Need help in Idaho please

[motoman]

Was just an FYI Greg
XSSE........I'll be close, next week in a cage to Columbus, GA........but that don't 'hold water' either..........guess it'll be next year.......com'on up......free lodging and you can't beat the weather and scenerey with a stick, least not this side of the Mississippi.

May even decide to host a killer MOM and riding rally.......right out of my house/mancave/large backyard for tenting......JAT.

[BA80]

You'll be pretty close to Jeff, Marty, Mike, and Brent. You might want to let them know you'll be around.

I'm from Montana my friend and I've been all over. Colorado is nice but I've never seen anything to beat western Montana.

All for a M.O.M., as long as there' lot's of riding mixed with the wrenching.

[3Phase]

at this point in his trip weather is going to be more of a factor then problems with the bike. Sounds like mechanically he is going to get there but looking at the weather today he has probably encountered quite a bit of rain. Hopefully the tires he has on the bike presently are able to handle it.

I hope he's alright with the tires too and sticky/contaminated brakes aren't any fun in the rain either.

The rain's the main reason I asked Billy to check the voltage at the Ignition coils, that's sort of how I wound up with Accel 3.0 Ohm coils and no more Ballast Resistor.

Thirty years ago the Ballast Resistor on his Midnight Special was a shiny sealed unit but if it's gotten even a little water in it from rain or washing then it'll slowly deteriorate. Eventually the engine doesn't just snort, spit, cough, hack and stumble at low speed and off-idle, it makes spectacular backfires and flames shoot out the exhaust and then it won't run at all.

.

[jetmechmarty]

You'll be pretty close to Jeff, Marty, Mike, and Brent. You might want to let them know you'll be around.

I think motoman is on a mission. From me to Columbus is 3 hours if no traffic and Atlanta is in the way. The others are closer, but not by much considering Atlanta traffic. It would be nice, but c'est la vie.

[WMarshy]

"I reject reality and subsitute my own"

The fuel level in the bowl has a direct effect on F/A ratio. Having a low level in the bowl will only create a lean condition.

Liquid fuel is fed to the nozzle of
the carburetor venturi, and flows
due to the vacuum generated by the
air flowing past the venturi itself,
and from airflow pulsations generated
by the piston movement. The
calibrated jets placed upstream of
the spray nozzle itself control the
fuel flow reaching the spray nozzle.
Motorcycle carburetors are nearly
always of the needle type and have
a structural architecture as shown
in the accompanying illustrations.
The fuel arriving from the tank is
held inside a constant level float
chamber. The liquid pressure head
on the various jets is relatively constant.
The difference between the
float chamber fuel level and the level
that the fuel must be raised to
by the inducing vacuum remains
constant. The float chamber level is
kept constant by means of a fuel inlet
valve, actuated by a float that
follows free surface of the liquid in
the float chamber. When the float
chamber level drops, due the fuel
used by the engine, the float drops
and opens the valve, so that additional
fuel can flow from the tank.
The level of the fuel and float then
increases, and at a certain point,
closes the valve until the sequence
is repeated. The level in the float
chamber is therefore a calibration
element of the carburetor, since the
metered fuel delivery changes with
float level, and therefore affects the
mixture ratio. By having a high
float level, a greater fuel quantity is
delivered compared to the case with
a low float level, under all operating
conditions and for all of the carburetor's
circuits. Adjustment of the
float chamber level is affected by
two elements: the weight of the
float (or of the floats) and the configuration
of the lever arm that connects
the float with the valve. By
installing a heavier float, the free
surface of the float chamber liquid
must rise before the float buoyancy
force balances the increased weight
making the float rise. The result will
be a higher float chamber level and
a richer delivered mixture under the
same conditions. On the contrary if
we install a lighter float, a lower liquid
level will cause sufficient
buoyant force to actuate the valve
and therefore the carburetor calibration
will become leaner. That is
why floats are classified according
to their weight (printed on them)
and calibration standards for their
position inside the float chamber
are prescribed in order to assure
correct operation. To modify the
float chamber level, if necessary and
when it's not possible to change the
Checking the position of the float inside the
float chamber is prescribed. According to different
carburetor models, the distance of the float
from the contact surface of the float chamber
needs to be measured float weight, in some cases it's possible
to change the angle of the lever
that operates the valve.
In this way, the float closes the valve
in advance (for a lower level) or
later (for a higher level) at equal
weight.
We must note, however, that too
low a level in the float chamber can
result in an insufficient liquid head
on the jets and therefore lead to the
risk of dangerous enleanment of the
delivered mixture.
This can occur when the fuel moves
inside the float chamber due to the
accelerations the vehicle undergoes.
In these cases (which mainly happen
on off-road motorcycles or on
the track, in the bends or under violent
braking), if the level is too low,
one of the jets leading to the carburetor's
circuits may be temporarily
exposed to air instead of liquid.
In some versions, special screen baffles
are applied near the jets.
These are called bottom traps and
their purpose is to maintain the
maximum liquid quantity around
the jets under all possible conditions.
A needle that closes on a seat,
which is inserted or screwed into
the carburetor's body, forms the
fuel valve. The needle is equipped
with a synthetic rubber element on
the tip.
This material is perfectly compatible
with normal commercial gasoline
but in the case of special fuels
such as those containing alcohol, it
is necessary to verify the compatibility
of the fuel and the seals in order
not to compromise the carburetor's
functionality.
Different versions of the needles are
equipped with a sprung tip in the
connection with the float, in order
to reduce the needle's vibration induced
by the motion of the liquid
in the float chamber and from the
motorcycle's movements.
The diameter of the needle valve is
a calibration element since it determines
the maximum fuel delivery
rate.
If the diameter is too small to accommodate
the fuel quantity that
the engine requires under certain
conditions (generally at full load)
the float chamber empties faster
than it can be replenished through
the needle valve! If this condition
should continue for some time, the
engine suffers from reduced fuel delivery
due to the fact that the level
in the float chamber is decreased
and therefore the carburation has
become too lean.

[BA80]

Thirty years ago the Ballast Resistor on his Midnight Special was a shiny sealed unit but if it's gotten even a little water in it from rain or washing then it'll slowly deteriorate. Eventually the engine doesn't just snort, spit, cough, hack and stumble at low speed and off-idle, it makes spectacular backfires and flames shoot out the exhaust and then it won't run at all.

.

I had the same issue but packing the plug behind the fuse panel for the pickup coils with dielectric grease completely eliminated that problem.

I think it might even run good under water now.

[3Phase]

I had the same issue but packing the plug behind the fuse panel for the pickup coils with dielectric grease completely eliminated that problem.

I think it might even run good under water now.

Mine burned itself in half inside the shell; pulled over when it quit running and heard something sizzling under the sinister side of the tank. I jumpered it to get home and eventually dug the Accel coils out of the parts bucket -- ballast resistors! Ack! Ptooey!

.

[BillyRok]

One more day to go

I'm stopped in OH for the night, just missed the rain...for now, it appears. Tomorrow looks wet for sure, got 375 miles to cover. No choice but to take it easy and get there when I get there. No joy here with the wifi again so I'll have to do the whole trip update after I get back.

[jetmechmarty]

I was going to make a comment, then it occurred to me, weren't we trying to help a fella get his newly acquired bike across the country to home? He me have some trouble following this thread out on the road, or he's given up on us.

[cajun31]

After

such an epic journey there surely is no need to push fate. Unfortunately the weather is not going to be cooperative at this point. Be safe.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Billy,
Nearly Home Hope the rain manages to miss you. At least the weather is nice and warm between the showers.
Phil

[Bonz]

Good job Billy, you "Rok"!

[BillyRok]

leaving at 4:30

Woke up early and radar looks good for now...a sign from the good Lord...I'm making a run for it!!

[BillyRok]

Home!

Made is back and never hit a drop of rain! After my nap I'll try and get pictures posted from the trip.

[Bonz]

Awesome! Huge undertaking and what a feeling of accomplishment, you gotta be pretty proud of the bike and your effort too.