Carb/jetting help? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Carb/jetting help?

ajaxguy

Well-known member
Does anyone have a good link on how to do this properly? I have my sons little 50 and i cant get the setup right. I have no idea with this stuff. Its running way to lean I think and idling way to high.
 
Someone with more experience, please correct any of this if I'm wrong.

From what little I understand of it, it's complicated, time consuming, and involves a lot of black magic. Is there something specific you want to know?

It involves replacing the jets and/or needles with different sizes and/or shapes to get the desired affect. Each carb is different but it's safe to assume yours has at the very least a main jet and a needle. The jet can change size, the needle can change size and/or shape, and can be raised or lowered with a clip.

Carb-Ranges-1.jpg


Generally you try and understand how your engine is running. That involves feeling how it pulls, whether it backfires, runs hot, or smells like gas, and what the spark plugs look like after running for a bit at a given throttle setting.

Once you think you know what the problem is, you rip everything apart, buy and replace some needles and jets, and put it back together. Hopefully it runs better, not worse. Rinse and repeat until you reach perfection, or more likely don't care anymore.

I changes the jets on my GS500, but it was a very easy process. That bike has been around for about 30 years and there is a huge amount of knowledge around how it runs and what jets are best for any given setup. I knew exactly what it needed and just had to put them in. With something newer and less popular, you are likely on your own.

You also might be able to get a dynojet kit if they make one for your bike. Then you'd have some guidance and maybe some over-the-phone support, but opinions on those kits vary wildly.
 
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Also I would say try lowering the idle with the idle adjustment screw.

And if you want to make it richer, bigger size jets = bigger passage = more fuel.
 
ya I dont even know if I need to get into that much, just based on the idle screw and the carb screw on the side that i can see... Like i read stuff about x amount turns out on the carb screw and then match that up with the idle..just no sure how many turns out even the damn carb screw has to be out?
 
Whats the bike? If its idling too high and no idling screw, you can adjust the idle via carb synching. You have to, i believe, lower the pressure (this is how my bike works with my carb synch). If you dont have a carb synch tool, you can bench synch it if your carb 2(for hondas) is preset.
 
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I cant see it costing much to bring it to someone that knows about these things. I used to play around with jetting on my old 2 strokes without much problem but the rest of it (needles/seats, carb-kits..) worth paying someone an hour of labour in my opinion.
 
Dude i am far from an expert but i rejetted two different bikes i can have a look. I am in oshawa.

I have not read the whole thread but i am assuming you went with bigger jets right?
 
Assuming you went up one size in jets and assuming since you bike is a 50 it only has two jets

Did you change both the idle and main jet?

If you went one size higher on the idle then you are probably running rich

To confirm take out your spark
Plug and clean it. Them put it back :) then turn bike ok and let idle for 5 min.. Do not roll throttle at all. Then turn off bike and take out the spark plug if its grey and dry its lean.. But i bet it will not be and it will smell
If gas even cause your bike is running rich.. So you need to roll back the air mixture screw to let more air in. Its very sensitive to find the right mixture...

Anyways if you want dm me and i give you my number.. Too much to write
 
Make sure you turn those screws in & record the # of turns. If you can't put it back to original you'll want to ride that bike off a cliff

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Assuming you went up one size in jets and assuming since you bike is a 50 it only has two jets

Did you change both the idle and main jet?

If you went one size higher on the idle then you are probably running rich

To confirm take out your spark
Plug and clean it. Them put it back :) then turn bike ok and let idle for 5 min.. Do not roll throttle at all. Then turn off bike and take out the spark plug if its grey and dry its lean.. But i bet it will not be and it will smell
If gas even cause your bike is running rich.. So you need to roll back the air mixture screw to let more air in. Its very sensitive to find the right mixture...

Anyways if you want dm me and i give you my number.. Too much to write

I didnt change anything....I just messed with the idle screw and adjustment screw. As many bikes as I have had, I have never messed with the carbs and jetting so Im new with this. Seems to be running fine, but he is going to be racing this thing so just wanna know how to have it running at peak performance.

Make sure you turn those screws in & record the # of turns. If you can't put it back to original you'll want to ride that bike off a cliff

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Ya I read about that but I guess im an idiot, cuz I do not understand what they mean by this
 
Maybe you should consider paying a pro tuner to do this.

You could tune a piano yourself but it is often easier to have the pro tuner visit and do it for you.
 
Maybe you should consider paying a pro tuner to do this.

You could tune a piano yourself but it is often easier to have the pro tuner visit and do it for you.

considering that....cant be more then an hours work im assuming
 
Carb work is guest & test. Takes longer than proposed. That's why I hate carbs

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Carb work is guest & test. Takes longer than proposed. That's why I hate carbs

Sent from my tablet using my paws

^this. I have owned numerous two strokes over the years, bit finicky getting the jetting right, but when you do = heaven. There is an excellent post on jetting on the ODSC website, helped me immensely. I can also guarantee that the guys at OCMC will gladly give advice/help, mini-moto dad's stick together! Great attitude, never be shy about asking for help, those guys at the track will respect you more for it. Try to get to the track/club on a non race day, the guys will have more time to help explain it to you. While you're at it, find out what you can about the clutches in that 50, they are adjustable and make a big difference in how aggressive the bike rides.


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What is the bike make and model ?
And is the engine modified or stock ?

If stock, put it to stock specs.
 
Ya I read about that but I guess im an idiot, cuz I do not understand what they mean by this

It just means record where the screws are before you touched them. Your first adjustment should be slowly turning them all the way in and counting the rotations. That way if things go horribly wrong, you can at least put everything back the way it was.

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^this. I have owned numerous two strokes over the years, bit finicky getting the jetting right, but when you do = heaven. There is an excellent post on jetting on the ODSC website, helped me immensely. I can also guarantee that the guys at OCMC will gladly give advice/help, mini-moto dad's stick together! Great attitude, never be shy about asking for help, those guys at the track will respect you more for it. Try to get to the track/club on a non race day, the guys will have more time to help explain it to you. While you're at it, find out what you can about the clutches in that 50, they are adjustable and make a big difference in how aggressive the bike rides.


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Ya I have only been to one meeting, so do not know anyone yet to ask for help, I have no shame is asking, just dont know anyone and i want them setup before race day.

What is the bike make and model ?
And is the engine modified or stock ?

If stock, put it to stock specs.

I have two now.. 2003 KTM 50 mini adventure and a 2008 KTM junior Sx 50.

It just means record where the screws are before you touched them. Your first adjustment should be slowly turning them all the way in and counting the rotations. That way if things go horribly wrong, you can at least put everything back the way it was.

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I have touched it so many times though! lol
 
Ok for the 08 50jr sx, lightly turn the air mixture screw ( small flathead closest to the airbox) all the way in ( lightly seated, don't tighten it down, it'll damage the needle) then back it out 3.5 full turns. This is factory setting. Fire it up, adjust the idle speed via the idle speed screw ( larger thumbscrew in the centre of the carb body) just adjust to a good idle speed, no specific setting. Take it for a rip, check plug colour, you can adjust for a rich/lean condition with the smaller air mixture screw tha you earlier set to. 3.5 out. Then readjust the idle speed as needed. Small 1/4 turns only with the air mixture screw, then try it. A little spooge (oil residue) from the exhaust is ok. You want a clean, snappy throttle.
The 50 mini is the same process except that as far as I can tell , there is no air mixture screw. Simply adjust idle speed via the throttle stop screw ( again, the large thumbscrew in the center or the carb body.
Ktmdirtquestions.com. Great site, online manuals etc. thumpertalk.com an off-roaders best friend
Hope it helps. Good luck to the little guys, hope they have a lot of fun this season.


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