[itrider]

So for the past week I have been reading dozens of threads and pages of posts. I have found tons of great pieces of advice that have worked for members, but nothing seemed to be located in one thread (you have to read...sometimes...10-20 pages before you come to an answer).

PLEASE CHECK END OF THREAD FOR CURRENT SYMPTOMS/SOLUTIONS
When members post new/edited or other symptoms/solutions, I'll add to this this thread quote and continue what has been started to prevent reading all the postings.

This is what I have gathered thus far (please correct any mistakes I make because I know that I will make them) and these are by far "typical" symptoms from users:


Is my bike LEAN?

• Very white plugs
• Popping/backfiring from exhaust on deceleration
• Bike wants to die or almost dies in slow maneuvers
• Blip on the throttle causes the engine speed to hang slightly before recovering
• Excess fuel in Airbox (from Carburetor spitting fuel to compensate for lack there of)
• Hesitation or stuttering while starting from a stop in the low rpm range (goes away when higher rpm's are achieved)

Is my bike RICH?

• Black/oily plugs (also caused from the dreaded Choke)
• Bike hesitates when heavy throttle is applied or is slow to "speed up" (not to be confused with the 1/8-1/4 throttle turn while your bike is at a stop...the A/F screw affects the 1/8-1/4 turn while the needle/shim affects the mid to higher range)
• Blip on throttle causes the engine speed to drop below idle and then it recovers
• Significant gas odor while riding

Solutions for LEAN:

• Turn out (counterclockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• Add shim(s) to the needle

Solutions for RICH:

• Turn in (clockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• If shim(s) exist, try removing them if A/F screw did fix the problem

Idle Speed:

• 900rpm +/- 100rpm
• May need to be set slightly higher for colder temps

Shimming Heights (per SCAR):

• "Open" style airbox and after market "free flow" pipes... usually about 2or 3 shims.
• Airbox flowing more air than stock design, but not in the "heavy breathing" class and/or pipes either free flow or somewhat restricted... usually about 1or 2 shims
• Stock airbox (K&N filter in stock box is still "stock") and after market pipes... usually 0 or 1 shims
• Stock airbox and stock pipes...tune the A/F screw for maximum performance.

Shimming note (per Charlie D):

• Clip positions on after market are the same as shimming up or down ( a shim for half clip position).

Helpful Links:

Link to help understand the workings of Carburetor. http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tunin...m_engines.html

Here's another good read, talks about jetting, needle shimming and plug chops ect: http://crapmods.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3604

 

[Charlie D]

excess fuel in the air box is a symtom of lean more often than not.

You need to tell which direction to make lean/rich with the A/F screw.
some carbs are the other way than ours.

also make a statement of clip positions on after market are the same as shimming up or down and a shim for half clip position.

might also add this link to help them understand the workings. http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tuning_procedures/tuning_carbtune,CV,lower_rpm_engines.html

 

[itrider]

This is what I have gathered thus far (please correct any mistakes I make because I know that I will make them) and these are by far "typical" symptoms from users:


Is my bike LEAN?

• Very white plugs
• Popping/backfiring from exhaust on deceleration
• Bike wants to die or almost dies in slow maneuvers
• Blip on the throttle causes the engine speed to hang slightly before recovering
• Excess fuel in Airbox (from Carburetor spitting fuel to compensate for lack there of)

Is my bike RICH?

• Black/oily plugs (also caused from the dreaded Choke)
• Bike hesitates when heavy throttle is applied or is slow to "speed up"
• Blip on throttle causes the engine speed to drop below idle and then it recovers

Solutions for LEAN:

• Turn out (counterclockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• Add shim(s) to the needle

Solutions for RICH:

• Turn in (clockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• If shim(s) exist, try removing them if A/F screw did fix the problem

Idle Speed:

• 900rpm +/- 100rpm
• May need to be set slightly higher for colder temps

Shimming Heights (per SCAR):

• "Open" style airbox and after market "free flow" pipes... usually about 2or 3 shims.
• Airbox flowing more air than stock design, but not in the "heavy breathing" class and/or pipes either free flow or somewhat restricted... usually about 1or 2 shims
• Stock airbox (K&N filter in stock box is still "stock") and after market pipes... usually 0 or 1 shims
• Stock airbox and stock pipes...tune the A/F screw for maximum performance.

Shimming note (per Charlie D):

• Clip positions on after market are the same as shimming up or down ( a shim for half clip position).

Link to help understand the workings of Carburetor. http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tunin...m_engines.html

 

[Biddy]

Good idea here itrider, now to keep it from getting buried under a ton of posts and hard to find can it become a sticky thread?

Here's another good read, talks about jetting, needle shimming and plug chops ect:

http://crapmods.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3604

Biddy

 

[itrider]

***UPDATED 05/06/08 @ 0753 cst***

This is what I have gathered thus far (please correct any mistakes I make because I know that I will make them) and these are by far "typical" symptoms from users:


Is my bike LEAN?

• Very white plugs
• Popping/backfiring from exhaust on deceleration
• Bike wants to die or almost dies in slow maneuvers
• Blip on the throttle causes the engine speed to hang slightly before recovering
• Excess fuel in Airbox (from Carburetor spitting fuel to compensate for lack there of)

Is my bike RICH?

• Black/oily plugs (also caused from the dreaded Choke)
• Bike hesitates when heavy throttle is applied or is slow to "speed up"
• Blip on throttle causes the engine speed to drop below idle and then it recovers

Solutions for LEAN:

• Turn out (counterclockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• Add shim(s) to the needle

Solutions for RICH:

• Turn in (clockwise) A/F screw (start with 1/8 turn increments)
• If shim(s) exist, try removing them if A/F screw did fix the problem

Idle Speed:

• 900rpm +/- 100rpm
• May need to be set slightly higher for colder temps

Shimming Heights (per SCAR):

• "Open" style airbox and after market "free flow" pipes... usually about 2or 3 shims.
• Airbox flowing more air than stock design, but not in the "heavy breathing" class and/or pipes either free flow or somewhat restricted... usually about 1or 2 shims
• Stock airbox (K&N filter in stock box is still "stock") and after market pipes... usually 0 or 1 shims
• Stock airbox and stock pipes...tune the A/F screw for maximum performance.

Shimming note (per Charlie D):

• Clip positions on after market are the same as shimming up or down ( a shim for half clip position).

Helpful Links:

Link to help understand the workings of Carburetor. http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tunin...m_engines.html

Here's another good read, talks about jetting, needle shimming and plug chops ect: http://crapmods.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3604

 

[yogic1]

Spark Plug Catalog:
http://www.dansmc.com/Spark_Plugs/Spark_Plugs_catalog.html
might be of some help + some other tips (http://www.dansmc.com/indexindex.htm)

 

[itrider]

Those pics are great! I'll add this to the helpful links section when I get a few more additions (I don't want this thread to be 90% of the same re-posting). Excellent information

 

[Big-X]

Itrider, see if you can now edit your first post...let me know if you can or cannot.

 

[itrider]

Thanks for making this a sticky.

Unfortunately, I am not able to edit the first post.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Kee Curlee (Irish)]

Blue Wolfs VTX;

First, What is a shim? Please give me a break.

 

[itrider]

See SCAR's sticky on the carburetor adjustment. He details what a shim is in his write up. The simple version is that it is a washer to add/remove space.

http://www.vtxcafe.com/showthread.php?t=3667

 

[Kee Curlee (Irish)]

Ok, Now we are on the same page. I can see now that this is going to be a fun build...

 

[Kee Curlee (Irish)]

Blue Wolfs VTX;

OK, Now I have to shop manual comming (Not a cheep book, ebay had only one left), Thats on the way. In Montana you have to drive 137 miles to the nearest town,(Billings), No body likes to buy chrome parts... So, if you want chrome it has to be shipped in... Scar has been on the money 100% at this time, thank you, The VTX cafe has been so much help, How can I help others find what they are looking for... Now, Wy mufflers showed up last night, the shop manual should be here Monday or Tuesday, Now hurry up and wait, I served from 1969 to 1975 in the ARMY 7th Cav. Hon. discharge, I love my country, I look foward to each and every sunrise, Each day is a new Road to be filled with My tracks... God I Love This Life Kee

 

[Scar]

OK, Now I have to shop manual comming (Not a cheep book, ebay had only one left), Thats on the way. In Montana you have to drive 137 miles to the nearest town,(Billings), No body likes to buy chrome parts... So, if you want chrome it has to be shipped in... Scar has been on the money 100% at this time, thank you, The VTX cafe has been so much help, How can I help others find what they are looking for... Now, Wy mufflers showed up last night, the shop manual should be here Monday or Tuesday, Now hurry up and wait, I served from 1969 to 1975 in the ARMY 7th Cav. Hon. discharge, I love my country, I look foward to each and every sunrise, Each day is a new Road to be filled with My tracks... God I Love This Life Kee

I hear ya bro -- I was "there" 66 - 67... I like the sunrise also.

 

[Biddy]

First, What is a shim? Please give me a break.

It's just a shim used for shimming a stock needle, a trick that's been around for ages.

Here's some info, talks about carb jetting, stock needle shimming and plug chops ect: http://crapmods.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3604

Biddy

 

[Bowmen2]

High Altitude adjustment

I pulled my plugs today and noticed they were fouled and black, light heavy carbon on them. Reading the manuel i noticed there's a high altitude adjustment on the outside of the carb. Will this help lean my mixture. I only have 1400 miles on the bike.

:cheers:

 

[Kee Curlee (Irish)]

Blue Wolfs VTX;

Ya-know, I just followed Scar' instructions and bought the shop manual , Now if I want something, I quick order it up and I have the correct parts in hand... If I had this Honda shop manual when I first started this build I could have cut so many corners...

 

[Bowmen2]

I understand, I purchased the 2003 to 2008 VTX C,R,S,T manual. It looks as if the pilot screw is a easy way to do minor adjustments to the lean/rich mixture. If anyone wishes I can scan and post the page.

 

[Kee Curlee (Irish)]

Blue Wolfs VTX;

I guess I kind of went over board on my thank you' But it was put like this, Lets help each other and this will be one of the best bolg' you will ever visit...

 

[krgarden]

Hey guys... New to these forums and new to owning a VTX 1300R. Traded in my 2005 Aero 750 for this baby, and I love it.

One problem though is that often when I barely push down on the throttle at low speeds the bike almost stalls -- and even sometimes sputters or backfires. I assume this means it is a bit lean from reading here. I also assume I could play with the A/F screw a little bit to get rid of this... but dont know where to find it on my 2007 1300R. Can anyone help me with this?

Is this something I shouldnt play with, being a complete novice and having only ~500 miles on the bike? I took it back to the dealer... they rode it and said it was fine. Figures...

Anyhow, I really appreciate the help if you can give me any?

Thanks!

Kyle