve clearances should be considered as part of your "intake system", so here are those specs, too. Note that valve clearances should be measured with the engine "cold", meaning 70-degrees Fahrenheit or less:

Valve Clearance Intake: 0.11 - 0.15mm ( = 0.004 - 0.006")
Valve Clearance Exhaust: 0.16 - 0.20mm (= 0.006 - 0.008")

stock Main FUEL Jet Size: #112.5
main jets want to be +6 sizes
HCP6927 Aftermarket Mikuni MAIN FUEL JET #115
HCP6928 Aftermarket Mikuni MAIN FUEL JET #117.5
stock Pilot FUEL Jet Size: #35
pilot jets +2 sizes
HCP6952 Aftermarket Mikuni PILOT FUEL JET #37.5

PRECAUTIONS:

- Make sure your carbs are in perfect working order before making ANY jet changes....meaning fully cleaned internally and rebuilt, operating properly in their stock configuration, proper sized air jets and needles, etc. Otherwise, you'll like find that all of your efforts are going to be a HUGE waste of time.

- Check plug color often and adjust as needed, 2 main fuel jet sizes at a time and 1 pilot fuel jet size at a time. Bright white plug insulators are a sign of an overly lean fuel mixture condition and WILL cause damage to your engine over time, up to and including engine seizure!

- Synch the carbs after each jet change.

- Make sure the floats are set correctly

- Seriously consider purchasing a Colortune Plug Tuning kit.

- You may find it necessary to make changes to the size or shimming of the main jet needle. There are no guidelines on what or how to do these changes, this is true trial-and-error tuning!

how to tune a carb

http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tuning_procedures/tuning_carbtune,CV,high_rpm_engines.html

good luck

for parts
www.xj4ever.com

buy a color tune plug it will make life easier

buy or make a carb sync tool

needle is not shimable in 550 carbs

at this point i would advise you to go on ebay and buy an air box

and an exhaust system 4 to 1 style your life will be much easier
and someone with a stock xj 550 maxim will come along and leave you in his mirrors,
because your bike will not be any faster, quicker just will look real cool in my rear view mirror

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/new-pool-idea.81761/ ?

 

check your inbox above right

there are companies that sell rejetting kits and will advise you to drill holes in your carbs
don't drill your carbs

K&N sells filters that are oval and cover 2 carbs would be better than pods

 

Thanks for the information. I was just reading in the Info. overload, and my understanding is that if I get the stock Airbox back on, I can run open headers because there is no difference in total air flow. So I think I am going to purchase a stock air box, but before I do, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE THEY WANT TO GET RID OF OR ARE SELLING!?!?!

 

this guy has one I have gone through him a few times contact him using thr cl ad link 20$
For Sale xj550 Maxim parts

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/mpo/5532959194.html

 

Would you mind cross-linking this in

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/new-pool-idea.81761/ ?

 

That's a deal--better jump on it and pay the shipping.

 

Hey lipski, this is dea-je-vu , it was only a month ago that i found this site and wished i had before i decieded that pods would look cool on my '85 Maxim 700.What a lesson i got from theese guys and convinced me that pods on a cv carb set-up was not going to be pretty !!! Look for threads under my member name and you will get all the technical reasons why "NO PODS" good luck.

 

Haha! Seems like there's quite a few of us that .are this mistake! Will do! Thanks!