Hi guys.
Here's the deal. I ride at 8,300 ft ASL. Never got more than 30 miles per gallon. Used to change plugs every year or so because of sooting. Bike used to smoke quite a bit but after a carb synch and pilot screw adjustment, hasn't done so for almost 7 years now. Other than a flat spot at around 5k revs, rough cold idling and a max speed limited to 100mph, it runs fine. Last mandatory exhaust gas inspection showed a rich mixture. Passed on the upper limit.
I might add that when cold it will idle at under 800 rpm requiring constant throttle compensation (keep lubbing). However once it reaches op temp it will happily idle away at 1200 rpm. I seldom use the choke, once at most in the past year when it didn't start at first crank but for the most part, it does so without the choke despite the low ambient temps. When choke is applied revs don't rise.
Six months ago I bought my next set of Denso U24 plugs. Decided to replace one by one as they started failing due to sooting. Couple of weeks after replacing the first plug, the rest started going out in rapid succession and when I changed the last one, the first new one also failed. I'm thinking one sooted plug puts the other ones in higher risk of sooting. Still no smoke.
Now, since I've had the bike, 13 years to date (is there a trophy for persistence?) we've always suspected of at least a couple valve seals leaking. The bike spent five years in a garage. That's not going to change for now since seal replacement is a last resource. No parts or qualified labor in my neighborhood.
Any advise on leaning the mix? I already closed the pilots to 1.5 turns and set the floats at 8 to 9mm. I understand jetting is stock (never checked) and just found out that there's a needle clip which allows you to set needle height, the lower the leaner. Should I try that or should I bite the bullet and get a higher altitude jet kit. Any advise on jet sizes and a source? Thanks!
Here's the deal. I ride at 8,300 ft ASL. Never got more than 30 miles per gallon. Used to change plugs every year or so because of sooting. Bike used to smoke quite a bit but after a carb synch and pilot screw adjustment, hasn't done so for almost 7 years now. Other than a flat spot at around 5k revs, rough cold idling and a max speed limited to 100mph, it runs fine. Last mandatory exhaust gas inspection showed a rich mixture. Passed on the upper limit.
I might add that when cold it will idle at under 800 rpm requiring constant throttle compensation (keep lubbing). However once it reaches op temp it will happily idle away at 1200 rpm. I seldom use the choke, once at most in the past year when it didn't start at first crank but for the most part, it does so without the choke despite the low ambient temps. When choke is applied revs don't rise.
Six months ago I bought my next set of Denso U24 plugs. Decided to replace one by one as they started failing due to sooting. Couple of weeks after replacing the first plug, the rest started going out in rapid succession and when I changed the last one, the first new one also failed. I'm thinking one sooted plug puts the other ones in higher risk of sooting. Still no smoke.
Now, since I've had the bike, 13 years to date (is there a trophy for persistence?) we've always suspected of at least a couple valve seals leaking. The bike spent five years in a garage. That's not going to change for now since seal replacement is a last resource. No parts or qualified labor in my neighborhood.
Any advise on leaning the mix? I already closed the pilots to 1.5 turns and set the floats at 8 to 9mm. I understand jetting is stock (never checked) and just found out that there's a needle clip which allows you to set needle height, the lower the leaner. Should I try that or should I bite the bullet and get a higher altitude jet kit. Any advise on jet sizes and a source? Thanks!