Can't pass emmision test!

[Nessism]

Duan makes a good point; leaning out the bike may increase the NO level. You really need an exhaust gas tester machine to help you fine tune the fuel and air screws, otherwise you are just guessing and might make it worse. Also, the suggestion of using a fuel additive, or even a different fuel, is a good one.

Good luck

[bwringer]

Those HC and CO readings indicate it's running quite rich. Is that all they're testing, or are they also testing NOx (because NOx will shoot up when it's too lean, so you have to balance...)?

Go to wherever they're doing this test, stop a block away and screw the adjusters back in. Nurse the horribly running beast to the test, pass, and then put the idle mixture back where it belongs as soon as you get out of sight.

How the hell do the local pirates ever get their "hawgs" to pass? Those things are almost always set up eye-wateringly rich.

[duaneage]

Long ago ( and far away) I had a truck with a bad cat I only used occasionally for hauling. Maybe 1000 miles a year but Florida still had emissions tests, they don't any longer.


I went to a gas station that had a sign offering free checks with their tri-gas analyzer. I ran the engine and watched the numbers while retarding the ignition. I had it almost back to TDC before it passed.

Limped over to the station about 3 miles away and got my paperwork cleared.

I marked the point on the engine where it passed and put the timing back to where it should be (I had a mark there as well)

That became the ignition setting for the state.

[doctorgonzo]

It's county by county in Tennessee. There are counties where you still don't have to get a car tested, and NONE test bikes.

[DanTheMan]

I remember going through that dog and pony show as a CA resident (changed duty stations) just back in the state with the brand new less than 5000 miles on it '82 3/4 ton (light duty) Chevy truck I bought in IL.
They pulled the mixture plug covers on the quadrajet carb, leaned it way out, retarded the timing, charged me 2 hours of shop time in addition to the emissions test fee, and sent me out the door with my sticker , $120.00 lighter, and a truck that ran like it was 20 years old and poorly maintained. A block down from the testing station I set it all back to normal. This happened to me every two years. I don't think I'll ever become an Arizona resident now either. We have no emissions testing anywhere in the Great State of MN, but when you sell a vehicle you certify that all emissions control equipment is still on the vehicle and works as it should.

[tempebru]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to lean her out and drop the idle and try again. I've owned this bike since 1980 and have always had to have it tested. It has always passed before with the same setup ( pipe & pods). It is still a "fresh" motor but I've got almost 100 miles on it to get the rings to seat. I have only changed the fuel needle setting so that is where I'll start. I'll also reset the idle air screws and recheck the sync (I still have my mercury filled carb sticks from back in the day!).They only test for HC and CO not NOx on bikes so I'm lucky on that point. And I have to agree that the smell a "Big Twin" emits makes me wonder how they pass.

[GS1100ez]

i cant imagine testing the bikes
i cant even get my 94 jeep to pass the first time, or the second, or even the 5th

and my 73 2 stroke kawasaki would never pass thats crazy

[82Shafty]

High carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are a telltale sign of a rich fuel mixture. On older carbureted vehicles, fuel-saturated plastic floats, incorrect float settings, leaky power valves and misadjusted chokes are often responsible for the rich mixture. On newer vehicles with feedback fuel controls and fuel injection, leaky injectors, excessive fuel pressure and sluggish or contaminated O2 sensors are all possibilities to investigate.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2000/ic60032.htm

If you just have to pass an idle test, lean her out some more. But not to the point of misfiring...Misfiring sends HC's through the roof.

Could also get a set of hotter plugs just for emissions testing.

Like someone else mentioned; relay mod.

Replace your resister caps if they are old.

Increase float height levels if you absolutely have to

Fresh oil--- I have seen contaminated oil cause several cars to fail.

I had my Dad's 71 c-10 5.7 v-8 pick up only emitting 140 something ppm HC's when it was allowed 900 ppm. The guy got cat spotting mirrors out and looked underneath it for cats because he couldn't believe how clean it ran. I had simply dialed it in with a vacuum gauge.

[doctorgonzo]

I'd also think 100 miles is VERY borderline as far as the new rings being as seated as they are gonna get.

[bwringer]

The guy got cat spotting mirrors out and looked underneath it for cats because he couldn't believe how clean it ran. I had simply dialed it in with a vacuum gauge.

Cat spotting mirrors?

[GregT]

100 mls is very low I agree to bed in chrome top rings - about 500 - 700 mls should see compression nos. max out
You are running a mineral oil to bed the rings in, yes ?
If they have not bedded I would expect the worst emissions at high vacuum - ie, idle, just as you quote.

As an aside, are you using the same fuel as you have previously ?
If this is the first time through the test using an Ethanol blend you can expect to do some tuning to get it passing

Greg T

Cat spotting mirrors ? - I've got a dog needs a couple of those !

[tkent02]

I'd also think 100 miles is VERY borderline as far as the new rings being as seated as they are gonna get.

That probably depends on the miles, pussyfooting around or running it hard will make a huge difference. Sounds like it's mostly been idling for the sniffers, about as hard on a new engine as you can get.
But yeah, even ridden properly, 100 miles is not a whole lot.

[tempebru]

I'd also think 100 miles is VERY borderline as far as the new rings being as seated as they are gonna get.

I agree that 100 miles won't have the rings fully seated, but I don't think that is the cause of my problem. I had an old Jeep in '85 that burned a quart of oil every 200 miles and smoked like a forest fire but always passed.

[tempebru]

i cant imagine testing the bikes
i cant even get my 94 jeep to pass the first time, or the second, or even the 5th

and my 73 2 stroke kawasaki would never pass thats crazy

As crazy as it sounds, I also own a 1984 RZ 350 2 stroke that is ported and running Toomey pipes but I got it to pass!

[tempebru]

That probably depends on the miles, pussyfooting around or running it hard will make a huge difference. Sounds like it's mostly been idling for the sniffers, about as hard on a new engine as you can get.
But yeah, even ridden properly, 100 miles is not a whole lot.

I've done the break-in as I've done on all my bikes and cars that I've built. Hard acceleration and chop throttle, repeat at various speeds and gears and try not to ride at a constant speed and or throttle position for any length of time. The only time she sits and idles is after a warm up ride so that I can sync and adjust the carbs. It's hard to get a lot of miles in for break-in when she doesn't have registration!!!