How to Choose Main Jet
Note: Before tuning the carburetor, ensure that every filter in the fuel supply is clean and that you use compatible fuel. This prevents false readings on the spark plug, ensuring accurate adjustments for optimal engine performance.
Type and size: There are various types and sizes of main jets available, but finding the one that is compatible with your carburetor and within the correct range is crucial. This ensures your motorcycle runs smoothly and efficiently, matching perfectly with your engine's needs.
Jet number: The number on a jet doesn't always indicate the bore size within it. This is why some jets with higher numbers may actually have smaller bore sizes. It's essential to understand these nuances to select the right jet for optimal engine performance.
When tuning any circuit of a carburetor, there are two key indicators to watch for: 1) bogging, and 2) sputtering. Monitoring these signs can guide you to make precise adjustments, ensuring your carburetor functions smoothly and efficiently.
Bogging: Bogging occurs when the air-fuel mixture is too lean, leading to weak power output and a potential complete loss of power. If the engine experiences bogging and you maintain the throttle position where it occurred, the motorcycle may lose RPM drastically and could ultimately shut down completely. This indicates the need for immediate adjustment to enrich the mixture and stabilize engine performance.
Sputtering: Sputtering occurs when the air-fuel mixture is too rich, leading to incomplete combustion. This excessive fuel can cause deposits to form on the spark plug, leading to misfires and resulting in jerky power output. Addressing this requires adjusting the mixture to ensure a cleaner, more complete burn and stable engine performance.
In this condition, if there is too much fuel, the spark plug will appear wet. Normally, however, the spark plug should have a thick layer of deposits, which can be tan or white. Using the wrong fuel octane can also lead to excessive deposit buildup, impacting engine performance and efficiency. Adjusting the fuel octane correctly can prevent these issues and maintain your engine's health.
How to choose the right one for tuning a carburetor: First, determine the suitability of the stock main jet by riding the bike at wide open throttle for 30 seconds, then quickly stop, turn off the bike, and remove the spark plug to examine its color. If the plug is too black, this suggests that your bike has an oversized jet. Reduce the jet size, then ride again for 30 seconds at wide open throttle to see if the color lightens. Continue to decrease the jet size until you achieve a tan brown or light white color with minimal deposits on the spark plug's ground and center electrodes. This method ensures optimal combustion and engine performance.
Ideal Spark Plug Colour: An ideal spark plug will have minimal deposits and display a light tan or white color. This indicates that the mixture is stoichiometric, meaning it has the perfect balance of air and fuel for optimal combustion and engine performance.
throttle is at position or 0%
Fully open throttle or 100% throttle position
Learn carburetor tuning in following articles.