Carb sync question

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

All back on and set to 1.5 turns out, no more hanging idle but smells very rich.  Could it just be that I need to get out on it and get some miles on it now?

Aside from it smelling rich are there other signs such as an overly cold exhaust - I assume you have tried opening up the air screws a tad.

I found a decent run often helps as you get the whole system up to temperature plus when riding you will burn up the fuel through the rev range moving onto the main needle jets.

[DomP]

Sounds a plan Bryan!

I've gone to 1 3/4 out to see how it is, just a bit smokey and stinks when cold

[DomP]

Well the ride out didn't go to plan, started kangarooing and lost power then cut out.  Left it for a bit, got going then lost power again so I'm pushing it one mile from home up a steep hill😫

Hopefully not catastrophic, it didn't sound good

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My 500 kept doing that when I did a few pre-strip down rides.

It turned out my big feet in boots were pulling the choke lever up when I changed gear.

[DomP]

I had noticed a noise coming from the generator side, this what I've found.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Were the casing dowels both in place?

[DomP]

Were the casing dowels both in place?

Yeah both there Ted, I can't work out what wound cause it.  Initially I was worried it was engine internals noise but it was definitely from this side so I've had a look at the oil which initially looks as good as new still, might be an idea to drop the oil in any case to check for regurgitated engine parts?

Edit*  I know what it is now, the three screws holding the coil on have all worked loose.  I must have not done them up tight enough or used any threadlock on them, hopefully not too much damage caused!

[Bryanj]

The steel should have protected the windings.
WARNING
DO NOT run the engine with that casing off or you will get a fully lubricated floor and loose to the farthest dirty area a nla plug

[DomP]

The steel should have protected the windings.
WARNING
DO NOT run the engine with that casing off or you will get a fully lubricated floor and loose to the farthest dirty area a nla plug

🤣  I've read you mention that before Bryan, I'll make sure I don't.  Presumably this will be the reason it sounded awful and lost power.

[K2-K6]

All back on and set to 1.5 turns out, no more hanging idle but smells very rich.  Could it just be that I need to get out on it and get some miles on it now?

Aside from it smelling rich are there other signs such as an overly cold exhaust - I assume you have tried opening up the air screws a tad.

I found a decent run often helps as you get the whole system up to temperature plus when riding you will burn up the fuel through the rev range moving onto the main needle jets.

Agree with this.

Would go further in this direction to evaluate what range you're actually operating in. Turn the airscrews out to 2 3/4 for a functionality check in establishing IF there's enough range of adjustment to correct what exists currently.

If they get to 3 turns out, and without correcting mixture adequately, likey that the idle jets themselves are flowing too much fuel. This is effectively what an "engine check light" on fuel injection is doing, telling you it's reached the maximum allowed in programmed adjustment but not successful in fully corrected output.

MOST of these carburettor would have the adjustment range of screw within 1 ~ 3 turns out, past those positions would indicate the fuel jet is too large or too small for application.  That could be partly blocked, enlarged through cleaning, or the wrong size simply installed.

Going for maximum outwards is not to run it like that but to answer the question of IF it can be corrected within design parameters.  Try it to find out. It could be that one size smaller jet is suitable in this case.

Before this though, are you confident of the air filter fitted ? That could also significantly skew results here.

[DomP]

Thanks Nigel, that's very helpful.  I'll try further out to see where it gets me.  The air filter is a new genuine Honda 500 as I've done away with the vent pipe as per Kens recommendation and all jets are Keihin for this model of bike and the 069a carbs

I've just taken the plugs out to see if they are still sooty after the run that ended abruptly yesterday, this is what all four look like. 

[Nurse Julie]

Which plugs are they Dom and were they new?

[DomP]

New Julie, NGK D7EA from the green plug company so I'd hope genuine

[Nurse Julie]

New Julie, NGK D7EA from the green plug company so I'd hope genuine

I'm sure they are Genuine Dom, we've never had a dud one from The Green Sparkplug Company. Most of the plugs we've had from them have been Denso though.

[K2-K6]

The picture of plug shows the tip oddly hot, in contrast to the running rich observation.

I'd doubt of there's any problem with plug and it's manufacturing if they all start and run reliablly.

Likely the short run wouldn't give a valid and more comprehensive view initially though. If it's all together and seems to be running without error generally., then more miles 5~10 run to then look at the plugs again would give more insight.