Three questions for yea...

[don07tncav]

After a lot of reading on the site I still don't understand a few things.

1) Just how many turns do you open the idle screws on the tops of the carbs?

I've read from 1/4 turns all the way to 3 turns currently mine are at two turns.

2) Is there as replacement exhaust system that will fit the bikes with stock oil coolers?

It would be nice to retain the center stand.

3) Does synthetic oil really cool the engine more?

There was a thread a few weeks ago about a new synthetic oil and I'm thinking about switching to synthetic.

Thanks oh great and knowledgable gurus!

[Deni]

Hi, Don,
1) Manual says idle mixture screws are 1 and 1/4 turn out from lightly seated. I did this when I rebuilt my carbs and it idles fine. I think it's really close if not right on. I recently bought a colortune plug to see for sure and tweak it if necessary, but haven't used it yet because it's so close.

2) Don't know about this, but I'll bet there is what you want somewhere.

3) Previous post have anecdotally said that synthetics will make it run cooler. This is a big topic of differing opinion and you can find multiple posts that reflect this. I believe it will lower temperature and be much better all around for a big air cooled bike with a wet clutch. I've changed to 20w50 Amsoil synthetic motorcycle oil and have no problems (yet?) and everything is fine. I eventually want to add an oil temp and pressure gauge combo in place of the idiot light oil pressure sensor, but haven't yet. If you do go synthetic, make sure there are no viscosity index improvers (=junk) that your wet clutch will break down pronto, and best if they say JASO MA rated for wet clutches. My $0.01.
-Deni

[Pat Kelly]

my answer to #2:
I have a Jardine 4 int 2 exhaust and I have an oil cooler and the centerstand. This is the 'spagetti-pipe' version with the outer 2 (1 & 4) pipes going to the left and the inner pipes (2 & 3) going right. There is a crossover pipe at the mufflers at the swingarm pivot.
These pipes are on my E. They do stick out slightly further to the sided than the stock pipes. The muffler also covers the rear axle bol;t so removal of the mufflers is necessary to remove the rear wheel. You can access the oil filter with no problem.
All in all I like these pipes.

#3:
The bike is a dinosaur, I use dino juice.

[GNEPIG]

.. 1 and 1/4 turns is a good starting point to get your bike running. after you get the bike warmed up turn the screws, one at a time, in or out only 1/4 turn at a time until you hear the idle get smoother [rev higher] .. you want the bike to idle at about 1000 rpm's, so you will have to adjust the idle down each time you adjust one fuel screw.. unless 1 and 1/4 is the spot were your bike idles it's best already

.. i have had one of those 4 into 2 exhaust [the one that Pat is talking about] on one of my bikes, other than giving up some cornering clearance it was the best exhaust i've ever had on one of these bikes and it looks great also!

.. regular motor oil has come along way since even the 70s.
synthetic oil is still a pretty new product, it has some very good aspects about it, i would not think twice about putting it the girl friends new car or maybe a new bike..
but probably not an old bike.. a good 20w50 dino oil changed at 2000 mile intervals might be the best
.. i live in fla and have had no problems with the dino stuff
and i've been really hard on the beav

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Don,

First, as others have stated, about 1.25 turns out is stock, but others have had good response with more turns, especially if you live near sea level. I'm running 2.25 out, was at over 3 but too rich for the mountains and altitude during rallies!

Some of the aforementioned exhaust styles are NO LONGER AVAILABLE, here's what I found on Dennis Kirk. The Jardines don't state in their description whether the center stand or Oil Filter access are retained?

In details, MAC's retain Center/Sidestand and Easy access to Oil Filter!

Mac Chrome 4-2 Turn Out
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...Id=&leafCatId=



Mac Chrome 4-2 taper tipped
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...Id=&leafCatId=



MAC 4-1 Chrome
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...Id=&leafCatId=



Jardine Chrome 4-1

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...Id=&leafCatId=


Black 4-1 with chrome muffler


I prefer 20/50 Dino juice as well, changed every 3K or seasonally whichever comes first...not a daily rider! HTH?
T.C.

[don07tncav]

Thanks gents I appreciate the reccomendations!!

Adjusted the screws to 1.25.

Looked for Jardine 4 into 2's but only found Mac's like Topcat mentioned. There is one site with some unknown brand mufflers that have a J stock number, I'll call them up after the holiday.

Still on the fence about the synthetic oil.

I keep getting no more than 32-34 MPG on an average with this 6'2" old fatboy riding, the floats are right on 25 mm so I thought adjusting the screws and switching oils might help up the milage a bit more.

[don07tncav]

BTW, I can't stand it that my SWMBO's car gets more milage than my bike!!!

[MAXIMAN]

That's not bad mileage for an XS. About normal I'd say.

I dunno how you ride but the faster you cruise the poorer the mileage. I have a ridin buddy here that has Kong ('80 Special). He get 33-34 on road trips. Zilla on the other hand (my XJ1100) gets 36-37 cruising same speed (75 mph). They did something to the Maxims to "Maxim"-ize the gas mileage and it worked.

When I went to Big Bend last fall the speed in the park was 45 mph. We actually rode through the parks at 50 and 55. But WOW did it make a difference. Most of that trip we were cruising 75 -80 in the highway and I was getting 36 to 37 mph with Zilla. I filled up about 3 miles before we went into the Park. We rode about 130 miles and filled up before we left the park. Zilla got 49 mpg!!! I wish this bike had a 6th gear. I got a feeling that would really help high speed mpg.

[Pat Kelly]

Originally posted by MAXIMAN
That's not bad mileage for an XS. About normal I'd say.

I dunno how you ride but the faster you cruise the poorer the mileage. I have a ridin buddy here that has Kong ('80 Special). He get 33-34 on road trips. Zilla on the other hand (my XJ1100) gets 36-37 cruising same speed (75 mph). They did something to the Maxims to "Maxim"-ize the gas mileage and it worked.

When I went to Big Bend last fall the speed in the park was 45 mph. We actually rode through the parks at 50 and 55. But WOW did it make a difference. Most of that trip we were cruising 75 -80 in the highway and I was getting 36 to 37 mph with Zilla. I filled up about 3 miles before we went into the Park. We rode about 130 miles and filled up before we left the park. Zilla got 49 mpg!!! I wish this bike had a 6th gear. I got a feeling that would really help high speed mpg.

My E gets about 32 MPG, my LG 35. My best milage was in Canada at Big Island Deuce. My E usually goes 150 miles on a tank, At BI2 I had ½ a tank left at 150 miles .
If these bikes had a 6th gear we'd gain nothing. Final ratio would still be the same with another ratio added in the middle somewhere. What we want is overdrive