Am I running lean?

[BigD_83]

It was overly oiled when I got it but I cleaned and re-oiled it lightly. No change.
And today I tried it with the filter cover cracked open. Flat spot was worse.

The extra air from having the airbox open made the problem worse, so it does sound (and look from the picture) like you are running a little lean. Do you have any hanging idle/rising idle issues?

The flat spot might be helped by shimming the needle as it sounds like you are flatlining in the transition zone from pilot to needle jet.

I wouldn't worry about shimming/re-jetting until you get the other basic maintenance done. With the stock airbox and pipes, you should be right on for jetting with a stock carb setup.

[Caferacernoc]

The extra air from having the airbox open made the problem worse, so it does sound (and look from the picture) like you are running a little lean. Do you have any hanging idle/rising idle issues?

The flat spot might be helped by shimming the needle as it sounds like you are flatlining in the transition zone from pilot to needle jet.

I wouldn't worry about shimming/re-jetting until you get the other basic maintenance done. With the stock airbox and pipes, you should be right on for jetting with a stock carb setup.

I have a slight hanging idle. As in it takes a little too long for the idle to settle after you rev it in neutral. The main thing is this: You are cruising in 3rd gear at 2500rpm. You give it a good throttle twist. It surges briefly, then loses power for a second or two. Then "wakes up" at 4000rpm and pulls clean to redline. However, that pull to redline does not feel like 60bhp. And the power at 8000rpm feels the same as 5000rpm.
I'm hoping carb cleaning, new O-rings, and valve adjustment does the trick. But if I have to do something I feel a bigger main jet over needle shim.
Plugs are clean and white.

Thanks everyone!

[BigD_83]

I have a slight hanging idle. As in it takes a little too long for the idle to settle after you rev it in neutral. The main thing is this: You are cruising in 3rd gear at 2500rpm. You give it a good throttle twist. It surges briefly, then loses power for a second or two. Then "wakes up" at 4000rpm and pulls clean to redline. However, that pull to redline does not feel like 60bhp. And the power at 8000rpm feels the same as 5000rpm.
I'm hoping carb cleaning, new O-rings, and valve adjustment does the trick. But if I have to do something I feel a bigger main jet over needle shim.
Plugs are clean and white.

Thanks everyone!

You were going to hear this from someone sooner or later, but the throttle position is more important than RPMs.

3rd gear at 2500 rpm is basically lugging the engine, and on my 650 that would be about 1/8th throttle; still on the pilot jet. If you crack it open there, and it bogs, that's more than likely going to be an issue with the needle. The mains aren't going to kick in fully until you are close to wide open throttle.

That's not to say that you are getting great fuel delivery in the upper range if you have no power, but it could be an air leak (i.e. too much air) giving you grief, not fuel issues (i.e. too small a main jet)

Get the air leak (manifold boot o-rings are suspect) solved, and I'd bet a beer you see an improvement in that transition zone. In fact, all of the basic maintenance should help out with your sense of low power and leanness.
Post some more pics as you go along, so we can follow your progress.

[Caferacernoc]

You were going to hear this from someone sooner or later, but the throttle position is more important than RPMs.

3rd gear at 2500 rpm is basically lugging the engine, and on my 650 that would be about 1/8th throttle; still on the pilot jet. If you crack it open there, and it bogs, that's more than likely going to be an issue with the needle. The mains aren't going to kick in fully until you are close to wide open throttle.

That's not to say that you are getting great fuel delivery in the upper range if you have no power, but it could be an air leak (i.e. too much air) giving you grief, not fuel issues (i.e. too small a main jet)

Get the air leak (manifold boot o-rings are suspect) solved, and I'd bet a beer you see an improvement in that transition zone. In fact, all of the basic maintenance should help out with your sense of low power and leanness.
Post some more pics as you go along, so we can follow your progress.

I agree. I will check the petcock and float levels too.

[RobG1970]

For your carb problems, you should contact TheCafeKid on this forum.
Perhaps he missed THIS thread?

Eric

I agree - he is sharp as a tack...and very willing to share his info...