just double checking

[catbed]

been riding the bike a lot lately, just went for a 100 mile trip today, and my bike doesnt idle well. i think it may be lean because i rode for a decent chunk of the trip with only a small throttle opening and my pipes are slowly turning more yellow. before, the idle would hang up when i rev it so i turned the mixture screws in a 1/4 turn to lean it out because i had thought that a hanging idle meant rich. now it barely idles but that may be the idle speed screw. ill turn it up a bit and do the highest idle tuning method and see how it turns out but until then, and comments/suggestions?

[tkent02]

been riding the bike a lot lately, just went for a 100 mile trip today, and my bike doesnt idle well. i think it may be lean because i rode for a decent chunk of the trip with only a small throttle opening and my pipes are slowly turning more yellow. before, the idle would hang up when i rev it so i turned the mixture screws in a 1/4 turn to lean it out because i had thought that a hanging idle meant rich. now it barely idles but that may be the idle speed screw. ill turn it up a bit and do the highest idle tuning method and see how it turns out but until then, and comments/suggestions?

Too lean already, you made it leaner.
Airbox leaks?

[catbed]

nope. sealed it all up a while ago.

thats what i thought. ill richen it up tomorrow.

[doctorgonzo]

Don't think it's a definitive measure like reading plugs, but I think gold pipes are rich and blue pipes are lean. It might be a bit rich once it hits needle or main, but lean on pilot.

[catbed]

blue and gold are the same things. the plating is discoloring due to excess heat. i had a feeling it was lean before, just double checking.

i want to get this fixed right away because it lacks power right off idle so i cant pull out fast if i have to.

[Steve]

Haw many turns out are the screws now?
You bike looks all stock in the picture, so try 2 full turns out from lightly seated as a starting point.

.

[catbed]

it is stock but with a K&N drop in filter. i raised the needles a notch also. i dont know how many turns out they are but i will start at 2.

[doctorgonzo]

Interesting... I had been misinformed. Though I have to say my new pipes had turned gold within the first 50 miles and I am not lean for sure. Also, the V&H pipes must be thinner walls than OEM because within about 5 seconds of starting the bike they will take the skin off your hand, where the oem took a minute to get up to temp.

[tkent02]

Interesting... I had been misinformed. Though I have to say my new pipes had turned gold within the first 50 miles and I am not lean for sure. Also, the V&H pipes must be thinner walls than OEM because within about 5 seconds of starting the bike they will take the skin off your hand, where the oem took a minute to get up to temp.

OEM are double walled pipes.

[doctorgonzo]

OEM are double walled pipes.

That makes sense. Also helps explain why my entire 4 into 1 weighs less than one side of my OEM pipes. It rides like a totally different bike. The most dramatic thing about swapping the exhaust, the "lightness" of the bike.

[tkent02]

That makes sense. Also helps explain why my entire 4 into 1 weighs less than one side of my OEM pipes. It rides like a totally different bike. The most dramatic thing about swapping the exhaust, the "lightness" of the bike.

The mufflers themselves are a lot heavier too, and there are two of them.

[Bill Lloyd]

Double-wall pipes

I thought that the point of double-wall pipes was [is] to PREVENT "blueing." ???

-- Bill

[catbed]

so i set the mixture screws out at 2 turns and i turned the idle up a bit. it idles better but still has a hesitation when i rev it and still hangs up after i close the throttle. i cant hear any changes in engine speed if i adjust the mixture. suggestions appreciated.

[bwringer]

Hanging idle is a sign of lean-osity.

80-83 850s with stock pipes and airbox need 2.5 to 3 turns out on the idle mixture screws. This will also smooth out the off-idle transition.

Honestly, I've never been able to hear much difference in idle while twiddling the mixture screws, and I have excellent hearing and pitch. You have to adjust and then go test ride to see if it's different. I just set them all the same.

Adjust in half-turn increments, test ride, then fine-tune in quarter-turns from there if you want.


Your bike still has the stock exhaust/airbox, correct?



It could also be an intake leak -- it's VERY easy to miss getting the inner two airbox/carb boots in place when you monkey with the airbox. I've done this several times, and it's nearly impossible to see what's going on in there.

[catbed]

yes stock airbox/exhaust. i think the boots are on there well but ill double check tomorrow.