Carburetor Related Find discussions on carburetor related goodies here. Swap and trades? Rebuild information and tuning for the pre EFI systems.

Basic Carburetor Function

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 18, 2005 | 04:11 PM
  #1  
HDF Tech's Avatar
HDF Tech
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,496
Likes: 156
From:
Default Basic Carburetor Function


Keep in mind that motorcycle carburetion is a compromise and is never perfect. The Basics: Basic circuits. Enrichener circuit: Aids in cold starting and warm-up. Accelerator Pump: Aids in starting and off idle transition. Idle & Low Speed circuit: Controls idle, and helps transition to Midrange. Midrange circuit: Controls steady throttle and light acceleration. High speed circuit: controls hard acceleration and wide-open throttle. All circuits’ overlap, but each one has a primary function. Idle (throttle closed): controlled by slow speed jet and mixture screw. Midrange (steady throttle and light acceleration): controlled by needle. High Speed (Wide Open Throttle): controlled by main jet. Tuning: Base Line Tune each circuit for it’s primary function. Idle & Low Speed circuit, control 100% of idle and about 25% of right off idle low speed. The primary function of this circuit is the Idle. There is nothing else controlling fuel here. Wide-open throttle hard acceleration, when the slide/needle is all the way up the main jet is your primary controller of the fuel. The needle controls fuel for everything in-between. The needle starts to fuel right off idle with light throttle. As soon as you start to open the throttle air velocity increases under the slide, and fuel starts coming from around the needle, even before the slide lifts. Bottom line. Set the idle jet and fuel mixture screw for the best idle. Set main jet for best wide-open throttle. Set the needle for steady (cruise) and light throttle. Tuning: Ride-ability Problems When you experience motorcycle ride-ability problems that are jetting* related, try to duplicate the problem in all of the gears, and under different temperatures (engine and/or air). Remember that air temp can vary greatly from morning to afternoon, and it can take up 20 miles of riding for the bike to reach operating temperature. Decide which circuit needs adjusted. Idle or idle and light throttle: Slow speed jet/mixture screw. Steady throttle and/or light acceleration: Needle. Wide open throttle hard acceleration: Main jet. Decide if you are rich or lean. Worse hot: Symptom of rich. Worse cold: Symptom of lean. Worse in higher gears: Symptom of rich. Worse in lower gears: Symptom of lean. Make your adjustment, and then try to duplicate the problem again. It is important to only make one adjust at a time. Instead of changing the main jet it may be easier to test rich or lean first, by removing the air filter if you think it is too rich or duct taping ¼- ½ the air filter surface area if you think it’s too lean. Note: Doing the above test may cause a problem in a different throttle area, ignore this and focus on the problem area you are working on. *Do not confuse other motorcycle problems, including carburetion problems with jetting!



Source: Direct parts.com
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Buddy Shagmore
Sportster Models
3
Feb 20, 2018 07:55 AM
Rick7938
Sportster Models
1
Oct 17, 2011 06:41 PM
gtojets
EVO
3
Feb 28, 2010 08:34 PM
HDF Tech
Carburetor Related
0
Jun 28, 2005 12:33 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:44 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE