I spent this evening working on my float height. I was having a lot of issues with the revs in mid range sputtering causing the engine to buck a bit as well as some flat spots in the upper throttle range. It also seemed that the engine was running a bit rich. So tonight I got outside and started working on it. What I found was that both carbs were about 1/4" above the gasket line of the carbs using the tube checking method. So I took the float bowls off and adjusted. I tried measuring but I honestly think that method is a load of horse shaZam!.
Anyway, after many many attempts, I was able to get the left carb pretty darn close to the gasket line but the right carb is still about 3/16 to 1/4" higher. I decided that was enough for the evening and started to put it all back together. I used my temp fuel tank to run the bike and see if it would warm up a bit faster than it has been lately and I noticed a hellacious hiss coming from the carbs. I did the petcock conversion so that it does not need a vacuum and there was no hose originally. So, put a cap on that nipple and it sounded ( and ran ) a bit better.
I took the bike back out to ride and to adjust the idle and it seemed to really run better all the way through the throttle but I still have the following problems and questions:
1. I get a lot of backfiring when I let the engine brake while coming to a stop. Is this normal for this bike or is it mainly because I still don't have good float heights?
2. The D&D exhaust I am using sounds flipping great but it only really has 2 sounds, quiet and LOUUUUD! Mainly, when I am coming to a stop and I pull the clutch, the revs drop to 1200 promptly. no real hesitation or gradual drop. (Normal or float height?)
3. The engine braking is pretty fierce at times. (Normal?)
4. I am thinking of going ahead and getting a carb kit so that the jet needles? can be replaced and dry hard o-rings and seals too. Will this really make a big difference in getting it set correctly?
5. Since I have done the adjusting on the "tangs" of the floats, they look a bit mis-shaped. When I bend them to try to adjust the floats, how should they contact the needles? There is a small tip at the top of the needle but I couldn't figure out if this is what the manual was talking about the tang pushing agaisnt or not. Just really confused on that.
Lastly, I have put about 800 miles on the bike since getting it running. I checked the oil today and it was not present on the dip stick. (Checked a few days ago and it seemed fine but then again, probably did it in a hurry and not correctly.) The bike doesn't smoke that I am aware of but I have a dried out valve cover gasket. Could I be losing that much oil in minor spray? (Maybe 1 quart?)
Thanks for any information.
1. The back fires are caused by running either lean or rich. Adjust the float heights corectly, then youll be lean, then rejet to get good afr. any aftermatket exhaust will back fire some even if tuned perfectly. also if your bike is 04 and newer it has a PAIR valve. if you have one remove it and that will also quell some of the back fire.
2. the revs should drop almost instantly to idle, but not below.
3. normal.
4. carb jet kits (dynojet or factory-pro) dont have gaskets or o-rings thats a rebuild kit. but yes do both rejet and gaskets.
5. dont know, need to see it.
Check the oil with the bike off, on the center stand, on level ground, dipstick not screwed in
3/16th to 1/4 inch higher ... :cookoo:
That's like doing brain surgery with a shovel. 1mm is plenty to cause greif.
Cool.
Buddha.