idle screw adjustment

[headshrink]

Real quick... I'm fine-tuning my fuel mix screw, am currently 4.0 turns out, and still run a bit lean. How far out can I go without needing to pull out the carbs and change the pilot jet (currently #38)?

[setasai]

At 4 turns you're basically all the way out.

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by setasai

At 4 turns you're basically all the way out.

Bummer, I hate pulling the carbs out. Thanks for the feedback.

[jasle]

+1 for next size bigger pilot...but check for vacuum leaks first. spray some carb cleaner at the carbs base and hose connections. Seen some leaks screw up jetting. Go bigger on pilot and then way too rich all of the sudden. crack in a line...

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by jasle

+1 for next size bigger pilot...but check for vacuum leaks first. spray some carb cleaner at the carbs base and hose connections. Seen some leaks screw up jetting. Go bigger on pilot and then way too rich all of the sudden. crack in a line...

I'll double-check that when I pull the carbs out, but I have been over the tubes several times. I had things relatively close, but when I added the BRT-TIS, it suddenly felt way lean. I've wondered if the missing link was the float height, but since very few tend to mess with them, I'm hesitent to start. I don't recall the height, but it was WNL.

[headshrink]

My bad, I was acctually 4.5 turns out.

This statement from FP, "Rule of thumb....
If you go 1 size larger or smaller on the size of the pilot jet, you will change the fuel screw ~1.5x richer or leaner to retain the original idle mixture..."

Therefore, going from my #38 with 4.0 turns to #40 would be equal to 2.5 turns - Generally speaking, does that sound about right?

[headshrink]

I started at 3 turns on the #40, and although I need to adjust it a little further, the surge is much harder to detect, and start/idle are a little better. I could use a wee bit more power off the line though.

Then, when I went to try 3.25 turns, I noticed I had lost a bolt on my AreaP header... AGAIN! I check those bolts almost every time I do work on my bike, and they have always been fine since I have done that, but this is actually the second time I have lost a bolt from there (first was with original exhaust). I used a tube to check for exhaust leaks, and could detect a small leak. I can't tell visually, as it looks pretty tight. I am going to order new gaskets from AreaP (they claim to have more crush room than OEM). I also ordered 5 new bolts for the header.... 1 to replace the one I lost, and the other 4 are going to be used as locking nuts. I am NOT going to loose that thing again!

Would a minor exhaust leak at the header be enough to mess-up my re-jetting efforts?

With all the other header bolts tight, and the leak contained to a trickle, would it harm my engine if I used it to get to work until the parts arrive?