carb mix adjustment

[rideOn]

ok, i put off putting my carbs back on after a rebuild as long as possible. but, the wife bought an 08 v-star 650 today and wants to ride. i did everything according to basscliff's site and all advice in the forum thoughout the project. i got everything together, turned on the gas and the key and off she went in one crank. i love l'il blackie!

i'm thinking i cured the lean condition because i'm getting gas fumes thru the exhaust. when rebuilding, i turned the mix screws to just touching and backed out 3 turns. where do i go to fine tune the mix?

[chef1366]

Try the screws at two turns out.

[rideOn]

thanks. i couldn't remember if i needed to go in or out.

[Steve]

Where do you go? Out on the road, of course.

What you want to do is to get the bike fully warmed up, so take a 15-20 mile ride around the block. You may have to pull the tank to get to your mixture screws, so make whatever arrangements you need to get fuel to the carbs while you make your adjustments. Slowly turn the mixture screw in, probably about 1/8 turn at a time, listening for any increase in engine speed. (The engine runs best with a good mixture, so it will speed up a bit.) If you don't notice an increase, but instead notice a decrease in speed, turn the screw back out about 1/8 turn and move on to the next carb.

When all of your carbs are set, record your settings so you have a reference for the next time.

.

[rideOn]

i took it for a spin and did plug chops. 1 was lean and 2,3,4 were fairly wet. i now have 2,3,4 with just a slight residue and 1 is getting a little darker in color, but no fuel residue yet. i backed out the 'sync' adjusting screw about a 1/2 turn to get that. the battery is charging now. i've cranked it so many times today, it's low.

am i headed in the right direction.

btw, i did just what you said. i tweaked each carb 1/8-1/4 turn and got these results.

[Steve]

... i backed out the 'sync' adjusting screw about a 1/2 turn to get that. ...

Somehow, I don't think you backed out the 'sync' adjusting screw.

If you played with the three screws between the carbs that have locknuts on them, yes, you probably did the 'sync' screws.

If you played with the four screws that are on the carbs that are rather deeply recessed on the top of the outlet of the carb,
that's the "idle mixture adjustment screw' and has NOTHING to do with 'sync'.

Yes, both of those screws will affect the way the bike runs, but for entirely different reasons.

.

[rideOn]

i found i had the pilot screws out at different levels. i backed all of them out 2 turns and did another bench sync. it runs without a plume of smoke now, but still rough and a little rich. it won't idle well on it's own. all mix screws, once again, are backed out 3 turns. any advice on the next step? i tried turning #1 mix screw in, but it wants to die. damn, i've never had such a hassle with carbs before, but this is my first 4-carb machine.