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Help adjusting Air/Fuel mixture..? Vulcan 800 rear cyl running rich.

19K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  RCW  
#1 ·
2000 Vulcan 800 classic
Bike has 19K miles. Well maintained.
Hypercharger and straight pipes.

I don't know what jet size was installed with the HC. (wason when purchased)
Runs good but rear cyl is definitely running rich. black soot in pipe and when reving up towards limiter on acceleration it often stays rev'd for a 1/2 second or so when I roll off the throttle. Rear plug gets sooty after 300-400 miles.
I know there is a number of things that could contribute. I found no exhaust leaks and no intake leaks I could find. I am going to check valves soon, but in the meantime I checked the AF screw and found it 4+ turns out from bottom.
I turned it in approx 1/2 turn and I think it's better, but barely. Problem is that I can not tell the difference by ear between appox 3 to 4.5 turns on the screw when adjusting it. It doesn't seem to change noticeably between 2.5-3ish and about 4.5 turns.

So regardless the valve check in the future, how do I best set the mixture? Will a vacuum gauge be more accurate?
 
#3 ·
To adjust the pilot air screw turn your idle up to 1,100 rpm, then screw it in until the engine starts to flatten the exhaust tone and the rpm's begin to drop. Then back it out until you have the best engine sound and the rpm's are at their maximum. Then drop your idle back to where it belongs.

I really do not believe it is a carburetor problem with the pilot air screw creating the flooding in the rear cylinder. If it is a carburetor problem it will be with the float level being too high and overflowing into the rear intake port.

If you are lucky a simple float adjustment will solve the problem. Not usually the case unless someone fiddled with the float. About one time in ten you can replace the float valve and reset the float level and have it work another few years.

Now for the bad news, which I suspect is the case given the age of the carburetor. These carburetors are essentially garbage after a few years as the float valve vibrates in the carburetor body and eats away the cast pot metal float valve seat. The float valve seat is not replaceable. Pull the carburetor off, remove the float and float valve and look for a shiny ring around the seat where the valve has been vibrating. If you see that your choices are to replace the carburetor body with another that will last from three to ten years, or go with a Mikuni replacement carburetor that is fully rebuildable. The cost will be about the same either way.
 
#2 ·
Did you check to see if the other screw was set the same? 4+ turns on the A/F screw seems kind of excessive to me, may have to up your pilot jet size?

Idle drop method to set A/F screws.

Try to find out what kit was installed, what mains, pilots, needle setting, ect.