Carburetor Tuning

Eric Morris
March 1, 2006

Carburetor servicing or tuning makes sure that all the parts are in working condition. There are several reasons why a carburetor may stop functioning or may not function to its full capacity, including gasoline resins or dust particles clogging the carburetor jets, gumming up of the throttles and stickiness of the choke valves. Carburetor parts are controlled by springs that may become worn out over time, which will affect the functioning of the carburetor. Tuning the carburetor from time to time will prevent its complete breakdown.

Tuning may involve replacing some of the parts that are available as carburetor kits. Tuning a carburetor ensures that the engine is in good working condition. Carburetors are affected by several conditions like unfavorable climate, different types of fuel, the terrain, and the type of riding. There is not time limit for carburetor tuning; it should be done whenever the ride was dusty or when the roads are muddy.

Carburetor tuning starts with pressure washing the bike, especially at the bottom where roost and oil is likely to accumulate. The sub-frame can be removed for better access. A look at the vent hoses would reveal any melting or clogging that might cause the engine to bog. Check the cable for any frays or kinks. Sometimes the rubber dust cover may be torn and may need replacement. Check the float bowl, jet baffle, float, airscrew, and the fuel inlet needle. Ensure that all these are in working condition, free of dust. Next, check the bell mouth of the carburetor to see that there is no clogging at the two holes at the bottom.

Flush the passage after dismantling the carburetor. This can be done by a can of brake or carburetor cleaner that is available in any automobile parts store. While spraying the cleaner, ensure that it flows out the pilot and the air passage in the bell mouth. Next, spray it through the tiny passage between the venture and the intake spigot. This will open any clogging along the passages, thus ensuring free flow of gasoline and air. Lastly, flush the slides bore and slide.

Jetting is the process of adjusting or changing the air or fuel jets. Before jetting, look for crankcase air leaks, crankcase oil leaks, coolant-system leaks, carbon-seized exhaust valves, blown silences, broken reed-valve petals, weak spark, clogged carburetor vent hoses, too low or too high carburetor float level, and worn carburetor fuel-inlet needle. There are certain things to be taken into consideration before jetting, including the air temperature, humidity, altitude, track conditions, fuel, and load. There are three types of carburetor tuning gauges including Relative-air-density (RAD) gauges, Air-fuel (AF) ratio meters and Exhaust-gas-temperature (EGT) gauges.

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