Need some advice...
Joe Couto
I am rather new and so I did not notice this but my brother informs me that
there is a lot of smoke coming from the spark arrestor on my 2001 KX250.
That and he says the bottom end feels sluggish. His opinion, "Too rich".
Either the fuel mix or the jetting.
Heres the question, What do I try first? Fuel or jetting? And, is jetting
something a newbie like myself can do with a manual?
Thanks a lot,
Joe
01' KX250
motophile365
that your rig is running rich - but would want to see hear and smell
before I messed with anything. I never found my KX to be finicky with
the jetting - once it was set it always ran fine. One thing to consider,
before messing with something that used to work, is to check the power
valve.. If it is sluggish due to debris build up then that could be your
problem. I always cleaned the PV every year - and always found it in
desperate need of cleaning.
motophile365
--
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Jeff Bailey
things..
Read your manual very thoroughly, and only go in small increments either
way. Motophile gave you good advise about reading your plug. The easiest
way to tell how the bike is running is by how it "feels" to you, but always
look at your plug before changing anything. Write down the current jetting
configuration ( including how many turns your air screw is out, needle clip
position etc..) and then start from there. Just make sure you have an
understanding of how the different jets effect which throttle positions your
using. Example, your main jet doesn't come into play until your almost 3/4
throttle.. etc. so if your bike is sluggish off idle then your likely a
little rich in the bottom end ( air screw adjustment, and or pilot jet).
It might not hurt to call your Kawasaki Dealer and see if there are any team
green reports on your bike that have updated jetting as a starting point.
Also, like Motophile said.. Clean your Powervalves at least annually, and as
an added note I'd avoid 2 stroke oils that are castor based as they can gum
things up a bit. I've always had good luck with Super M, and Spectro. We ran
Maxima Castor 927 when I was racing, but we were also tearing the bike down
after every race, so it never had a chance to build up. One more thing..
Keep your silencer/spark arrestor freshly packed too.
Check out www.buykawasaki.com and you can get to an online parts catalog (
microfiche) and get the part numbers for the optional jets you need.
--
Jeff Bailey
www.motoview.com
'01 YZ426F
"motophile365" <mem...@offroadforum.com> wrote in message
news:3caa25cb$1...@spamkiller.newsgroups.com...
Joe Couto
where is it located?
By the way, the spark plug is usually pretty oily when I check it. I bought
the bike used so I don't know if the jetting is stock or not.
Joe
01' KX250
Debbie and Roger Bess
is properly cleaned/oiled..
The owners manual for the KX gives instructions on what to change based on
altitude/tempature you ride in, thats probably a good starting point..
Also, if the bike is only running poorly at certain throttle ranges, that
can help determine whether you need to be changing main jet, needle clip,
pilot jet/air screw..
"Joe Couto" <jco...@bayarea.net> wrote in message
news:a8dmr2$5uq$1...@localhost.localdomain...
Phil Scott
If its lost compression due to a worn ring (20 or 30 hours of run time will do
that with a two stroke), that might be it too.
Phil Scott
>
>Joe
>01' KX250
>
>
Dudley Cornman
"motophile365" <mem...@offroadforum.com> wrote in message
news:3caa25cb$1...@spamkiller.newsgroups.com...
Why 32:1... just because some manual says so. :)
I'm running closer to 50:1 with a synthetic blend and most of my buddies are
too.. no problems.
One riding buddy has a 2001 CR250 and per the manual he is running 32:1. He
is also getting excessive smoke and while it doesn't really foul plugs, it
does load up a bit.
The first thing I would do for this guy is to try a good conventional oil at
40:1 or a synthetic or synthetic blend at about 50:1. Then I would jet it
for that mix.
dsc
Joe Couto
I am. This advice I understand. I run 32:1 because that's what the guy at
the local shop told me I should. Will the manual contain the information on
how to jet for a 40:1 mixture?
Joe
01' KX250
Dudley Cornman <Dudley....@eku.edu> wrote in message
news:2002Apr3.0...@acs.eku.edu...
David Jones
wrote:
>I am no mechanic, and it seems like the more advice I get, the more confused
>I am. This advice I understand. I run 32:1 because that's what the guy at
>the local shop told me I should. Will the manual contain the information on
>how to jet for a 40:1 mixture?
Just remember:
Less oil = more fuel = richer mixture (40:1)
More oil = less fuel = leaner mixture (32:1)
Lots of high speed riding = higher RPMs = need more oil
Lots of plonking or slow trail riding = lower RPMs = need less oil
(Ask the trials guys what they run)
Small displacement = more oil needed
Larger displacement = less oil needed
Going from 32:1 to 40:1 should not make enough of a difference to your
jetting to need adjustment unless you were off to begin with.
I've always used 40:1 in my 200s, if I had a 125 I'd probably go with
32:1
>Joe
David - '02 KTM200 EXC
http://www.motosports-boise.com/rmd
"The Very Unofficial RMD Homepage"
Dudley Cornman
> I am no mechanic, and it seems like the more advice I get, the more
confused
> I am. This advice I understand. I run 32:1 because that's what the guy
at
> the local shop told me I should. Will the manual contain the information
on
> how to jet for a 40:1 mixture?
>
But if you went to my shop, the guy there would hand you a bottle of Golden
Spectro synthetic blend or full synthetic and tell you to mix it about 50:1
(actual number is on bottle).
The manual will not contain info for how to jet for any mixture really. Only
guidelines for what to change to cure whatever symptom it has at the moment.
Jetting is a blend of art and science and jetting can vary bike to bike.
Some of the best how-to jetting instuctions can be found on the web.
One good place is Eric-gorr.com, there are others.
dsc
Brad Holsey
here's what I learned LAST YEAR being in your same situation...
Bought my bike used (thoroughly), could almost kick start it by hand, but it
ran, just no bottom end and smoked like a train. No matter what mix it
still smoked. Suffered through the last of the season, and in the winter I
took the plung and tore down my first 2-stroke. Weisco top-end kit, some
busted knuckles, and a few choice phases later I had compression back. Ran
a 32:1 mix for the first 2 tanks and went right 40-42:1 on Golden Spectro,
no heat problems, no fouling, GOBS of power and very little smoke...
Your dealer tells you 32:1 because that's his "insurance". If you don't run
that mix then it's not his fault. Same goes for the sticker on the fender
that says the same (according to earlier post, but makes sense to me)
Yours SHOULD no need a ring or topend job, but the extra oil your TRYING to
burn will make it seem much less powerfull
I jump to 40:1 and a fresh plug and run it hard for a couple hours then
check the plug..
Mine's always about the color of a cooked corndog..
One final note: Trust the guys opinions here as they have been riding (not
selling) so most have a few up on your dealer.. :-)
I don't think any would give you advice that would melt your motor..
--
Brad Holsey
'94 RM250
"Joe Couto" <jco...@bayarea.net> wrote in message
news:a8f8og$dgc$1...@localhost.localdomain...
Joe Couto
as of this weekend and see how I do between that and a little twisting of
the air screw. I will be in Hollister this Sunday, testing it out. If you
see a short guy on a KX spewing smoke, that's probably me!
Joe
01' KX250
Hoyt McKagen
>
> Thank you to all of you for your help!! I am switching my fuel mix to 40:1
> as of this weekend and see how I do between that and a little twisting of
> the air screw.
Not very sophisticated!! What this thread needs is mention of the effect
on burning mix from changing oil ratio. I'll just note that 40:1 is about
2.5% oil but 20:1 is about 5% oil. Anyone who doesn't take acount of this
by changing carbie jets when he changes oil ration, is simply acting at
random.
BTW, let's not start up the old bit again about the oil ratio not
mattering because it all burns ... oil doesn't burn in 2S or the exhaust
would not be full of smoke.
Regards,
Hoyt McKagen
Belfab CNC - http://www.freeyellow.com/members/belfab/belfab.html
Best MC Repair - http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/best.html
Camping/Caving - http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/caving.html
I'm extra-ordinarily hairy but I can dance just like a fairy
Murray
wrote:
>Not very sophisticated!! What this thread needs is mention of the effect
>on burning mix from changing oil ratio. I'll just note that 40:1 is about
>2.5% oil but 20:1 is about 5% oil. Anyone who doesn't take acount of this
>by changing carbie jets when he changes oil ration, is simply acting at
>random.
>
>BTW, let's not start up the old bit again about the oil ratio not
>mattering because it all burns ... oil doesn't burn in 2S or the exhaust
>would not be full of smoke.
>
>
>Regards,
>
>Hoyt McKagen
>
Not sure what oil your using but mine burns very well.
Its also a smokeless oil!
Every pipe on every 2S I have seen has smoke coming out of it.
Its just how much smoke is enough smoke.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~pause while I light my smoke~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at ya.
Murray - 93 WR250