Didn't pass emmissions

[Repper]

Im trying to get my registration and I have to pass the smog check. I have a 1980 X11 special.

Not exactly sure why I didnt pass. I was fine on Hydrocarbons but I failed on Carbon Monoxide. You are allowed 5.5% and I was at 7.21.

The PO had put in Autolite something or other plugs and they were gapped at over .034. I changed them to the NGKs and gapped them according to the manual.

I'm still concerned about passing though. I was told by an friend that I should try "dry tank" which is mostly alchohol to help beat the test.

Any thoughts or comments would be apprecieated.

[prometheus578]

"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV."

I'm neither a chemist nor an emissions expert. Nor do I know how they conduct the tests.
If the tests are done at idle... Would it help to turn in the pilot screws and run real lean? (Less fuel, hotter temp, more complete combustion.) I don't know... sorta makes sense. I'm sure someone out there has a better, or the correct answer.

[JWSanders]

I don't know about motorcycles, but in cars I have seen the test beaten with a tank full of mostly ethanol. I imagine it would run like a sloppy turd though. The cars sure did.

[xs650mike]

Please remind me never to live in Arid-zona. Even California doesn't smog test bikes and we've got the strongest clean air laws anywhere!

[pggg]

Remove the air filter. Or screw down the front idle screws.

[Lord Grizzlon]

add 90% rubbin alc to gas. cheat ur way through! wrked 4 a friends '70 cuda

[Hobbit]

Emissions

It's running just a little rich.
Hydrocarbons are unburned fuel, the fact that those are okay means that the ignition is burning everthing that it's getting.
High CO means that it's getting more than it needs.
If the test is done at idle, then turning the mixtures screws in should do the trick.

[bandet01]

well i count even belive they waste there time on bike here in ohio we have emission testing and we dont even have to test the bikes

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

I'm not sure how you could make this work with a bike, but to beat the Echeck on Carbons here in Ohio, I put a cardboard box (craftily painted gray) in front of the radiator on my old F250 and got that sucker real close to the red on the temp gauge. Passed by .4 after failing by 2.

[bandet01]

he just needs to lean it out so all the fuel is getting burnt and he should pass with no problems

[DiverRay]

It is running rich. A quick fix is remove the air filter. You should then pass, unless the float level in the carbs are too high.
The carbs are probably what you will want to check, and work on. They should only take you about 2 hours to remove, check the float levels, adjust, and reinstall.
Ray

[Repper]

I didnt have a lot of time this morning and my temporary plate is only good til tomorrow, (3 days in AZ), so I tried the "dry tank". It worked... just not good enough. So I now failed by .42%. Guess I'll try playing with the carbs this weekend.

Ugh, yet another 2 fees for the DMV.

Thanks for all the help!

[Do Lee]

If your bike is placed on an analyzer for emission readings I would see if you could adjust the carbs (pilot screw) setting to meet your % required to pass while your bike is hooked to the analyzer.

Will they let you adjust your carburation to meet the % required to pass when you are getting inspected?

To do this you have to remove tank, turn it around and hook it back to your carbs, drill out the pilot screw plugs (if they are still in and you still have 1980 model carbs.) and with their analyzer hooked up to your exhaust system adjust each carb till it meets regs. Usually your high CO/HC are at idle and you adjust that with the pilot screw. Starting from 1 complete turn out from seat and adjusting one fourth turn at a time.

If you still have the stock exhaust system there are plugs on the bottom of each header pipe with a 6mm bolt used for emission tuning. If your allowed to tune your bike there during the inspection and get if within specs. then it won't cost you for repeat test. Good luck

[bandet01]

most places wont let you tune it on the machine that just like to nail you for as much money as they can

[Repper]

They wont let you tune while on the machine, and yes it is a big money making scam. My fiancee's old car went through the test and they failed her gas cap. She went to checker, got a gas cap, never installed it but showed them the reciept, they looked at the old cap on the car and passed it. Then, she went back to checker and returned the new cap.

Im thinking it might be idling too high, what rpm should I be at while idle?