Colortune

[Wildkat]

A recent discussion among some members made me wonder exactly how many people have had problems with their Colortune when running stock coils... so naturally, a poll is in order.

[Montreux_Blue]

Look what you started Harry.....

[Wildkat]

No doubt!
problem child...

and don't answer the poll with what it did on a friend's bike either...

lol

[Montreux_Blue]

Fine... I guess I have to take someones side...

[Rasputin]

I have used the colortune on two of my bikes so far. One has stock coils and the other has aftermarket. The bike with aftermarket coils was a bit easier to detect the slight differences in color. The stock coils were not as brightly lit so the process was definately slower but worked fine. I experienced no actual problems just time spent on stock coils was longer. There could be other issues that affected it as well such as the carbs, amount of carbon in the cylinders, compression, or even the condition of the battery. The only way I see to be absolutely sure would be to do it on a paticular bike and then switch coils and do it again. I love my colortune and would not be without it IMHO.

[81xsproject]

I have said it before, but since it is the target of this thread, I think they are crap. I think the concept is good, but the design is horrible. Why the hell would you make the spark gap so terribly recessed. The damn thing misfires so bad you shouldn't for a second trust it. I used it because I had dropped $60 buck on the damn thing. However, when I installed my WBO2 setup, it showed that the CT had led me to set the mixture WAY too rich (in the 11:1 AFR range). No load idle should be upper 12's at the richest but more like low to mid 13's.

[Pat Kelly]

Again, I can't vote in the poll, only allowed one choice.
Stock and aftermarket coils, works fine.

[79XS11F]

I haven't had any issues with my color tunes. I however use 4 so I can tune all 4 cylinders at the same time. I think this is the way to do it. Changes to the efficiency of one cylinder will effect the others so IMO you really need to be looking at all 4 cylinders at once. That being said, it only stands to reason that if other parts of the system like dirty carbs, poor fuel, poor coils or spark are present it would make color tuning hit and miss. That would however, be the case for tuning even without color tunes.
Best bet for an awesome outcome .... fresh fuel, confirmed good timing and spark, 4 color tunes and 4 vac gages on a HOT engine.

Rob

[dbeardslee]

I've used mine on black mikes coils, green mikes coils, and stockers and it's worked great on all of them. Not only has it worked for me for adjustments, it's also been a good diagnostic tool, helping to pinpoint jetting and ignition issues. It does take some getting used to in order to 'read' it properly, though. I think there's a fair amount of 'art' mixed in with the 'science'.

[Rasputin]

I have said it before, but since it is the target of this thread, I think they are crap. I think the concept is good, but the design is horrible. Why the hell would you make the spark gap so terribly recessed. The damn thing misfires so bad you shouldn't for a second trust it. I used it because I had dropped $60 buck on the damn thing. However, when I installed my WBO2 setup, it showed that the CT had led me to set the mixture WAY too rich (in the 11:1 AFR range). No load idle should be upper 12's at the richest but more like low to mid 13's.

You have to remember that Colortune is set by the range of color and is as acurrate or more as the range of the set by ear method. Perhaps what you see or percieve as the correct color may be wrong. I darken my garage and set the carbs to the color that works for me. I also use my ears to help in my quest much like the thread posted about setting carbs without a colortune. My plugs are a light tan color which is a pretty good indicator of how it is running. Although it is not as correct as an exhaust gas analyzer (which I would not give you 2 cents for), I find it works great. Personally I dont care what the AFR is as long as my plugs are the right color and the bike runs right and haulz azz. I also defy you to tell what the carbs are set like by ear in the mid to high range of RPM. I can watch it change color all thru the RPM range. By the way I am also somewhat red/green color blind which makes it that much more challenging to use and also prompts my reply about the perception of color. YMMV

[Rasputin]

I haven't had any issues with my color tunes. I however use 4 so I can tune all 4 cylinders at the same time. I think this is the way to do it. Changes to the efficiency of one cylinder will effect the others so IMO you really need to be looking at all 4 cylinders at once. That being said, it only stands to reason that if other parts of the system like dirty carbs, poor fuel, poor coils or spark are present it would make color tuning hit and miss. That would however, be the case for tuning even without color tunes.
Best bet for an awesome outcome .... fresh fuel, confirmed good timing and spark, 4 color tunes and 4 vac gages on a HOT engine.

Rob

Well said. I have only one colortune, just cant afford three more. I do a few circuits to recheck how the adjustments have affected the other carbs. Once I have been thru them a couple of times, I am completely happy with the results.

[tarzan]

I couldn't do the poll,I haven't used one. I just bought a CT on ebay
yesterday.So when it arrives I will get the opportunity to try it.
I've read on here that quite a few people use them, so I figured for $45
it is worth a try.

[DGXSER]

IMO, having used one on my engine when I had a messed up carb without knowing it, and seeing it used and using it on a couple others (helping out at Dbeardslee's place) and using mine on Banshee so far, it is as good as the user.

Like Doug stated, it is as much art as science. It is not the same spark you get with your regular plug in place. I often see it miss or eratic spark, even on an engine that runs fine with the normal plugs in place. So you have to learn to interpret the results. I am in the learning stage for sure. Even then, I think you still want to check your plug color and make final adjustments from that. The plug color does not lie in my opinion.

[rpgoerlich]

I had set up the 80G I rode up this past MOM and my 79SF with them. I have 2 - 14mm so I can do 2 cylinders at a time which speeds up the process. I've had no problems using them if I have time. It's obviously quicker/easier to tune by ear than swapping a plug for a colortune plug. That is if the carbs are clean and you have a good ear.

Had we had more time I think we could have gotten Harry's MNS setup that night.

[Ivan]

A calibrated ear and a good long screwdriver work wonders.

reduce idle to as low as possible, set first carb idle mix to max rpm, then out about 1/2 turn. lower idle again, set next carb, lower idle, etc. When all are done, set idle back up to 1100 rpm, ride the snot out of it.

FWIW, that works on cars and chainsaws and model airplanes and dragsters and gas powered generators and ultralights and go carts and pretty much any carb. It doesn't work on diesel engines or steam powered trains or nuclear reactors.