3 turns out is a charm !

[vedgar]

I worked next the fuel and lube group at Ford and they always said the new fuels are for !@#%%#$@ when running in old cars . Well I have been trying to get acceptable off idle acceleration and a reasonable warm up time on my 80 SG. IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN at factory spec carb settings. Original mixture carb setting are about 1 turn out, I have a couple of carbs sets that are untouched. Fuel gurus say "gotta go richer " . Thanks to a couple of posts by XSers, I have found a happy spot at three turns out on the mixture and a setting of about 21 mm for the floats. That will bring the fuel level to just about 2 1/2 mm below the carb body at the float bowl. No hes and 3 minute warm up time to Rock and Roll.
Many thanks to all carb posters for tips.
Vance

[motoman]

I worked next the fuel and lube group at Ford and they always said the new fuels are for !@#%%#$@ when running in old cars . Well I have been trying to get acceptable off idle acceleration and a reasonable warm up time on my 80 SG. IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN at factory spec carb settings. Original mixture carb setting are about 1 turn out, I have a couple of carbs sets that are untouched. Fuel gurus say "gotta go richer " . Thanks to a couple of posts by XSers, I have found a happy spot at three turns out on the mixture and a setting of about 21 mm for the floats. That will bring the fuel level to just about 2 1/2 mm below the carb body at the float bowl. No hes and 3 minute warm up time to Rock and Roll.
Many thanks to all carb posters for tips.
Vance

See you have two scoots...........the early carbs or the later ones?

[TADracer]

When you say new fuels, do you mean E-85 or the more common (at least in my area) 10% ethanol? If it is E-85 then I can certainly see the more rich adjustments since alcohol is not as efficient as good old gasoline.

So question, how is your mileage?

[vedgar]

Late carbs 80SG

I run 91octane E10 as that is available most everywhere. Have not had a chance to get to the airport for 100LL, but it can be bought and brought home in a five gallon can. I will report on my mileage as soon as possible.

[motoman]

Mileage is irrevalent, I'd be interested in knowing how long you'll have to crank on it and hold throttle plates open to lean it after it ran some 20mi. and you shut it down for 20min. That fuel/float levels are awfully high. I assume you realize 1mm of static float change equals to 2-2.5mm in actual feul level change. Your actual fuel levels ARE higher than what you state, if done running.

If that 2.5mm fuel measurement was done staticly, it means nothing in reference to the procedure and fuel level specifications of the 81's and XJ's. That procedure IS to be done with bike running and perfectly level. Those are the ONLY year models that use the 3mm RUNNING fuel level as a final check.

BTW, to bad you don't ride any farther from home than what you have 'magic' fuel for.

[vedgar]

Instant start when warm

Motoman, I have just came back from a 45 mile ride and let the bike soak for 25 minutes. No trouble starting with just a touch of the starter and no throttle. I have been changing the float level in small increments over the last few months and found this last setting to be best overall. Maybe just a hair over21 mm , call it 21.5mm. Did not do a running check but can, t deny it runs good and warms up faster at that setting. 80 and up XS,s run too damn lean compared to pre 80,s, just run your finger around the inside of the muffler and you can see the difference in carbon, to almost no carbon.
p.s. I don,t understand your comment about not riding far enough from home !
Thanks for the input
Vance

[motoman]

Motoman, I have just came back from a 45 mile ride and let the bike soak for 25 minutes. No trouble starting with just a touch of the starter and no throttle. I have been changing the float level in small increments over the last few months and found this last setting to be best overall. Maybe just a hair over21 mm , call it 21.5mm. Did not do a running check but can, t deny it runs good and warms up faster at that setting. 80 and up XS,s run too damn lean compared to pre 80,s, just run your finger around the inside of the muffler and you can see the difference in carbon, to almost no carbon.
p.s. I don,t understand your comment about not riding far enough from home !
Thanks for the input
Vance

......was just a jab since what you said bout the fuel you use that you take home in cans.
Naturally it'll seem to be ridable quicker. 21mm float setting combined with three turns out is gonna be equivalent to enricher use. Bet it starts first hit initially started too......with no enricher.

As far as 'reading' exhaust, decades ago I could use the dustin' that the chrome 'bumpers' got as an indicator. A little dark dustin' would show runnin' in the 8-12,000ft. level. 6,500ft and below, chrome bumpers would be light tan.

Nice of you to post the results of your experimenting.......interesting to say the least!

[vedgar]

A light dustin !

Just wonderin where you were coming from. I am pretty thick skinned for taking jabs. As far as choke setting from start, temp is the key (ambient). On average of about 70f, full on for about 30 seconds when idle kicks up down to second setting for about a minute. Choke off in about 3 minutes total . After full warmup of 2 miles or so , no flat off idle stumble, just clean pull from 1100 RPM. This is for the 80 SG all stock. My 79 SF is a slightly different animal. 10 seconds of full choke and a minute of second setting . Fully rolling at about 1/4 mile. Like I said the 80 and up carbs are super lean in factory settings. I was a wrench in the 80,s when emission controls on cars made them almost undrivable. As mechanics we tried all kinds of tricks to get a car from a cold start to fully warmed and running decent. Forget about gas mileage, it was an afterthought.

[skids]

I assume you realize 1mm of static float change equals to 2-2.5mm in actual feul level change.

Where does this knowledge come from and how was it obtained? Manometers vs. upside-down measurements? It really make no technical sense to me.

[motoman]

Where does this knowledge come from and how was it obtained? Manometers vs. upside-down measurements? It really make no technical sense to me.

Actually Sid, that knowlwdge is from experimenting.

As for manometers/upsidedown measurements, no corrolation there between the two, so haven't a clue what your referring to.

[skids]

The correlation was clearly stated. That is why I asked. 1mm:2.5mm

[motoman]

The correlation was clearly stated. That is why I asked. 1mm:2.5mm

Manometer and millimeters...........sorry no corrolation there.

I may be a bit 'duh' here, but what the heck you talkin' bout Sid?.

[skids]

What are you talking about???

Up-side-down, change the float to gasket mating surface by 1mm will change the fluid surface as measured by the manometer 2 to 2.5 mm? Is this what was claimed and if so, I would like to know how it was determined. Brant, if this wasn't your claim, you should let whoever determined it speak out. If you know this to be fact, go ahead and tell me (please). :-)

[motoman]

What are you talking about???

Up-side-down, change the float to gasket mating surface by 1mm will change the fluid surface as measured by the manometer 2 to 2.5 mm? Is this what was claimed and if so, I would like to know how it was determined. Brant, if this wasn't your claim, you should let whoever determined it speak out. If you know this to be fact, go ahead and tell me (please). :-)

Thinkin' your more confused that a feather in a whirlwind Sid. May wanna go back and re-read my post.

1mm float level change= approx. 2-2.5mm of ACTUAL fuel level change....following so far?
Setting my floats WITH gasket in place= 1more millimeter......hence my 23mm setting PRIOR was an actual 24mm interpreting the 'gasket surface' to mean exactly that.
Sorry, manometer term was never used in my explanation, so again, haven't a clue where that came from.

[vedgar]

Take ten paces , turn and fire !

OK guys , Motoman and Skids, I fully understand the correlation between actual float measurement and the related fuel height . Motoman felt that my actual measurement of 21mm and a 3 turns out mixture screw setting would give me a very rich running bike. My settings were followed up with a clear tube bench check. The actual fuel level is 3 mm below bottom of the carb body. I was not using the factory book setting for the 81 carbs as a benchmark, it just happens to fall at that setting. It is also the only setting given for the 81 float level. In a previous post you can see my pic of the clear tube test. Skids, read all the carb posts and glean all the info from them. These are production mass produced bikes carbs etcetera. What works for one may not work for all. I have been rebuilding carbs and fixin cars and bikes for 45 years professionally and as a hobby. I still learn from others all the time and am in awe of the crap I don,t know YET ! Read listen and learn is my motto. OK I can get off my soapbox now.
Vance