Ever found yourself wondering why, knee-deep in engine components, a 28mm carburetor in hand, your bike isn’t roaring as it once was? You are privileged, though. Today we are exploring the interesting, albeit sometimes perplexing discipline of carburetor tuning. Imagine tuning as a dance, softly balancing fuel and air and rhythmically responding to engine demand.
Why then, you ask a 28mm carburetor? For many motorcycles, this is the bad boy of carbs; heavy enough to enhance performance without stressing smaller engines. The good news is that achieving its full potential only requires some TLC. Though you could have some homework, don’t panic; I am here to help to make it go more like butter.
Beginning with the foundations, Idle to full speed should go as naturally as a hot knife across butter. Check the pilot jet first phase. This little component helps low-speed operation greatly. If your bike is sputtering like it has a cold, try adjusting it. Turn that pilot screw; counterclockwise adds fuel; clockwise leans it out. Listen. Sensesual. You will recognize the sweet place when the engine hums like it is whispering sweet nothues in your ear.
Let me address needle jet here. It influences mid-range speed performance similarly to the slow cooker you use in your kitchen. Raise it to thin the mix or lower it to lean it out. Though finicky, it is quite important. The goal is a perfect transition from sightseeing about town to blazingly fast cruising.
Still finding great thrill in the hunt? Main jet stars are high RPM models. You will learn here whether your bike really has guts. Replace them with larger or smaller equivalents until your engine hums like a contented cat, revving high and mighty yet steady.