Black Plugs

[Lonerider62]

I just got my "80" Special back in November of Last year. I adjusted all the valves, put in a new cam chain, removed the mouse nest and cleaned and rebuilt the carbs. The kits came with 110 & 120 mains and I put the 120's in. The bike started really well and has been a good running machine. I've been in Arizona the past couple months at pretty low elevation (about 600'). The starting has gradually gotten a little harder, requiring the throttle be opened at least 1/4 opening to get it started and quite a bit of cranking. Today I decided to check the plugs and they were really carboned up. I know the air cleaner is good, I replaced it when I did all the other work. As I remember, the idle screws were opened 2 1/2 turns which I thought was a lot more than usual but that's what is was set at when I took her down. I made sure the float level was good also when I did the carbs. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is most likely causing my rich mixture? The bike does not smoke like a rich bike might and gives off no fumes like one might expect a rich running bike to do.

[BA80]

Have you been riding it or just starting it for a few minutes at a time?

[Lonerider62]

I haven't ridden it for less than 100 miles every time I've started it. I'm not one to start it just to listen to it run and I trailered the thing 2500 miles so I could enjoy the sun and warmth of Arizona in the winter.

[BA80]

Heh heh, OK. I saw the Michigan location and just thought " has he got snow tires on that thing?"

How is your gas mileage?

[petejw]

if ur running the stock air box
put the 110's in,
also adj ur mixtures,
do a search there should b a
heap of posts on how to adjust.

[BA80]

110s are what the SG came with. The change in elevation, temperature and humidity will also have an effect on the everyday running as it is tuned.

[tweeleft]

2 1/2 turns on the mix screws sounds a bit much. Mine are around 1 1/2 but I use a colortune and have a 79. I believe the carbs are different. What is your needle slide set at?

[Schming]

You can guess and even come pretty darn close and the bike may well run good but until you put a carbtune and color tune on at the same time it'll never be spot on.

Changes in elevation shouldn't be a problem if the carbs are in good tune as these CV carb are designed just for that.

Once you get it dialed in it'll put a Big Smile on your face.

Also your starting issues will go away when you get them set up right.

[BA80]

What is your needle slide set at?

The needles are not adjustable on 80 & 81 carbs.

[Lonerider62]

Thanks for the replies. To answer as best I can, the stock jets didn't have any numbers, only a stamp that I couldn't interpret (I made a note of it back in Nov. or Dec.) but I think I will put the 110's in. Gas mileage has been in the mid 30's which isn't great. The bike had absolutely no starting problems back in December when I first completed the setup and has run flawlessly ever since, right up to now, no hesitation, bogging, or anything else that would indicate a fueling problem and if I hadn't checked the plugs, I wouldn't have guessed it was rich. That said, who knows how much better it will run when leaned up some. When I bought the thing the carbs were so buggered up, along with an air box full of mouse nest, that it would only start and run with full choke, and then poorly at that. I was so proud after going through the thing that it would start, then run like a Timex after turning off the choke. I'll be headed back home tomorrow morning so I'll be back in snow country next friday. After I get settled in I think I'll check the idle mixtures, redo the mains and sync the carbs. I really don't feel like removing the carbs so I may do the mains (if I can) without taking the carbs out which is a real PIA in my opinion. By the way, for anyone who likes to ride during the winter months, the Lake Havasu/Parker AZ area is as good as it gets. !00 days out here, you'll ride 100 days, sun, warm, no rain.

[BA80]

Changes in elevation shouldn't be a problem if the carbs are in good tune as these CV carb are designed just for that.

Yes, they will compensate quite well as they are designed to do but TUNING them at one elevation/atmospheric condition/fuel and the running regularly at another will show evidence of being out of tune.

I notice little differences in mine when I head up north. Differences because of atmosphere and differences because of regional blends of fuel.

[motoman]

[QUOTE=Lonerider62;358954 I really don't feel like removing the carbs so I may do the mains (if I can) without taking the carbs out which is a real PIA in my opinion. [/QUOTE]

The 110's (Genuine Mikuni) ARE the stock jetting for your Special. Gonna have to remove the carb bank to change them. That is a 10min....15min. tops to remove. To make it easy for you, remove the side and one top bolt holding the air box. Remove the PCV hose from the air box/tranny. Remove the lower filter housing and filter. Loosen all four clamps on the airbox side. Pull back on air box while rocking it back and forth till it comes off the carb bells. Pull it back and down till intake tubes clear carb bells(air box does NOT have to come out). Rotate throttle WO, reach in there letting off throttle a bit and pull up on cable housing to get it out of holder. By hand, hold throttle assembly WO and slip cable out of holder. Loosen the four intake boot clamps. Remove carb bank same process as air box. Slide carb bank out left side. Before replacing carb bank, spray some heavy duty silicone on inside of boots(no grease, rots the rubber). Reverse the process and wa-la. Now typing all that took me longer than I can remove a carb bank, and my typing isn't exactly fast, but you get the idea. This is easy......compared to removing the four downdraft carb bank off my V4 ST.......just sayin'.....