ninjette.org

Go Back   ninjette.org > 1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R > 1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old October 5th, 2016, 01:38 PM   #1
Wanderer
ninjette.org member
 
Name: Ruben
Location: Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 and 1991 Yamaha Virago XV750

Posts: 228
How do you guys check whether one carb is running stronger or more rich/lean? Plugs?

Besides watching the plugs and "syncing" the carbs, is there any other suggestions to determine if one carb is adjusted better or worse than the other?

My background with 1 cylinder "thumpers" makes it easy, but with two cylinders and two carbs, it's not that easy.
Wanderer is offline   Reply With Quote




Old October 5th, 2016, 02:10 PM   #2
RacinNinja
Vintage Screwball
 
RacinNinja's Avatar
 
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10

Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
It is almost impossible to get a good plug read with modern unleaded fuels.

Let me know what you think of each one of the plugs below.



__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes!

RacinNinja is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 02:14 PM   #3
Wanderer
ninjette.org member
 
Name: Ruben
Location: Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 and 1991 Yamaha Virago XV750

Posts: 228
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
It is almost impossible to get a good plug read with modern unleaded fuels.

Let me know what you think of each one of the plugs below.
My guess would be that the top one is running slightly rich and the bottom one is about right.

Yes?
Wanderer is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 02:23 PM   #4
RacinNinja
Vintage Screwball
 
RacinNinja's Avatar
 
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10

Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanderer View Post
My guess would be that the top one is running slightly rich and the bottom one is about right.

Yes?
Well, nope. Not the answers I was expecting.

Bottom is perfect on 92 No Ethanol. Top is 100LL/92 No-E 50/50 mix perfect tune. Tested both on a dyno.

I always thought the bottom one looked a little lean. Porcelain is perfectly white but the timing is good if you look at the strap. Idle is a tad on the rich side, which the dyno sheet reflects. Base circle is a bit dark.

You're pretty good at reading plugs. Carry on.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes!

RacinNinja is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 02:32 PM   #5
Wanderer
ninjette.org member
 
Name: Ruben
Location: Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 and 1991 Yamaha Virago XV750

Posts: 228
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
Well, nope. Not the answers I was expecting.

Bottom is perfect on 92 No Ethanol. Top is 100LL/92 No-E 50/50 mix perfect tune. Tested both on a dyno.

I always thought the bottom one looked a little lean. Porcelain is perfectly white but the timing is good if you look at the strap. Idle is a tad on the rich side, which the dyno sheet reflects. Base circle is a bit dark.

You're pretty good at reading plugs. Carry on.
In truth, I would be happy with either plug if I pulled it out of a bike.

I would only be concerned if one was more "sooty" black(rich) or a light tan(lean) or white.

For me, a change in gas brands or the way you ride can make anything else most likely just guesswork.

Thus the reason for my question.
Wanderer is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 02:38 PM   #6
RacinNinja
Vintage Screwball
 
RacinNinja's Avatar
 
Name: B
Location: Washington
Join Date: Feb 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10

Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '16
The only other real way is to get an EGT monitor for each pipe, an IR thermometer to check pipe temps or a wideband O2 sensor and computer for each pipe.

Reading spark plugs is easier. A dyno tuner is more expensive but can read the gas output also.
__________________________________________________
Goin' fast on slow bikes!

RacinNinja is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 02:42 PM   #7
Wanderer
ninjette.org member
 
Name: Ruben
Location: Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2016

Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 and 1991 Yamaha Virago XV750

Posts: 228
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
The only other real way is to get an EGT monitor for each pipe, an IR thermometer to check pipe temps or a wideband O2 sensor and computer for each pipe.

Reading spark plugs is easier. A dyno tuner is more expensive but can read the gas output also.
That makes sense. Just plug testing for me then.

I just always wonder if one cylinder is carrying more of the load than the other. Much like 2 locomotives pulling a freight train. I wonder how they balance the load between them. *smile*
Wanderer is offline   Reply With Quote


Old October 5th, 2016, 03:43 PM   #8
jkv45
Rev Limiter
 
jkv45's Avatar
 
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013

Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes

Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
The only other real way is to get an EGT monitor for each pipe, an IR thermometer to check pipe temps or a wideband O2 sensor and computer for each pipe.

Reading spark plugs is easier. A dyno tuner is more expensive but can read the gas output also.
This is probably the easiest way to determine if they are even close. You would have to be sure the carbs were synced and the idle mixture screws the the same.

EGT or O2 sensor would be the more accurate way, but obviously more complicated to DIY.
jkv45 is offline   Reply With Quote


1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.
Old October 5th, 2016, 11:38 PM   #9
Ghostt
in your machine
 
Ghostt's Avatar
 
Name: Scott
Location: Summer Shade, Ky.
Join Date: Oct 2014

Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN"

Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 25
MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15
So many outside factors can/do effect the engine, valves out of adjustment, poor carburetors, fuels, etc......

The only true way is to get your hands on a exhaust gas analyzer, otherwise your just shooting in the dark, and taking the best guess you can.
__________________________________________________
violente et ignorantia

ZX-2R BLOG
Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott
I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform.
Ghostt is offline   Reply With Quote


Reply




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Running Lean or Rich? need help mkulchar 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk 105 October 3rd, 2021 01:13 PM
Weird problem, bike running too rich and lean... bjl4776 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk 22 May 29th, 2014 04:25 PM
Rich or Lean eulark 1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk 6 May 11th, 2014 06:48 PM
Lean or Rich? xaple 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk 50 April 14th, 2013 04:01 PM
Rich or Lean? ahskeetz 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk 5 May 7th, 2009 01:22 AM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


Motorcycle Safety Foundation

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:48 AM.


Website uptime monitoring Host-tracker.com
Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Except where otherwise noted, all site contents are © Copyright 2022 ninjette.org, All rights reserved.