New Hawk, new adventures.

[dpl096]

Originally Posted by Megadan

So, I have still been experiencing some odd running issues with my Hawk. I have changed the main jet between 120 and 125 a million times, played with the needle, my idle will be good one moment and strange the next. Sometimes it would start right up, others it would immediately stall.

So, I decided I have had enough and tore it down to every individual component and then set it in my heated ultrasonic cleaner in regular distilled water for 20 minutes.

As I put it back together I was inspecting every part closely and then made a discovery on my float needle. It had a gouge in it... That would explain quite a bit if it wasn't seating fully and the bowl level was constantly fluctuating. It never overflowed though, so it couldn't have been a big leak.

I stole the one from my stock carb and made sure it was good, threw it all back together, set my float height, and then started from scratch dialing in my carb.

With 80 degree air temp and 60% humidity I ended up with the 45 pilot, Mixture 2 1/4 turns out, needle in the 3rd notch, and a 125 main. The 4th notch is way too rich with the 125 main, and the second actually works, but you can feel it is a tad lean.

She pulls WAY stronger than she did before through the whole throttle sweep and my idle is rock solid steady. Starts right up too without cutting out. I do wish I could try a 48 pilot jet, but I can live with my mixture a quarter past 2 turns. No hesitation at light throttle, so it's not that lean.

Gotta love itty bitty little things that can make your life hell.

Carbs are a huge struggle for me....I have to plow through it time and time again whereas others have that gift of dialing in the sweet spot with relative ease.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by dpl096

Carbs are a huge struggle for me....I have to plow through it time and time again whereas others have that gift of dialing in the sweet spot with relative ease.

I wouldn't call it a gift. I would call it experience. Lots and lots of experience. The more you do it and re-do it the more you start to learn what sounds, smells, behaviors, etc. are caused by what.

Take my needle jet setting. I started at the 4th notch because experience and wisdom say to always start on the rich side of things. After warming it up, setting the idle mixture, and then going for a ride, if i tried to hold a steady 1/4 to 1/2 throttle the bike would lightly bog, pop, and "snarl" like it was getting too much fuel. I confirmed this by simply rolling the throttle open and it cleaned up and started pulling very strongly almost immediately. That's a good indicator of being a bit too rich. If it would have hesitated and then took off, that would be lean. Even the tone of the noises it was making were a good clue. Rich bog/hesitation just feels "heavy" but generally smoother because the fuel is so heavy it just isn't igniting properly, while lean hesitation is almost herky-jerky feeling as the fuel spikes and dips.

Another good indicator of the needle being rich would be the exhaust smelling of fuel with a half throttle neutral rev. Since I add a little MMO to my fuel to help lubricate the carb parts it actually makes it easier to detect a rich smell since MMO actually changes the smell of the fuel slightly.

[Azhule]

Originally Posted by Megadan

since MMO actually changes the smell of the fuel slightly.

Mmmmm, the smell of burning "oil of wintergreen laced fuel"

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Azhule

Mmmmm, the smell of burning "oil of wintergreen laced fuel"

I like the smell lol.

[dpl096]

Dan my friend.... From my perspective you, and others, are gifted brother....I admire your knowledge and abilities

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by dpl096

Dan my friend.... From my perspective you, and others, are gifted brother....I admire your knowledge and abilities

It's the burned MMO vapors, they give you magical powers.

[Megadan]

First try at a Motovlog.

[JerryHawk250]

Good job on the video. I just finished watching it on YouTube.

[Megadan]

The camera being off kilter kinda bugs me, and my transition between the two clips didn't really work at all and actually cut the first one short, but hey. I will get the hang of it eventually lol

[ChipToothy]

So you are running much larger jets than on your old Hawk? 140 on the pilot? What causes this change from 117?

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by ChipToothy

So you are running much larger jets than on your old Hawk? 140 on the pilot? What causes this change from 117?

My carb is a bit odd. Pilot is a keihin sized 45 that is a little too small. Main is a Mikuni 125. What caused the big leap in jetting? Head work.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

The camera being off kilter kinda bugs me, and my transition between the two clips didn't really work at all and actually cut the first one short, but hey. I will get the hang of it eventually lol

Video is fine Dan. It does exactly what it supposed to do. Getting information out about your Hawk and mods. You're not going for the Academy award are you? lol

[OneLeggedRider]

It does sound awesome! And good job on the motovlog. Lots of information and no dead air time. Hate it when they just ride paved roads and don't say anything.

Do you think the 65ml oil cooler could be mounted in the same manner as your big one? And I wouldn't be against drilling some big holes in the rear of the fender.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

And I wouldn't be against drilling some big holes in the rear of the fender.

That was my first thoughts.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

And I wouldn't be against drilling some big holes in the rear of the fender.

Drill away! As you can see in this pic, Q comes with a vented fender for cooling.